Silent Books Exhibitions

The diverse and multilingual society of the UAE provides a fertile ground for the flourishing of silent books. In 2017, UAEBBY began to recognize the significance of silent books, perfectly aligning with the UAE's diverse community and contributing to the promotion of unity and inclusivity among the various cultures residing in the country. As a testament to this commitment, UAEBBY has successfully organised four silent book exhibitions to date:

1. Silent Books Exhibition 2017: In its inaugural year, the exhibition was held at the iconic Flying Saucer building in Sharjah. This event proudly featured the IBBY 2015 silent book collection and introduced three notable silent books from the Arab world.
2. Silent Books Exhibition 2018: The second edition, held in 2018 at the Zayed Central Library in Al Ain, continued to celebrate the art of silent books. It showcased the renowned IBBY silent book collection and also unveiled the first-ever collection of Emirati silent books.
3. Silent Books Exhibition 2019: In 2019, the third edition of the exhibition was hosted at the prestigious Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. UAEBBY collaborated with the Sharjah World BookCapital Office to curate a selection of 50 captivating silent book titles, enriching the literary landscape.
4. Silent Books Exhibition 2023:The latest edition, in partnership with the House of Wisdom in Sharjah, featured 48 remarkable silent books from around the globe. This collaboration underscores the enduring commitment to promoting international literary diversity and fostering engagement.

Additionally, UAEBBY played a pivotal role in establishing the silent book industry, leading to the publication ofthe first silent books in the UAE. Numerous silent book workshops were organised at local and regional levels, resulting in an exemplary collection of silent books proudly created in the UAE. Four of these books were selected to be part of IBBY's Silent Books Collection in 2019, with one earning a place on the same collection’s honour list.