Sharjah Book Fair 2026 is inviting UAE residents to donate new and pre-loved books for children in need. Led by The Big Heart Foundation, the initiative aims to collect more than 10,000 books by November 15, supporting educational and humanitarian programmes in Sharjah, Egypt and beyond.
SHARJAH: A favourite childhood story could soon find a new reader as Sharjah Book Fair 2026 invites families, students and book lovers across the UAE to help collect more than 10,000 books for children and communities in need.
The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) has launched a community book donation drive at Expo Centre Sharjah, encouraging visitors to give their new and pre-loved books a second life instead of leaving them unused on shelves.
Running until November 15, 2026, the initiative aims to expand reading and learning opportunities through the foundation’s humanitarian and educational programmes.
How can visitors donate books at Sharjah Book Fair?
Visitors can bring books in good condition to The Big Heart Foundation’s stand in Hall 5, L-12, at Expo Centre Sharjah.
The collection welcomes picture books, novels, biographies, children’s stories and other genres, excluding religious books.
Organised in collaboration with the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), the campaign encourages people to share books they have enjoyed with someone who may not otherwise have access to them.
The process is simple: choose a book, ensure it remains in good condition and drop it off at the designated collection point before the fair closes.
Where will the 10,000 donated books go?
The collected books will support educational and community projects managed by The Big Heart Foundation.
Initial distribution is planned for the new TBHF Education Centre facility in Sharjah and a school in Egypt supported through the foundation’s Educate the Heart competition.
Additional donations may reach community centres, children’s hospitals and shared spaces in other countries where the foundation supports humanitarian projects.
These reading materials could help children develop literacy skills, explore new subjects and discover the enjoyment of reading beyond school.
Encouraging children to become young changemakers
The initiative also forms part of TBHF’s Educate the Heart school competition, which encourages students to participate in humanitarian activities and practise generosity, empathy and social responsibility.
Ameera Bin Ofai, Strategy Officer at TBHF, explained the lasting value of sharing books.
“A book does not lose its value when its first reader turns the final page,” she said.
By participating in the book drive, children can learn how a simple act of giving may create meaningful opportunities for others.
Impact to expect
The campaign could strengthen reading habits and community participation across the UAE while expanding access to educational resources for disadvantaged children. By encouraging families and schools to donate books, Sharjah Book Fair also provides a practical opportunity to promote generosity, reuse valuable resources and connect young readers with communities beyond their own.
