Sharjah, (IINA) : Signaling a groundbreaking achievement for the UAE and the Arab world, Sharjah has been crowned with the prestigious ‘World Book Capital’ title for 2019 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The honor is a recognition of the Emirate’s pioneering role in supporting and expanding the local and regional publishing industries, promoting reading to become an intrinsic cultural practice, as well as embracing intercultural, knowledge-based dialogue.

An international committee of UNESCO experts reached the decision at a meeting held at the heaquarters of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) at La Haye, in the Netherlands.

Sharjah is the 19th city to become World Book Capital. It is preceded by Conakry in 2017 and Athens in 2018.