SHARJAH, UAE- Children experienced four different professional simulations at the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026), where an interactive and educational city was introduced to them at the Future Hands District.
The ‘Future Hands District’ experience brought together several children aged 3-7 to go through various professions in a fun, safe, and educational environment. The simulation contains four different zones that encompass a ‘Detective Zone’, a ‘Car Garage and Workshop Zone’, a ‘Construction Zone’, and a ‘Mini Medical Clinic Zone’.
During the exercise, the young participants solved an escape room-esque mystery in the Detective Zone, where they decoded secret messages, uncovered hidden fingerprints, and unlocked a treasure box to solve the puzzle presented to them. The Car Garage and Workshop Zone allowed the children to drive mini police cars, experience a driving simulation, and paint a car using virtual reality. Moving on to the Construction Zone, the children transformed into a civil engineering department and learnt how to use an excavator to establish the foundation of a house. Finally, the Mini Medical Clinic zone showed the participants how to read patient charts, perform CPR, use a stethoscope to hear a heartbeat, and more.
Dr Amera, the SIBF collaborator at the Mini Medical Clinic Zone, mentions that the medical zone allows the children to ask questions and learn more about their own health and body.
She also mentions that “The zones allow the children to get an understanding of the world outside. Several children have told me they want to be doctors once they grow up”.
“My favourite zone was the Medical Zone, because I got to wear a stethoscope!” says young Amal with enthusiasm brewing.
Fatima, meanwhile, enjoyed the Construction zone. I had a lot of fun because I sat in the big machine!” she said about her experience on the excavator.
Asmaa, one of the collaborators of the Future Hands District, noted that the exercise allows children to recognise objects like police cars, construction sites, and more when they are out in public. “The experience permits the young participants to make sense of and learn from their everyday surroundings,” she says.
As the activity comes to an end, the children receive a small booklet with stamps from each zone, signalling their participation in the exercise. The Future Hands District instills new skills and lessons for children before they enter the world outside.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026) runs from November 4 to 15 at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme ‘Made of Stories’, with the Sultanate of Oman as Guest of Honour. The fair brings together 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries, showcasing more than 1.7 million titles. Its programme features 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic events, with 106 guests from 25 countries.
