"Post" It opens the way for new publishers to establish publishing houses capable of growth and continuity

2026/06/30 8:00:32 PM

3 minutes read

SHARJAH, June 30, 2017 (WAM) – The Sharjah Fund for Sustainability of Publishing “Inshar” announced the initiative launched by Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Book Authority, opening registration for the “Islaq” track within its training program for the year 2026, starting from next July 1 until the end of next August, to provide the opportunity for publishers aspiring to establish new publishing projects and join a specialized training program that keeps pace with the requirements of the sector.

The Sharjah Fund for Sustainability of Publishing “Inshar” invited those wishing to establish new publishing projects and benefit from the program to apply to benefit from the opportunity to join a specialized training program that provides participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to launch publishing projects that are sustainable and capable of growth.

After registration closes, applications will undergo a review and evaluation stage to select qualified candidates to join the program, with the first training sessions starting in September 2026.

The “launch” track aims to prepare participants to launch publishing projects capable of continuing and growing through practical training that focuses on the basics of establishing publishing houses, content management, understanding rights, building corporate identity, and developing operational and marketing plans. The track also allows participants to learn about the publishing environment in Sharjah and benefit from the opportunities provided by sector institutions to support their entry into the market with clear steps.

His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, said that the first season of the “launch” track confirmed that investing in qualifying new publishers opens the way for projects that are more ready and capable of entering the market and enhances the opportunities for building publishing companies that have the potential for continuity and development, which is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, which aims to establish a strong publishing industry based on knowledge and professional competencies and contributes to supporting cultural and economic mobility in the long term.

He added: Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi adopted a vision based on the fact that the prosperity of the publishing industry is linked to its ability to attract new talents and constantly renew its employee base. From this standpoint, the “Islaq” path in the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund “Inshar” returns to provide paths that support the entry of new expertise into the sector and help build a more diverse system with the ability to grow, thus consolidating Sharjah’s position as a regional and global center for the book industry.

Iman Bin Shaibah, Director of the Strategic Initiatives and Global Markets Department at the Sharjah Book Authority, said that the “Islah” path at the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund “Inshar” supports the publisher at the beginning of his journey and provides him with the knowledge and tools necessary to advance his journey, stressing that the first stage in establishing a publishing house requires studying content choices and market calculations, understanding the reader’s needs, and establishing professional relationships. These are aspects included in the “Islah” path, which helps publishers transform their ideas into business models that can be measured and developed.

The training days combine knowledge sessions, practical applications, and field trips, where speakers specialized in the fields of publishing and business development present a number of sessions that cover a number of topics related to the publishing industry.

The program includes interactive activities that help participants test their ideas and develop their projects, in addition to field tours at the facilities of the Sharjah Book Authority, including Lightning Source, Arab Book Verse, the Emirates Publishers Association, and Sharjah Publishing City and its offices, allowing them to learn about the system of services and the professional structure that supports the publishing industry in Sharjah. Attending all sessions is mandatory to ensure that participants benefit from the content of the track.

The registration form allows applicants to provide a comprehensive picture of the publishing house or publishing project in terms of the stage of business development, field of publishing, target audience, publication plan, sales, marketing and distribution channels, in addition to the most prominent challenges and growth priorities during the next stage, and the type of participation, whether it is an initial idea or a start-up company in its early stages after establishment, not exceeding 3 years, which helps the evaluation committee to select participants according to criteria related to the readiness of the project, the clarity of its needs, and opportunities for development.

At the conclusion of the program, participants present their projects to the judging panel and compete for grants and licenses before their training path culminates in a graduation ceremony.