Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed, Ruler of Sharjah, has ordered the construction of a book-publishing free zone in the emirate, according to the state news agency Wam, "to promote reading and the digital and traditional publishing industry towards a knowledge-based community".
The announcement was made at the Sharjah International Book Fair, which opened yesterday at Expo Sharjah.
Sheikh Sultan also donated Dh2million to support participating publishers and called for upgrades to libraries at Sharjah's governmental departments.
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