Bodour Al Qasimi Leads Fifth Sharjah Book Authority Board Meeting To Discuss Future Plans

H.H. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), led the fifth SBA Board of Directors meeting in Sharjah. The gathering focused on reviewing the SBA's achievements in 2025 and discussing its strategic plan for 2026. Attendees included board members and senior executives such as Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the SBA, and Youngsuk Chi, Chairman of Elsevier.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi praised the Board's efforts in enhancing Sharjah’s global reputation as a centre for knowledge and culture. She highlighted that this year marked a significant milestone for both the Authority and the Arab publishing industry. "Sharjah reaffirms its leadership in building bridges of global cultural communication," she stated.

The SBA's strategic initiatives were a focal point during the meeting. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri presented an overview of key achievements, including a digital agreement with UNESCO to archive global records and integrate them into Sharjah Public Libraries. This project underscores Sharjah's commitment to preserving cultural heritage.

The meeting also highlighted partnerships with universities in Portugal and Italy, further strengthening academic ties between Sharjah and Europe. The Centre for Arabic Studies at the University of Coimbra was inaugurated, along with digitising the historic Joanina Library.

The Sharjah International Publishers Conference saw record participation from 1,599 publishers across 116 countries, reinforcing Sharjah's status as a global publishing hub. The 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) maintained its position as the largest fair for buying and selling publishing rights worldwide for five consecutive years.

Saif Al Zari, Executive Director of Digital Transformation at SBA, discussed advancements in customer relationship management systems that have improved institutional efficiency. Iman Bin Shaiba reported on developments in the Innovation Track of the "Anshur" Fund, focusing on AI-powered solutions for editing and translation.

Future Plans and New Initiatives

The Council approved SBA’s 2026 Action Plan featuring new events like the Sharjah African Literature Festival and Sharjah Animation Conference. These initiatives aim to enhance cultural exchange and innovation within the region.

The Council reviewed performance indicators for the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone, which now hosts over 3,400 entities, including more than 500 companies in publishing sectors. This growth reflects Sharjah's expanding influence in global publishing markets.

Concluding Remarks

H.H. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi concluded by stressing teamwork's importance in achieving future goals: "Our ambition for 2026 is to solidify Sharjah's position as a global hub for publishing." The meeting ended with council members receiving copies of "Sharjah Libraries - A Century of Knowledge" from Sarab Publishing House.

With inputs from WAM