A Curated Treasury of Local Voices: Menassah Brings 14,000 Titles from Emirati Publishers to Sharjah’s Book Fair

At the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair, Menassah Distribution Company presents an expansive showcase of work from 82 local publishing houses, creating a singular destination where readers can discover the breadth of Emirati and Arab literary talent.

The act of stepping into a bookshop, or indeed a book fair stand, is an act of possibility. Somewhere among the spines and covers lies a title that will alter how one sees the world, or simply transport one elsewhere entirely for an afternoon. At the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair, which continues until 15th November at Expo Centre Sharjah, Menassah Distribution Company has created precisely such a space of discovery, bringing together 14,000 books across 1,200 titles from 82 local publishing houses.

The scale of the undertaking speaks to a quiet but determined effort to reshape the landscape of publishing in the region. By consolidating work from so many local publishers into a single stand, Menassah has created what amounts to a curatorial experience, one that allows visitors to move between genres, themes and voices without leaving the fairground. It is the kind of presentation that transforms browsing into genuine exploration.

Beyond the books themselves, the company has extended its vision into the everyday through the ‘Check in At Sharjah, Stay with Literature’ campaign, a collection of apparel, stationery, card games and hospitality items that celebrate Sharjah’s cultural landmarks and reading culture. The designs carry reading-themed phrases such as ‘Reading Club’ and ‘Read, You’re in Sharjah’, embedding the love of books into the texture of daily life in a manner both playful and purposeful.

Rashid Al Kous, General Manager of Menassah Distribution Company, describes the fair as an opportunity to connect readers with books they might otherwise encounter only by chance. ‘Bringing titles from 82 local publishers together at one stand makes it easier for readers to discover authors and books they might otherwise miss,’ he explains. ‘It also helps Emirati and Arab publishers build a wider readership.’ The presence at such a significant cultural gathering also serves as a direct conduit between publisher and reader, allowing Menassah to gather insights into which subjects and narratives resonate most deeply with audiences across local and regional markets.

This year’s fair represents a continuation of Menassah’s commitment to amplifying local voices on the international stage, as the company has previously showcased 554 Emirati titles at the Indonesia International Book Fair, extending the reach of regional publishers into Asian markets.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The presentation of such a significant body of work from local publishers underscores the importance of the emirate’s role in nurturing a vibrant publishing ecosystem. Abu Dhabi and the broader Emirates have positioned themselves as intellectual and cultural hubs, and initiatives like Menassah’s showcase demonstrate how infrastructure, distribution networks and organised industry participation contribute to this vision. When readers encounter Emirati and Arab authors within a celebrated international book fair, it reinforces the region’s standing as a place where creative voices are supported and celebrated.

For Abu Dhabi’s publishing community in particular, events such as these create momentum and visibility. Each title displayed, each reader who discovers a new author, contributes to a growing ecosystem where regional voices carry weight not merely domestically but across markets spanning Asia, Europe and beyond. The fair’s scale, bringing together 3,212 publishers from 126 countries, ensures that this contribution reaches a genuinely global audience.

Information from WAM