Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), inaugurated the 14th Sharjah Publishers Conference at the Expo Centre Sharjah, underscoring the event’s commitment to advancing a globally interconnected publishing community. Organized by SBA in partnership with the International Publishers Association, the conference precedes the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair, drawing over 1,000 publishers and agents and 74 industry speakers from 108 countries.
In her keynote address, Sheikha Bodour emphasized the need to amplify emerging voices in the publishing industry, asserting, “Our role is to ensure that new voices are heard and that the industry grows with integrity and inclusiveness.” Her speech highlighted the SBA’s mission to promote cultural exchange, especially as the publishing world navigates rapid transformation.
The event also celebrated achievements within the publishing rights sector. Sheikha Bodour and SBA CEO Ahmed Al Ameri honored winners of the Sharjah Rights Connection Awards, with Kalem Agency of Turkey and Dar El Shorouk of Egypt receiving top accolades. Special appreciation awards were posthumously given to Bassam Chebaro and Bill Kennedy, honoring their lifetime contributions to publishing.
The opening day featured Chantal Restivo-Alessi of HarperCollins, who noted the rise of “Glocal” trends—global genre appeal with local adaptations—and encouraged strategies to engage younger audiences. John Ingram of Ingram Content Group also stressed the importance of accessibility and efficient distribution in today’s digital market, especially for smaller publishers.
This year’s conference reaffirms Sharjah’s position as a vital hub for publishing innovation and global partnership.
