The Sharjah Book Authority has unveiled the second edition of the "UAE Book Fair", which in cooperation with the Emirates Writers' Union will be staged for five days from 20 to 24 April at the authority's building in Al Zahia area, involving 10 publishing houses that are featuring thousands of publications by UAE writers and editors. The fair welcomes visitors and readers from April 21 from 9pm until 1am, in a spirit of Ramadan, with a packed cultural program of dialogue and discussion sessions, poetry and literary evenings. The fair, via the publishing houses taking part and the program of events, brings together Emirati writers and publishers, and affords readers the opportunity to get to know the new local cultural landscape and its publications. The fair comprises publications from Emirati publishing houses in various fields of knowledge and literature. Publishers specializing in fiction and academic books will have special pavilions.
Sharjah Book Authority Chairman Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri explained that the fair personifies the tremendous development in the country's publishing sector, presenting an opportunity for those who wish to follow the vibrant Emirati cultural and creative scene through the newly emerging local publishing movement. It cements Sharjah's position on the book-producing map and interest in knowledge worldwide."
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.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qassimi, President of International Publishers Association, emphasized that the Association gives due care for effective and open communication with publisher unions and associations around the world to discuss developments and challenges in the publishing sector and identify new business models in line with developments in the previous phase.
Sheikha Bodour Al Qassimi said: “We have drawn up a plan to hold a series of in-depth meetings and dialogues with publishers around the world and we started with Arab Publishers Association and Egyptian Publishers Association. The Arab publishing sector has promising opportunities, as the percentage of Arab young people is considered one of the highest percentages all over the world and this category is eager for knowledge and looks forward to getting acquainted with all new and creative aspects. Thus, this constitutes a motivation and inspiration for publishers.”
This statement was said during a meeting held between Sheikha Bodour Al Qassimi and members of Arab Publishers Association and members of Egyptian Publishers Association in Cairo.
The meeting of Sheikha Bodour Al Qassimi with Arab Publishers Association is the first activity that she has undertaken since holding the presidency of International Publishers Association, in a step in which she affirmed that the issues of Arab publisher are included within the main and essential issues the Association set for its new business cycle. Sheikha Bodour sent a message to Arab publishers, in which she declared that International Publishers Association is keen on interacting with them and continuing the exchange of ideas and visions to find out the factors of growth of the publishing sector in the Arab markets and define how to allow Arab books to reach global markets.
Supporting the creativity
Sheikha Al Qassimi discussed, before the participants in the meeting, the tasks of the specialized committees at International Publishers Association and showed how publishers joined it and participated in achieving its goals, noting that the Association was established to defend for publishers, unify their statements and visions and arrange their efforts to play their roles in an incubating and supportive environment throughout the world.
In addition, President of Arab Publishers Association, Mohamed Rashad, considered that the first visit of Sheikha Bodour Al Qassimi, in her official capacity as President of International Publishers Association, is an appreciation and respect for Egypt's position on the map of Arab and global publishing.
He appreciated the efforts exerted by Sharjah under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qassimi, Member of Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in caring for and paying due attention to writers and the publishing stakeholders, pointing out that the establishment of Sharjah International Book Fair and the splendid initiatives accompanying it, represented a good chance for the publishing sector undergoing difficult circumstances.
Mexico is honoring the Emirate of Sharjah, guest of honor at the 36th edition of the Mexico City International Book Fair, from November 26 to December 4. During its attendance, Sharjah displays 57 Emirati publications translated into Spanish and exhibits a wealth of cultural, literary, media, artistic and heritage events and activities, including 27 sessions, presented by 20 cultural institutions and organizations and 24 Emirati and Arab writers and creators. The Sharjah Book Authority, which is involved under its umbrella: Sharjah Publishing City, Translation Grant, Sharjah International Agency for Literary Rights and the Arab Forum of Children's Book Publishers, "oversees the Emirate's program in the exhibition.
Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of the Sharjah Book Authority, stated: “In this global celebration of the cultural project of the Emirate of Sharjah, we reap the fruits of a wise vision developed by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, in which he emphasized that the strongest bonds that unite the world’s civilizations are the bonds of culture With all its manifestations, this is why we embody in the activities of Sharjah, the guest of honor of the Mexico International Book Fair, the common aesthetic size that brings together Arab culture with its counterpart in Mexico, and highlight the unique creative identity of the UAE through its symbols of writers, artists and creators.
The Emirate offers a rich cultural program that embodies the UAE's cultural message and helps introduce the Mexican people to Arab culture, as it includes a number of book launch parties, readings, folklore performances and poetry evenings.
The activities of the Emirate's program take place in a huge pavilion to which the exhibition management has allocated a large space at the entrance of the exhibition, and it includes a number of discussion sessions, dialogue seminars and cultural, media and film forums, including a symposium entitled "Arabic Vocabulary and its Impact on the Spanish Language" and a discussion session entitled "Marketing Trends." Books," and a media forum on the role of the media in strengthening ties between the UAE and Mexico, and another cultural one on travel literature in the two countries.
Arabic calligraphy features prominently in the exhibition, where representatives from Sharjah discuss its history, origins and impact on world cultures.
