Sharjah Ruler Visits Emirates Publishers Association Stand at Sharjah International Book Fair

Sharjah, The Gulf Observer: His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, visited the Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) stand at the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair, where he was warmly received by Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the Association. The visit underscored His Highness’s commitment to the advancement of the UAE’s publishing industry and cultural development.

During the visit, Al Kous briefed His Highness on the Association’s initiatives aimed at strengthening the publishing industry both locally and regionally. He presented His Highness with a study conducted in partnership with the TRENDS Research and Advisory Centre, under the patronage of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, EPA Founder and Honorary President. The study examined the EPA’s significant impact on the UAE’s publishing industry, outlining key challenges and opportunities within the sector and recommending strategic actions for sustainable growth.

Al Kous reaffirmed the Association’s dedication to supporting Emirati publishers, noting, “As the regulator and enabler of the publishing sector in the UAE, under the vision and guidance of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the Emirates Publishers Association dedicates its capabilities to enhancing the strength and distinctiveness of this sector, nurturing its growth and sustainability to support the creative economy in the country.”

The Association’s activities at the fair included a panel discussion, The Impact of the Emirates Publishers Association on Supporting the Cultural Publishing Movement, moderated by Abdullah Al Khaja, Researcher at TRENDS. In the session, Rashid Al Kous and Sultan Al Ali, Deputy Head of the TRENDS Dubai sector and Director of the Global Barometer, shared insights on the study’s findings and discussed future prospects for the UAE’s publishing sector in light of the EPA’s ongoing contributions.

Additionally, the EPA hosted a workshop led by Tamer Saeed, Director of the Sharjah International Agency for Literary Rights, focused on the protection of publisher and author rights in translation and publishing. The workshop highlighted the Agency’s regulatory role in the sale of these rights and its contributions to the expansion of the Arab publishing market, emphasizing the EPA’s efforts in promoting Arab cultural content globally.

Preceding the fair, the EPA organized a strategic meeting on 5 November between the International Publishers Association and the Arab Publishers Association, attended by Karine Pansa, President of the International Publishers Association, and Abdullah Al Kaabi, President of the Emirates Publishers Association. This meeting aimed to address key issues within Arab publishing and foster cooperation and knowledge exchange to support industry sustainability and growth.

The EPA’s active presence and initiatives at the Sharjah International Book Fair reinforce its pivotal role in empowering the UAE’s publishing sector and advancing Sharjah’s status as a leading cultural hub in the region.