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Mohamed MandourCulture & heritage · Sun 01 Nov 2026 | 06:33 PM
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi has called for stronger global publishing cooperation, urging publishers to embrace innovation and build cross-border partnerships to address challenges facing the international book industry.
Speaking at the opening of the 16th Sharjah International Publishers Conference, she said the industry’s resilience depended on international solidarity, adaptability and developing new ways to connect with readers.”In Sharjah, we have always believed that our industry’s true resilience lies in cross-border solidarity,” she said, noting that challenges in one market could often find solutions through creative approaches elsewhere.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the three-day conference runs until Nov. 3 at Expo Centre Sharjah, ahead of the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair. It brings together 1,433 publishers from 126 countries.
Global Publishing Cooperation And Innovation
The opening ceremony brought together Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, chief executive of the SBA, Gvantsa Jobava, president of the International Publishers Association, Ahmed bin Saud Al Rawahi, director of the Muscat International Book Fair, and international publishing executives.
Sheikha Bodour presented an award to KlooBR, winner of the Disrupt Track competition under Sharjah’s Onshur Publishing Sustainability Fund. The competition attracted 94 applications from 17 countries.
Operating in Portugal and Brazil, KlooBR provides artificial intelligence-powered publishing solutions and recorded thousands of paid transactions in its first year. The SBA will make a strategic investment to support the company’s establishment and expansion in Sharjah.Artificial Intelligence And Authors’ RightsDelivering Oman’s address, Al Rawahi highlighted artificial intelligence’s potential to accelerate publishing, improve translation and expand access to books.
“The real challenge is not to resist technology, but to guide it in ways that serve knowledge and creativity,” he said.He also warned of challenges involving creative authenticity, authors’ rights, intellectual property protection and the credibility of published content.
Al Rawahi traced Oman’s publishing history from the Royal Press in Zanzibar in 1882 to the establishment of the Royal Press in Muscat in 1959 and the subsequent transition to digital publishing. He also highlighted Oman’s selection as guest of honour at the Sharjah International Book Fair, describing it as an opportunity to promote its literary heritage through translation and international partnerships.
Changing Reading Habits And Emerging Markets
The opening programme featured a discussion between Sanyu Dillon, president of the Random House Group at Penguin Random House, and Nadia Wassef, co-founder of Egypt’s Diwan Bookstores, on changing reading habits and the future of publishing.
Dillon cited the continued strength of print sales and the resurgence of independent bookstores in the United States. She said social media influencers were increasingly shaping purchasing decisions, citing SenLinYu’s novel “Alchemised”, which sold 1.6 million copies in North America over 13 months.
The first day featured 30 roundtable discussions across four sessions, including seven in Arabic. Topics included artificial intelligence, audiobook production, translation rights, digital distribution, online piracy, children’s books and publishing opportunities in Asia, Europe and Latin America.
The conference continues through Nov. 3 with business meetings from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., connecting publishers with international industry and technology partners to explore commercial opportunities and strengthen professional cooperation.
#Global Publishing Cooperation#Sharjah
Mohamed Mandour
