The 45th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair, running at Expo Centre Sharjah until November 15, continues a tradition that began in 1982 and has grown into one of the region's most significant publishing events. This year's edition marks Peru's first-ever participation in a UAE book fair, while Oman holds the position of guest of honour, with publishers from across the world represented through dedicated pavilions and stands. The United Arab Emirates University is showcasing 12 manuscripts drawn from its broader collection of roughly 600 items, spanning subjects such as medicine, law and religion. Oman's pavilion highlights its own cultural heritage, including rare manuscripts dating back to 1137, alongside the shortlist for the International Award for Arabic Children's Literature, which visitors can view on site. Among the fair's more playful features is "Blind Date With a Book," a programme from Little Puffin Publishing House that wraps titles in mystery packaging; readers can only choose a language and genre before committing to a book, without knowing its exact title until they unwrap it. Peru's ambassador, visiting the fair, said publishers had brought books from three Peruvian publishing houses and that discussions were already under way about expanding the country's presence at future editions. A book collector attending the fair, who said his personal collection was worth more than $200,000, described the event as "a beautiful event with a great collection." Over more than four decades, the Sharjah International Book Fair has become a fixture of the Gulf region's cultural calendar, drawing publishers, collectors and readers from around the world and reinforcing Sharjah's status as a hub for Arabic and international publishing.