SBA concludes its participation in Readmagine 2025 in Madrid

The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has concluded its participation in Readmagine 2025, one of Europe’s leading platforms for innovation in the publishing sector.

Held in Madrid and organised by the Germán Sánchez Ruipérez Foundation (FGSR), the event marked Sharjah’s debut as the first Arab city to participate, reaffirming the emirate’s status as a regional and global centre for publishing development and international collaboration.

During the international event, SBA participated in a session titled “Empowering Emirati publishers through the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur),” featuring Iman Ben Chaibah, Director of strategic initiatives and global markets at SBA, alongside Shatha Nasser, founder of Kairos Publishing House and one of the winners in the fund’s inaugural launch track.

In the session, Iman Ben Chaibah reaffirmed Sharjah’s commitment to shaping a sustainable and resilient future for the publishing industry in the UAE and the wider region.

She introduced Onshur as a strategic initiative designed to empower publishers through three integrated tracks: launch, scale and disrupt.

“The fund was established to address a fundamental challenge: how to ensure the continued strength and growth of the publishing sector over the long term. It responds to this need by offering a well-rounded framework of training, financial backing and professional mentorship, equipping publishers to tackle industry demands and grow their businesses with assurance and skill.”

She went on to credit the vision of Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, for shaping the fund’s comprehensive framework.

“Onshur offers a fully integrated support system that combines professional guidance, targeted training and access to a network of industry partners and specialists. It also provides practical resources such as trade licences, co-working spaces, affordable printing services and translation support. We were encouraged by the strong international interest in the Onshur model during the event, and we have already scheduled several follow-up meetings to explore potential areas of collaboration.”

WAM