The International Publishers Association announced the election and appointment of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi as the President of the Association, starting from its next session of 2021 during the General Assembly of International Publishers Association, which was held via "Zoom" platform, with the participation of a group of members of the Association.
During the past two years, Sheikha Bodour held the position of Vice-President of International Publishers Association.
The selection of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi for this prominent international position, which is considered one of the most influential positions in the book and knowledge industry, constituted an Arab and international precedent that embodies the efforts of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi in supporting the publishing industry and publishers at the local and global levels, through a series of international initiatives within which she exerted great efforts to serve the publishing sector in various countries of the world. This selection is deemed an international honoring for the cultural march of the Emirate of Sharjah in particular, and the United Arab Emirates, in general.
Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi has also made many achievements that have a great impact on the course of Emirati cultural work, as she founded the Emirates Publishers Association in 2009.
Sheikha played a prominent role in allowing Sharjah to get the title of "World Book Capital of 2019", making Sharjah the first Gulf city to receive this title and the third in the Arab world and the Middle East region, since Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi chaired the advisory committee and the office of Sharjah as World Book Capital.
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) announced that Dubai Public Libraries received Excellence Award in "I Know" Initiative, which was launched by Arab Federation for Libraries and Information; the largest professional and scientific federation for libraries and information in the Arab world, to honor libraries addressing Corona crisis, due to the distinguished services provided by libraries and their response to the needs of the public during this emergency crisis.
Dubai Culture submitted a file in which it presented the integrated role that Dubai Public Libraries played in response to the pandemic of "Covid-19". It also shed light on its work system, which included the temporary closure of libraries, internal organization and support of library staff, through the virtual follow-up and organization of works, communicating with staff, giving health instructions for them, as well as providing them with vocational training remotely.
Externally, Dubai Culture formed the remote action team to deal with libraries beneficiaries and communicate with the public during the crisis. An action plan was developed and a regular schedule was set for cultural, technical and educational programs for children and adults in Arabic and English. Social media platforms, like "Instagram," were used to broadcast the planned cultural programs and an employee was appointed to review the Arabic content before its broadcast to the public. In addition, the public inquiries were answered and responded immediately, whether by electronic means or SMS.
The General Secretariat of the Arab Forum for Children’s Book Publishers organized, on August 18, 2026, a professional seminar for Forum members entitled “Challenges Facing Children’s Book Publishers: Production and Distribution Obstacles.”
The seminar brought together a group of specialists in the field of children’s book publishing and addressed the key challenges facing Arab publishers throughout the production and distribution stages of children’s books, as well as possible approaches to addressing these challenges and overcoming obstacles that hinder the growth and development of the sector.
Participants discussed a range of issues related to the realities of children’s book publishing, beginning with production challenges and costs, and the selection of appropriate content and topics, through publishing and marketing mechanisms, to the difficulties of distribution and reaching readers. They also presented a number of proposals and solutions that could contribute to strengthening the presence of children’s books and supporting Arab publishers.
The seminar featured Dr. Mohamed Sayed Abdel Tawab, writer, critic, and Publishing Director at Nahdet Misr Publishing House; and Ms. Hadeel Maqadi, Executive Director of Al-Yasmine Publishing House – Jordan. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Mohamed Fathi, writer, academic, and General Supervisor of Arjouna Publishing House – Egypt.
The seminar was attended by approximately 30 publishers from members of the Arab Forum for Children’s Book Publishers, in addition to a number of writers and illustrators.
Under the slogan, “My Family Reads”, the UAE celebrates today the month of reading of 2021 nationwide, in implementation of the Cabinet’s Resolution, which sets March every year as a national month for reading, in a step that affirms the leadership’s keenness on establishing and stabilizing the UAE’s position as the capital of culture and knowledge, and the preparation of an educated generation able to carry the banner of knowledge and lead the march of sustainable development in the state.
Executive Director of the National Archives, Abdullah Majed Al Ali, said, “The month of reading is an important initiative that reflects awareness of the necessary priorities that are integrated with other coordinated efforts to build the society of knowledge and consolidate practices that support the development of human resource capacities to the maximum possible extent.”
He pointed out that “Rapid response from various state institutions stressed the awareness of the importance of the initiative, as there were many successive projects and ideas that enhance reading opportunities and provide incentives and motives for various groups, especially among youth and children, in order to get involved in this process, which would become soon a habit, to which they will stick, when they discover the great fun and benefits they directly get, along with the advantages and opportunities granted by reading to them.
Ministry of Culture and Youth has chosen the slogan “My Family Reads” for the month of reading of 2021, in order for supporting and strengthening the role of parents in instilling love for reading in children, highlighting its importance and great role in early childhood development, stabilizing it as a permanent society culture and habit among members of society, strengthening its role as a key motive and indicator of family unity and cohesion, as well as focusing on it for fun, exploration and inspiration for children in the UAE society.
