Sharjah’s Publishing Summit Solidifies Emirate’s Standing as the World’s Premier Copyright Marketplace

The 16th Sharjah International Publishers Conference has reinforced the emirate's global authority in rights trading, with professional meetings more than doubling as publishers from 126 countries converge to forge lasting partnerships.

Each year, publishing professionals arrive in Sharjah seeking something that cannot be manufactured: the convergence of opportunity, expertise and cultural authority that transforms a single conference into a gateway to global markets. The 16th Sharjah International Publishers Conference has once again demonstrated why this emirate has become the indispensable fixture on the international publishing calendar, maintaining its position as the world’s largest fair for copyright trading for the sixth consecutive year in succession.

The scale of this year’s achievement speaks to itself. Over two days, 7,980 professional meetings were held to negotiate publishing and translation rights, explore co-publishing ventures and access emerging markets. This represents an increase of more than 140 percent compared with the 3,321 meetings recorded at the previous edition. The gatherings brought together 1,888 publishers representing 126 countries, each armed with catalogues and ambitions, meeting across a meticulously orchestrated electronic scheduling system that transformed spontaneity into precision.

Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chief Executive of the Sharjah Book Authority, contextualised the achievement within the broader vision that has shaped Sharjah’s cultural trajectory. He attributed the fair’s enduring prominence to the foundational commitment of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who positioned books and knowledge as the bedrock of Sharjah’s cultural mission. Under the continued guidance of H.H. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, as we reported in our earlier coverage of Sheikh Sultan and Sheikha Bodour’s visit to the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair, this leadership has cultivated an environment where Arab cultural influence expands across global literary landscapes.

The conference itself evolved beyond mere transaction. Over three days, 30 specialised roundtables addressed the shifting terrain of contemporary publishing: the generation of value from intellectual property, the adaptation of books for film and television, the expansion into audiobooks and digital channels, and the protective frameworks governing authors’ and publishers’ rights. Seven roundtables were conducted in Arabic, reflecting the emirate’s commitment to indigenous literary voices. Discussions extended to artificial intelligence, distribution strategies and digital marketing—the contemporary preoccupations of an industry navigating technological transformation.

New programming introduced this year further broadened the conference’s reach. Global Exchange, a novel initiative, assembled publishers, literary agents and specialists from diverse regions to identify collaboration opportunities and examine market-specific challenges. The PublisHer Lounge provided mentoring, workshops and professional networking spaces tailored to publishers’ development. Boardroom Exchange facilitated direct engagement between senior publishing executives seeking to exchange expertise and explore business development pathways. A first-time delegation of six publishers from the United Kingdom, organised through the British Council, signalled the expansion of the fair’s gravitational pull beyond established networks.

Mansour Al Hassani, Director of Publishing Services at the Sharjah Book Authority, explained the conference’s philosophy with clarity: the meetings materialise into substantive outcomes. Publishers departed not simply with business cards but with agreements to translate literary and intellectual works, to publish titles across varied subjects and to distribute them into new territories. The economic life of ideas, channelled through this annual gathering, transforms intellectual property into cultural circulation.

This achievement arrives as the emirate continues to position itself as a custodian of knowledge and cultural exchange. The fair’s significance extends beyond commercial metrics. As we reported in our feature on Sharjah Public Libraries’ cultural programming at SIBF, the fair exists within a constellation of institutional commitments to preserving and disseminating humanity’s intellectual inheritance.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

Sharjah’s sustained leadership in international copyright trading reflects the broader regional emphasis on knowledge, cultural diplomacy and creative industries that benefit the entire emirate family. The emirate’s position as a hub connecting global publishing networks strengthens the UAE’s standing as a centre for intellectual exchange and cultural influence, drawing international attention to the region’s commitment to literature and ideas.

The conference’s growth—with professional meetings more than doubling—demonstrates expanding confidence in the region as a venue for serious business development. Publishers, literary agents and industry professionals who negotiate partnerships in Sharjah become advocates for the UAE’s cultural infrastructure, returning to their home markets with tangible agreements and the knowledge that this corner of the world takes reading, writing and intellectual property with profound seriousness. This accumulation of reputation and relationship building enhances the standing of the entire emirate community on the global stage.