Latest news with #SharjahBookAuthority
Gulf Today
19-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Sharjah clears 167 titles under publishing, translation support programmes in 2025
The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has announced the approval of 167 new titles under its specialised publishing and translation support programmes in 2025. The approved titles were selected from a total of 2,478 submissions received within four months since registration was open. These include 99 titles under the Translation Grant, 20 through the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur), and 48 titles directly supported by the SBA. The step demonstrates Sharjah's continued commitment to fostering translation, publishing, and knowledge exchange between Arabic and other global languages. These selected titles further SBA's achievements, raising the total number of approved titles to 2,405 across various fields and languages since the initiative's launch in 2011. These initiatives represent a cornerstone of SBA's strategy to support publishers, translators, and authors worldwide, creating an enabling environment for intellectual creativity and accelerating bilateral translation between Arabic and other languages. This contributes to expanding the presence of Arabic literature in global markets, while offering readers access to diverse human and intellectual experiences in multiple languages. Ahmed Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the SBA, said, "In Sharjah, under the leadership of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, we believe that translation is a vital communication tool for connecting people and fostering understanding and being open to other cultures. "This belief drives us to continue growing our support for exceptional cultural and intellectual content through specialised programmes. At the forefront of these is our Translation Grant, which is given to titles worthy of global readership, in order to promote Arabic creativity to the world, while making international achievements accessible to Arab readers in their native language." Al Ameri added that under the directives of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, the authority is committed to expanding its support programmes through initiatives that celebrate the most significant literary and intellectual works from around the world. Mansour Al Hassani, Director of Publishing Services at SBA, commented, "The number of submitted applications this year is a clear indicator of the growing trust that global publishers place in our programmes. It reflects their recognition of the tangible value we bring to the translation and publishing sectors, not only in the UAE and the Arab world but globally." The SBA launched its Translation Grant in 2011 to support publishers worldwide in translating distinguished books into multiple languages. The grant offers up to $4,000 for general books and $1,500 for children's books, with special grants of up to $250,000 for translations from or into Arabic. The criteria include a formal translation contract, details of the translator, and copies of the final published edition. Eligible works include novels, biographies, cookbooks, poetry, and children's literature, given that they are under copyright protection. The Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur) aims to strengthen the publishing industry in the UAE by offering comprehensive support tailored to publishers' needs. The fund supports publishers' sustainability and growth, and boosts their journey into enriching the cultural landscape in the UAE through three core tracks, namely: Launch, Scale, and Disrupt. WAM
Gulf Today
14-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
SBA participates in San Diego conference
The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has achieved a series of strategic milestones during its participation in the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference, the world's largest gathering of library professionals, held in San Diego, USA. SBA reinforced Sharjah's global standing in the library sector by promoting its flagship international library events, launching new initiatives for children's content, expanding database collaborations and professional training, and exploring smart technologies for libraries in the UAE and wider region. Led by Ahmed Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, the delegation held high-level talks with ALA President Sam Helmick. Discussions focused on enhancing the Sharjah International Library Conference and Sharjah School Libraries Conference, with a view to attracting more international experts and reinforcing their presence on the global calendar. SBA also highlighted its efforts to enrich Arabic-language children's literature and promote early literacy by partnering with US publishers and library networks, aiming to deliver diverse and culturally relevant content to Arab readers. Al Ameri said the participation reflects the vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who placed libraries at the heart of the emirate's cultural mission. He added, 'Under the leadership of Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, SBA is committed to building global partnerships across the knowledge sector, particularly in libraries, to foster international cooperation and knowledge exchange.' Eman Bushlaibi, Director of Sharjah Public Libraries, noted that the conference provided an opportunity to share Sharjah's century-long library journey and explore collaborations with US institutions keen to connect with knowledge centres across the Arab world. During the event, SBA met with leading companies including Baker & Taylor and Playaway to explore new interactive formats for children's books. It also discussed expanded digital database access and interactive training programmes with EBSCO, aimed at enhancing librarians' capabilities. The delegation further explored the latest smart systems and digital solutions with technology providers to upgrade library infrastructure and improve accessibility for researchers and the wider community. WAM
Sharjah 24
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
"Kitab" Observes Violence in Latin American Novels
Mexican novelist Jorge Bowlby, whose image graces the cover of the issue, is one of the most influential writers in contemporary Spanish-language literature, basing his literary project on themes of history, politics, violence, and war. Issue 81 of the magazine, published by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), includes topics on writing, publishing, and reading, including interviews with American translator of Arabic literature William Maynard Hutchins, Moroccan thinker Said Nachid, and Spanish traveler and writer Jordi Esteva, author of Socotra: the land of geniuses. Books bring people together His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA and Editor-in-Chief of Kitab magazine, wrote the editorial for the July issue, titled "Sharjah's Message in the Brazilian Capital." The editorial read: "Books bring people together from different countries, nationalities, and cultures. This is the message of Sharjah, the World Book Capital for 2019, to its Brazilian counterpart, Rio de Janeiro, which UNESCO has crowned as the World Book Capital for 2025." Sharjah's cultural and civilizational renaissance project Al Ameri added that the 22nd Rio International Book Biennale, the largest book fair in Latin America, was a meeting place for the two cultural capitals, through a programme organised by SBA to introduce the fair's audience and participants from around the world to Sharjah's cultural and civilizational renaissance project, led by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who has sponsored it for five decades." Ahmed Al Ameri added that "Sharjah had a remarkable presence at the International Book Fair in the Brazilian capital, under the guidance of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, the architect of Sharjah's World Book Capital title." Sharjah.. a cultural hub Al Ameri explained that the SBA organised numerous events during the fair, from June 13 to 22, featuring Emirati authors and writers, and provided visitors to the SBA's pavilion with Emirati books translated into Portuguese. He emphasised the importance of Sharjah's participation in the fair "to convey the voice of Arab culture, enhance joint cooperation, and promote Sharjah's rich cultural heritage." The new issue of the magazine includes reviews of books published in Arabic, Spanish, English, Dutch, and French, as well as news of new releases and articles on authors and writers from Iraq, France, the United States, the Congo, Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Morocco, the Netherlands, Jordan, the UAE, Mexico, and Spain. Al Ameri wrote an article titled "The Power of Culture and the Culture of Power," in which he addressed manifestations of injustice and resistance to it. He stated, "In times of adversity, the role of culture in the lives of nations becomes more prominent, as it is primarily a stronghold and the profound meaning of identity and existence. Consciousness, which is a qualitative product of culture, is the deciding factor." He concluded his article by saying, "Finally and always, those who embrace the power of culture build bridges, and those who embrace the culture of power erect walls."
Sharjah 24
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah pushes Arab literature into Latin America
As Latin America's premier book industry event, this year's fair coincided with Rio's designation as UNESCO World Book Capital. This offered the Agency a significant opportunity to connect with major publishing players across the continent. Global interest in Arab literature Commenting on the participation, Tamer Said, Director of the Sharjah Literary Agency, stated: 'Our participation in the Rio International Book Fair was a significant step toward building sustainable partnerships with Latin American publishing institutions. We witnessed a genuine interest in Arab literature from Brazilian publishers, opening up a promising opportunity to expand translation and distribution circles and introduce the voice of the Arab author to new readers and diverse cultural landscapes. At the Sharjah Literary Agency, we believe that building literary bridges is at the heart of our work, and investing in these key cultural events will make a long-lasting impact on Arab publishing globally.' Exploring opportunities for translation and co-publishing During the meetings with Brazilian publishers, the Agency discussed mechanisms for reciprocal translation and the possibilities of co-publishing, as well as how to professionally manage Arab authors' rights in Latin America. Future collaborations were also discussed with potential partners, laying the groundwork for new projects that aim to enhance the presence of Arab creativity in South America. This participation is part of a broader strategic vision led by the Emirate of Sharjah to strengthen cultural exchange between the Arab world and Latin America by consolidating its presence on international platforms and fostering direct dialogue between publishing stakeholders on both sides. The Sharjah Literary Agency, one of the initiatives of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), aims to empower Arab writers to access new markets and bolster the presence of Arab literary rights on global platforms. The Agency remains firmly committed to representing Arab creativity and expanding its reach on the international scene, contributing to sustainable bridges of cultural and knowledge exchange between peoples.
Gulf Today
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
SBA displays cultural vision of Sharjah at Rio Book Fair
Under the directives of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), the emirate of Sharjah is showcasing its rich cultural vision at the Rio International Book Fair 2025 (Bienal do Livro) in Brazil, highlighting the vibrancy of contemporary Emirati and Arab literature. The authority is also presenting a selection of Emirati works translated into Portuguese, reflecting the emirate's commitment to sharing the UAE's cultural achievements with the world. The authority's participation in the largest event of its kind in Latin America, which runs until June 22, comes as part of Brazil's celebration of World Book Capitals following the selection of Rio de Janeiro as the World Book Capital for 2025. This prestigious title, which Sharjah held in 2019, recognises the emirate's global standing in supporting culture and the publishing industry. Through its pavilion, SBA shed light on the diversity of the cultural movement in the UAE and the wider Arab world, highlighting major achievements in knowledge, literature and publishing. The authority actively engaged in panel discussions and held meetings with publishers, translators and cultural organisations, to strengthen knowledge exchange and expand opportunities for translating works to and from Arabic. As part of its efforts to build lasting partnerships, SBA invited key players in the publishing industry to take part in the emirate's leading international initiatives, including the Sharjah International Book Fair, the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, the Sharjah Publishers Conference, the Sharjah International Library Conference and other prominent global events held throughout the year. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, affirmed that the authority's participation in the Rio International Book Fair reflects the vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who places culture at the heart of development strategies and views books as a powerful tool for building bridges of dialogue with the world. Al Ameri said: 'Sharjah's presence in Rio highlights the central role of Emirati and Arab culture on the global knowledge map. Today, we are not only sharing our Emirati identity but also fostering a vibrant dialogue between Latin America, with its rich intellectual and cultural heritage, and the Arab world in all its expressions of thought, literature, art, and creativity. The selection of Rio as World Book Capital for 2025 offers us an opportunity to renew and strengthen our partnerships with the cultural community in Latin America.' He added: 'Under the guidance of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the SBA, we are committed to empowering Emirati and Arab publishers and authors to reach new markets and to developing sustainable support systems that enhance their presence on the global publishing stage.' As part of the cultural programme at the book fair, SBA organised a panel discussion titled, 'The heritage of Arab literature and Sharjah-led new literary movement', which explored the evolution of the Emirati literary landscape and the emirate's vital contribution to nurturing writers and advancing cultural initiatives. On the sidelines of the event, SBA organised a special book signing ceremony for the translated titles, underscoring the authority's commitment to deepening cultural exchange and strengthening the international presence of Emirati literature. During its participation, SBA highlighted several of its leading initiatives in publishing and knowledge exchange. These include the Sharjah International Book Fair, the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, and the Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone. The authority also introduced the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur), an initiative designed to support publishing industries in emerging markets, and the Sharjah Literary Agency, which works to protect the rights of Arab authors and publishers while expanding their international presence. The authority has also drawn attention to the role of Sharjah Public Libraries, one of the region's oldest cultural institutions, which has been promoting knowledge for more than a century. Publishers have been briefed on the specialist international conferences hosted annually in the emirate, including the Sharjah Publishers Conference, the Sharjah International Library Conference, the Booksellers Conference and the Sharjah Animation Conference.
