At the Sharjah Publishers Conference, Bodour Al Qasimi urged global publishers to make stories more accessible, diverse and human.
SHARJAH: Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), officially inaugurated the 15th Sharjah International Publishers Conference at Expo Centre Sharjah, welcoming 1,258 publishers from 116 countries. The conference precedes the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair and reaffirms Sharjah’s leading role in global publishing dialogue.
In her opening remarks, Bodour Al Qasimi emphasised the vital role publishers play in shaping the future of storytelling. “As our industry evolves and adapts to technology and transformation, we must stay united in our basic purpose: to make stories more accessible, diverse and human,” she said. She also reiterated Sharjah’s commitment to fostering global collaboration in publishing.
The ceremony was attended by key figures including Ahmed Al Ameri, CEO of SBA; Gvantsa Jobava, President of the International Publishers Association; Madeline McIntosh, Co-founder of Authors Equity; and Phaedon Kidoniatis, Vice President of the Federation of European Publishers.
Gvantsa Jobava described publishing as an industry of ideas with an unprecedented global reach thanks to technologies like audiobooks and text-to-speech tools. She praised Sharjah as a beacon of reading culture and accessibility.
Madeline McIntosh, former CEO of Penguin Random House US, highlighted the increasing importance of authors in an era of fragmented attention spans. She noted that new models, especially among smaller publishers, are redefining how books are marketed and monetised—placing authors at the centre of profit-sharing models, as seen in her own venture, Authors Equity.
Greek publisher Phaedon Kidoniatis celebrated Greece’s status as Guest of Honour and acknowledged Arab scholars’ role in preserving Greek knowledge. He also cautioned about the responsible use of artificial intelligence in publishing to protect creativity and authenticity.
The opening day saw 31 workshops exploring everything from AI in publishing to influencer marketing and the future of audiobooks. New initiatives like the Boardroom Exchange facilitated face-to-face meetings between publishers and tech executives, encouraging practical collaboration and insight sharing.
A special exhibitor wall highlighted key service providers in the publishing value chain—from digital distribution and print to AI-powered marketing tools. The event also spotlighted strategies for enhancing accessibility in publishing, including solutions for readers with disabilities and methods to empower emerging markets through translation deals.
As the conference continues over the next two days, matchmaking sessions will link publishers with agents to facilitate rights deals, and open further avenues for global storytelling and literary exchange—reinforcing Sharjah’s growing influence as a global publishing hub.
