Global publishers conference to feature over 30 workshops

The 15th Sharjah International Publishers Conference, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), opens on Sunday at Expo Centre Sharjah.

The event will feature over 30 professional workshops focused on the future of publishing, along with dedicated networking and deal-making forums.

It will bring together thousands of publishers and professionals from across the globe, including senior figures in publishing, marketing, artificial intelligence, copyright, and international market development.

The conference will open with a keynote address by Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, followed by addresses from senior industry leaders.

Over three days, participants will examine emerging global trends and the impact of digital transformation and new technologies on publishing.

The conference includes a series of workshops that allow publishers, experts, and distributors from around the world to exchange experiences and explore avenues for collaboration.

It also provides opportunities through the roundtables for making deals, exchanging publishing and translation rights, and building new partnerships that enhance the global reach of literary and cultural content, while benefiting from the expertise of leading specialists to develop skills and ensure the sustainable success of the publishing industry in all its components.

This year’s speakers include Gvantsa Jobava, President of the International Publishers Association; Madeline McIntosh, Co-founder and CEO of Authors Equity and former CEO of Penguin Random House US; and Phaedon Kidoniatis, founder of Eurasian Partners, Eurasia Publications and Vice-President Federation of European Publishers.

The 15th edition will focus on professional topics to develop the global publishing industry, expand cooperation between publishers, agents, and distributors, and enhance translation and knowledge exchange. It takes place in the lead-up to the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair, opening next Wednesday.

Recently, the SBA announced the approval of 167 new titles under its specialised publishing and translation support programmes in 2025.

The approved titles were selected from a total of 2,478 submissions received within four months since registration was open.

These include 99 titles under the Translation Grant, 20 through the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur), and 48 titles directly supported by the SBA. The step demonstrates Sharjah’s continued commitment to fostering translation, publishing, and knowledge exchange between Arabic and other global languages.

These selected titles further SBA’s achievements, raising the total number of approved titles to 2,405 across various fields and languages since the initiative’s launch in 2011.

These initiatives represent a cornerstone of SBA’s strategy to support publishers, translators, and authors worldwide, creating an enabling environment for intellectual creativity and accelerating bilateral translation between Arabic and other languages.

This contributes to expanding the presence of Arabic literature in global markets, while offering readers access to diverse human and intellectual experiences in multiple languages.

Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the SBA, said, “In Sharjah, under the leadership of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, we believe that translation is a vital communication tool for connecting people and fostering understanding and being open to other cultures.”

“This belief drives us to continue growing our support for exceptional cultural and intellectual content through specialised programmes. At the forefront of these is our Translation Grant, which is given to titles worthy of global readership, in order to promote Arabic creativity to the world, while making international achievements accessible to Arab readers in their native language.”

Al Ameri added that under the directives of Sheikha, the authority is committed to expanding its support programmes through initiatives that celebrate the most significant literary and intellectual works from around the world.

Mansour Al Hassani, Director of Publishing Services at SBA, commented, “The number of submitted applications this year is a clear indicator of the growing trust that global publishers place in our programmes. It reflects their recognition of the tangible value we bring to the translation and publishing sectors, not only in the UAE and the Arab world but globally.”