Shipping Books Globally: The Massive Logistics Operation at Sharjah Book Fair
The shipping station at the Sharjah International Book Fair has become a bustling hub of activity, where cardboard boxes pile up as visitors prepare to send their literary finds to every corner of the globe. Managed by the National Network for Logistics (NXN), a division of 7X, the stand handles an impressive volume of international deliveries. Moataz Al Eid, who oversees the operations, noted that the demand is truly global, with Arabic-language books frequently being dispatched to destinations as far away as France and Florida. Interestingly, many of these buyers are educators and translators looking to share regional literature and heritage with international audiences.
While the fair sees a steady stream of traffic early on, the true logistical surge occurs during the final days, with the shipping team processing between 1,000 and 1,500 books daily as institutional buyersâsuch as universities and librariesâfinalize their acquisitions. Much of this material focuses on Arab heritage, history, and archaeological discovery. According to Al Eid, these books serve as vital guides for researchers and travelers alike, helping them gain a deeper understanding of countries like Syria, Morocco, and Oman before they even set foot on their historic soil.