“Publish” reviews efforts to support local publishers at the Sharjah International Book Fair
Sharjah, November 15 / WAM / The Sharjah Fund for Sustainability of Publishing “Publish”, the initiative launched by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Book Authority, reviewed the impact of its programs supporting local publishers during its participation in the Sharjah International Book Fair 2025, through a series of workshops and professional sessions targeting participating publishers.
The pavilion witnessed a session with Gaurav Shrinagesh, CEO of Penguin Random House in India and Southeast Asia and a member of the Authority’s Board of Directors, during which he answered questions from a group of graduating publishers about growth mechanisms and global best practices, in addition to discussing marketing topics and book data.
The pavilion also received the Sharjah Translation Scholarship team, which provided an explanation about the application mechanisms and their use in supporting the transfer of local literature to global markets.
The Fund organized an interactive session with advisors to the Sharjah Book Authority around the world with the aim of exchanging experiences and opening channels of communication with international markets, in addition to signing ceremonies and launching new publishing houses within the programs it supervises.
Iman Bin Shaibah, Director of the Strategic Initiatives and Global Markets Department at the Authority, confirmed that “Inshar” represents a comprehensive platform to support the publishing industry in the UAE, through programs based on market needs and designed to accompany publishers at various stages of their career, in accordance with the vision of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi.
She explained that the Fund’s programs operate through three main tracks, the most prominent of which is the “Islaq” track dedicated to qualifying new publishers, which last year graduated 20 publishers who are showcasing about 60 new publications within the pavilion this year. The Fund has allocated a point of sale for them and full logistical support, while exempting them from rental fees to enable them to expand and facilitate their communication with readers.
She added that the “Nomu” and “Ibtikar” tracks constitute an integrated system to support the local publishing sector, pointing to successful examples of “Nomu” graduates, including Saeed Muhammad Saeed, founder of “Dar Al Bayan Al Arabi,” who published the children’s book “Saif’s Adventures on the Island of Smart Money” with support from the Investment Bank to enhance financial culture among young people.
Bin Shaibah pointed out that “Inshar”’s participation in the exhibition enables members to communicate with more than 2,350 publishers and exhibitors from 118 countries, providing broad opportunities for cooperation, concluding partnerships, and marketing publications.
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