To expand the visibility of Emirati creative content on the global stage, the Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) returned to the 2024 London Book Fair, showcasing leading Emirati publishing houses.
EPA’s pavilion hosted a delegation of representatives this month from five local publishing houses: Kalimat Group, Sidra Publishing and Distribution, DreamWorks, Asfoura, and Dar Al Thaqafa Publishing.
Through this collaboration, the EPA says it provided publishing houses with a valuable platform to broaden their marketing outreach, discover opportunities for selling and translating rights, and interact with industry experts with the aim of enriching the UAE’s publishing and translation landscape.
The association’s pavilion featured a distinguished collection of the latest publications, including a diverse array of books and comic stories tailored for children and young adults, spanning genres including early education, suspense, adventure, and science fiction. Moreover, novels delving into history, arts, and biographies, as well as books focusing on self-development, language arts, social sciences, and travel, were selected to cater to the varied tastes and interests of a British audience.
Commenting on the event, EPA Executive Director Rashid Alkous says the London Book Fair is a strategically important event among the Emirati Literati.
“This annual international exhibition offers Emirati publishers a platform for immersive experiences and direct engagement with specialists in the publishing field. It enables rights, sales, and distribution negotiations across diverse print, audio, visual, and digital channels, contributing significantly to realising their ambitions of making a distinctive mark on the global publishing industry,” says Alkous.
Alkous emphasised the association’s efforts to identify cooperation opportunities in copyright and translation services and support participating publishers throughout the exhibition, including facilitating match-making sessions and arranging meetings with international publishers interested in exploring the UAE market.
As one of the world’s largest book markets, the book fair presents a significant opportunity for publishers to connect with over 25,000 global specialists.
Alkous says the EPA’s participation underscores its dedication to supporting Emirati publishers and enhancing their presence in the global publishing market, in line with its broader efforts to bolster the creative economy in the United Arab Emirates and promote Emirati literature on a global scale.
