Sharjah Book Authority reviews strong growth in international partnerships, rights trading and digital transformation during SIBF 2026
Sharjah, 12 November 2026: Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), has called for continued investment in Sharjah’s cultural ecosystem to keep books, knowledge and creativity at the heart of society.
She made the remarks while chairing the Authority’s seventh Board of Directors meeting, held during the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026). The meeting reviewed progress in international publishing partnerships, support for emerging businesses and digital transformation, and set priorities for the next phase of growth.
Culture as a living ecosystem
HH Sheikha Bodour emphasised that the cultural vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, is built on creating an integrated ecosystem — one that goes beyond individual events and projects.
“Over the years, this ecosystem has continued to expand, from supporting reading and publishing to building international partnerships, creating new opportunities for creators and publishers, and connecting Sharjah more deeply with the global cultural landscape,” she said.
“Our responsibility at Sharjah Book Authority is to maintain this momentum, continue developing this ecosystem, and provide new opportunities and experiences that make culture and books a greater part of people’s lives and enable them to reach new generations.”
Strong numbers from SIBF 2026
The board was briefed on impressive figures from the current edition of the fair and its professional programmes:
• The Sharjah International Publishers Conference 2026 brought together 1,888 publishers from 126 countries (up from 1,604 publishers from 116 countries in 2025).
• A record 7,980 rights-trading meetings were held — an increase of more than 140% over the previous year — helping SIBF retain its position as the world’s largest book fair for copyright trading for the sixth consecutive year.
• The Sharjah International Booksellers Conference attracted 946 registrants from 99 countries and hosted 424 professional meetings.
• The fourth Sharjah Animation and Comics Conference recorded 8,075 visits, a 47% rise from the previous edition.
Expanding global reach
The board also reviewed Sharjah’s successful participation as Guest of Honour at the Warsaw International Book Fair in May 2026, which featured 35 cultural events, 28 panel discussions, 18 musical performances and the translation of six Emirati titles into Polish.
An exclusive partnership with Malaysian bookseller BookXcess was highlighted. The agreement gives Big Bad Wolf Sharjah development rights across markets in the Middle East and Africa.
Onshur Fund moves into technology investment
Discussions covered the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur), which continues to support emerging publishing businesses. Its innovation track is now shifting towards direct investment in promising publishing-technology companies — expanding SBA’s role from training and capacity-building into technological solutions that can strengthen the industry’s competitiveness.
The board also examined plans to improve sales-tracking tools and market-data analysis to better understand industry trends and reader needs.
Looking ahead
SBA’s Board of Directors reaffirmed its commitment to expanding international cultural partnerships, supporting the growth of the publishing industry and investing in digital innovation. The goal remains clear: to strengthen Sharjah’s position as a global centre for culture and knowledge and to make books and reading a greater part of everyday life.
The meeting was attended in person by H.E. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, along with board members H.E. Abdulla Al Owais, H.E. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Dr Sultan Al Ameemi, H.E. Rashed Al Kous, H.E. Marwa Al Aqroubi, Majd Al Shehhi, H.E. Abdelaziz Taryam and H.E. Fahd Al Memari. Gaurav Shrinagesh, Youngsuk ‘YS’ Chi, John Ingram and Markus Dohle joined remotely.
