Bodour Al Qasimi reviews developments in the expansion of publishing, translation and digital transformation projects
Sharjah, May 26 / WAM / Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Book Authority, chaired the Authority’s Board of Directors meeting that was held the day before yesterday, in the presence of Council members and a number of executive leaders, to review the Authority’s digital transformation map for the period 2025-2028, and discuss the expansion of its international participation in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, in addition to following up on the developments of the Authority’s strategic projects and enhancing the readiness of the publishing system to keep pace with The rapid transformations that the sector is witnessing globally.
Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi stressed that the cultural project led by Sharjah, with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, is based on building a sustainable knowledge industry and enhancing the presence of Arab culture in the world by investing in books, translation, publishing, and building international partnerships.
The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Book Authority said that the publishing industry is witnessing rapid transformations that require the development of new tools capable of expanding access to knowledge and enhancing the presence of Emirati Arabic literature in global markets, pointing out that what the Sharjah Book Authority is working on goes beyond organizing cultural events to building an integrated system that supports the writer, publisher and translator and opens up wider opportunities for Arabic content to spread and influence globally.
The Council discussed the features of the Authority’s digital transformation map for the period 2025-2028, which represents one of the strategic axes for developing the Authority’s work system, and includes developing the experience of visitors and publishers, launching platforms dedicated to publishing and business services, and developing smart tools for data management and professional relations, in addition to audio publishing projects and Arabic digital libraries.
Council members discussed the role of modern technologies and artificial intelligence in developing the publishing industry, improving the experience of readers and publishers, and building more sustainable models of the knowledge economy, stressing the importance of maintaining a balance between technical development and the quality of cultural and cognitive content.
The Council reviewed the Authority’s international participation program during the last phase, which included a wide presence in book fairs and international cultural events in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. It also discussed the preparations for the participation of Sharjah, guest of honor at the Warsaw International Book Fair 2026, which brings together more than 21 Emirati cultural institutions and 35 Emirati writers and creators within an integrated cultural program.
The Council followed up on the results of the forty-fourth session of the Sharjah International Book Fair, which attracted 1,400,730 visitors and was held with the participation of publishers and cultural institutions from 118 countries in one of the largest sessions in the history of the exhibition, in addition to reviewing the results of the “Sharjah African Literature Festival,” the outputs of the “Arabic Language Festival in Milan,” and the Authority’s international cultural program at international book fairs.
The meeting discussed developments in the professional projects affiliated with the Authority, and the efforts of the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone to expand the network of international relations with global publishing markets. The results of the “India Roadshow” organized by the city were reviewed as part of its efforts to expand its presence in international markets, which brought together more than 190 Indian publishing houses and contributed to providing more than 120 professional communication and cooperation opportunities with publishers and cultural institutions, as part of a trend aimed at building new partnerships in the fields of translation and joint copyright with one of the largest knowledge industries in the world.
The meeting reviewed the most prominent achievements achieved by the Authority during the past period, most notably the organization of the “Publishers’ Conference” with the participation of 1,604 participants from 116 countries, in addition to the registration of more than 2,098 applications for the translation grant for the year 2025, which reflects the expansion of Sharjah’s presence as an international center for supporting translation and exchanging literary rights.
The meeting discussed developments in the work of the Sharjah Literary Agency, which succeeded in concluding a number of new international rights deals and representing Arab writers in various international book forums and fairs, in addition to developing projects to transform literary works into visual, cinematic, and animated content, thus enhancing the opportunities for Arabic literature to reach new audiences and multiple markets.
The meeting discussed the professional initiatives through which the Authority works to support the publishing industry and develop book markets, including its partnership with the “Big Bad Wolf” exhibition, which represents one of the most prominent book selling initiatives in the world, and its role in expanding access to reading and enhancing the spread of books among broader segments of the public.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi praised the efforts of the work teams and members of the Council, stressing the importance of continuing to develop qualitative initiatives that enhance Sharjah’s position on the global cultural map and consolidate its role in building a more open and sustainable future for the publishing and knowledge industry.
The meeting was attended by Sheikh Majid Al-Mualla, His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakad Al-Amri, Abdulaziz Al-Musallam, Rashid Al-Kous, Marwa Al-Aqroubi, Dr. Sultan Al-Amimi, Fahd Al-Maamari and Abdulaziz Taryam, along with Gaurav Shrinagesh, John Ingram, Marcus Dohley and Majd Al-Shehhi.
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