Echoing the Published word across the UAE

News

Interview with Amira Boukadra, Co-Founder of Ghaf Publications and Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Publishers Association

Emirati writer and publisher Amira Boukadra from Ghaf Publications for Book Trading shares her insights on the effect of the digital revolution and artificial intelligence on the publishing industry and sheds light on the importance of promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility within the industry.

Emirates Publishers Association enlightens the minds of young people with 430 titles at 'Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival'

The Emirates Publishers Association participated in the 14th edition of the Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, which was organised by the Sharjah Book Authority | ???? ??????? ?????? under the theme ‘Train your brain,’ from 3 to 14 May at the Expo Centre Sharjah. As part of this initiative, the EPA showcased 430 children’s and young adult literature titles and hosted the ‘ Menassah Distribution ’ platform, comprising 29 member publishing houses and offering access to more than 10,000 books from various creative, educational, and informative fields that catered to the interests of children and nurtured their minds. The EPA also provided Emirati writers with an invaluable opportunity to promote their publications and market many Emirati literary productions intended to inspire and educate future generations.

Leading the Way in Publishing: Emirates Publishers Association Holds Annual General Assembly to Elect Board Members and Discuss Vision

The Emirates Publishers Association held its annual General Assembly on 26 April, marking the year’s largest gathering of the EPA board and executive office. This year’s event was particularly significant as it involved the voting and election of a new board.

The voting for the new board members resulted in the election of Abdulla Al Kaabi from Dar Alramsa Publishing House, Muhammad bin Dakhin from Dar Al-Takhayal Media, Amira Boukadra from Ghaf Publications for Book Trading, Fatima Al-Khatib from Dar Sidra Publishing Services, and Abdulla Alsharhan, PhD from Ajyal Publishers .

Saeed Rashid Al Muhairi holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s youngest-published author

At just four years old, Emirati child Saeed Rashid Al Muhairi broke the Guinness World Record for being the youngest person to publish a book. His book, ‘The Happy Elephant and the Bear,’ garnered widespread attention and is a testament to Al Muhairi’s remarkable achievement.

A Member of the Board of Directors of the EPA won the Sharjah Children’s Book Award

Abdulla Alsharhan, PhD , a member of the board of directors of the Emirates Publishers Association, was awarded the Sharjah Children’s Book Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to children’s literature. His tireless efforts to promote children’s literacy and his dedication to nurturing a love of reading among young people were key factors in his achievement.

Emirati Publishers Forge New Partnerships, Expand Horizons of UAE Publishing at London Book Fair

As the leading authority in the publishing field, the Emirates Publishers Association participated in the London International Book Fair, providing Emirati publishers with a unique opportunity to showcase their works to a global audience and expand their reach beyond the local market.

The Emirates Publishers Association organised an event to promote cooperation and innovation in the publishing industry

In a joint effort with Sahara Centre , the Emirates Publishers Association organised a session, titled ‘The Importance of Trade in the Publishing Industry to Achieve Global Reach’ to foster collaboration and drive innovation within the publishing industry.

Articles

The EPA consolidates its commitment to sustainable publishing

This article delves into the world of Abdulla Al Kaabi , an Emirati writer and publisher, chairman of the board of directors for the Emirates Publishers Association, and the founder of Dar Alramsa . It explores innovative strategies, action plans, and initiatives to promote sustainable development and environmental preservation. It also underscores the dedicated efforts within the publishing sector, which plays a pivotal role in driving the agenda of sustainable development.

Member News

In our featured interview this month, we spotlight Nour Arab ?? ??? ??? , founder of Nour Publishing . Nour imparts her invaluable insights from her successful career as a publisher, discussing her journey in the publishing industry and sharing her vision for the future of the Arab publishing sector. The interview underscores the importance of publishing books that reflect Arab culture and heritage, stressing the necessity for greater support and investment in the publishing industry. Nour also speaks frankly about the challenges she faced as a woman entrepreneur in a field typically dominated by men, offering useful advice for publishers aspiring to leave their mark in the industry.

Resources and Tools

This section seeks to provide publishers with valuable recommendations and suggestions to help them leverage a variety of resources and tools to bolster their publishing efforts. As the publishing industry navigates its transition into the digital age, these resources and tools can yield invaluable insights, streamline workflows, and carve out new opportunities for publishers.

Digital Book World is an online platform offering comprehensive coverage of the publishing industry’s latest news, trends, and technologies. It provides readers with access to a broad array of articles, reports, and in-depth analyses on a range of topics, including e-books, audiobooks, digital marketing, self-publishing, and more.

‘The Weekly Publisher' magazine Publishers Weekly is dedicated to staying abreast of the book industry and reader trends. It stands as the first magazine in the Arab world, specialising in the world of publishing and offering insights into publishers, authors, and readers.

Publishers, especially in the Arab world, can leverage the services of the Ingram Content Group . As experts in print-on-demand and book distribution through Lightning Source Sharjah, they provide an efficient solution for your printing needs. Not only do they offer a cost-effective service with rapid turnaround times of just a few minutes, but they also enable the distribution of books to a network of 40,000 libraries and university outlets worldwide.

In November 2022, the Emirates Publishers Association launched ' Menassah Distribution ' a support and marketing platform for its members. This initiative aims to make publications from the EPA accessible to readers at both local and international book fairs and online.

The key objective of Menassah is to promote Emirati and Arab publishers and authors globally, assisting Emirati writers in reaching international markets. Menassah offers an assortment of books on an intuitive platform to enrich reading culture by providing diversity and simplifying the book selection process for a wide range of readers.

In an effort to provide ample opportunities for students and teachers to discover and buy a broad selection of high-quality books, Menassah is organising a series of textbook exhibitions. Unregistered Emirati publishers are encouraged to join the platform to widen their audience reach, both locally and globally.

Menassah is participating in six school fairs, contributing to its mission of providing educational resources to all societal sectors. This initiative is mainly focused on nurturing a passion for reading among younger generations.