Publishing’s Global Conversation Convenes in Sharjah as Industry Leaders Chart the Future of Books

The 16th Sharjah International Publishers Conference opens Sunday with thirty substantive sessions exploring artificial intelligence, rights management and the evolving landscape of literary commerce, drawing expertise from across continents.

The publishing world gathers in Sharjah this November for a conference that speaks to the profound transformations reshaping how books reach readers. Beginning on Sunday and running through 3rd November, the 16th iteration of this influential convening brings together publishers, literary agents and industry strategists to examine the technologies, markets and creative practices that define contemporary publishing.

H.H. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, will open proceedings with a keynote address, setting the intellectual tenor for what promises to be a substantive exchange. The programme draws international leadership including Sanyu Dillon, President of the Random House Group at Penguin Random House in the US, alongside Ahmed bin Saud Al Rawahi, Director of the Muscat International Book Fair, representing the Sultanate of Oman as Guest of Honour.

The conference agenda addresses thirty key industry topics spanning the technological, commercial and creative dimensions of publishing. Sunday’s sessions examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping the editorial process, from initial proofreading through marketing strategy, alongside the expanding domain of audiobook production and distribution. Participants will engage with questions of publishing rights in the digital economy, the emerging practice of adapting literary work for film and television, and the strategic development of content into intellectual property assets.

A second current of discussion navigates the commercial dimensions of international expansion, exploring how platforms such as Amazon and Noon reshape book marketing, and considering how the transformed media landscape affects the relationship between publishers, authors and their audiences. Arabic language sessions concentrate on sector specific opportunities, examining how artificial intelligence supports the growth of small and medium-sized publishing houses, the acquisition of translation rights, and the mechanics of developing books as intellectual property.

Alongside the formal sessions, the conference precedes the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair, which opens on 4th November and welcomes over 50 Arab authors from 17 countries. The publishers’ conference functions as a professional prologue to this broader cultural celebration, offering the industry’s practitioners a forum for substantive dialogue before the fair opens to the wider public.

Monday and Tuesday will feature the practical mechanics of publishing exchange: one-to-one business meetings between publishers, literary agents and industry representatives, designed to facilitate collaboration and explore opportunities for trade publishing and translation rights. Monday brings dedicated Boardroom Exchange sessions, including a focused discussion on strengthening implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty and advancing accessible publishing practices across the Arab region.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

This conference reinforces Sharjah’s role as a convening space for intellectual dialogue within the Arab region and globally. By assembling expertise on the mechanics of publishing in the digital age, the Sharjah Book Authority continues to advance the practical capabilities of publishers across the Emirates and the broader Arab world, helping the sector navigate technological change and international market opportunities.

The focus on translation rights, accessibility standards and the expansion of Arabic literary work into international markets speaks to a broader regional commitment to ensuring that Arab voices and stories reach global audiences. As nearly 2,700 publishers and exhibitors from 124 countries gather for the International Book Fair, this preparatory conference ensures that participants arrive equipped with new partnerships, fresh strategies and deepened connections to advance the sector.

Source: WAM