The Emirates Publishers Association confirmed that this year witnessed several successes at different levels, as it represented the Emirati publisher in a number of local, regional and international forums and exhibitions, in addition to organizing a forum for the first time specialized in educational publishing, in addition to providing new services and initiatives for publishers in the country, to continue its path I started 10 years ago.

In its endeavor to build bridges of convergence and communication between the Emirati publisher and publishers around the world, the association participated during this year in more than 25 international book fairs, and discussed ways to cooperate with many institutions working in the publisher sector in the world, and presented the Emirati publisher and his work in various international forums.

Last February, the association launched the "platform" project, which works to provide facilities for members of the association who own less than 20 publications, and it is difficult for them to participate in international book fairs, due to the high cost in international book fairs, and it gives them an opportunity to display and sell their book versions in Various local, Arab and international forums and exhibitions. The number of publishing houses benefiting from the "Platform" project in 2019 reached more than 34 publishers.

In a way that facilitates the work of publishers and startups in this field, the association also launched last February the "Integrated Services Center" in the free zone of the city of Sharjah Publishing, which gives the old and new members of the association the opportunity to complete the service work provided by the association and the National Information Council, through one window The association's headquarters in Sharjah Publishing.

In the context of keeping pace with the developments of the publisher world sector, the association started last June to establish an integrated database that monitors changes in the local publishing sector. To achieve this, the association held in cooperation with the international company "Nielsen", a training workshop attended by about 35 publishers and specialists in the publishing industry, which addressed the importance of research and information in helping publishers working in the UAE to enhance administrative and commercial competencies for their work and development.

In implementation of its strategy, which includes providing various means of support to the publishing sector, the association signed a memorandum of understanding with the Free Zone of Sharjah Publishing last March, to provide discounts to members of the association of up to 60% on the annual rental value of the city's offices.

As part of its plans to attract emerging companies in the field of publishing, the association signed a cooperation agreement with the Sharjah Entrepreneur Center (Sheraa), and the free zone of the city of Sharjah Publishing, concerned with the launch of the Sharjah Gate program, next March, which aims to support the innovative and advanced growth of emerging technology companies in the fields of Digital content and publishing from all over the world, and helping it to establish its business and upgrade it in Sharjah and reach its target markets.

Last March, the association celebrated the 10-year anniversary of its launch and the various achievements that it achieved, as it started its career by joining 13 publishing houses, bringing today the number of its members to 166 homes, along with a package of achievements that it achieved, as it signed eight memoranda of understanding with the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development , The Intellectual Property Rights Association, the National Media Council, the Emirates Writers and Writers Union, and the “Thousands of Addresses” initiative.

During its course, the association obtained full membership in the International Publishers Association, the global network that represents publishing houses and its national institutions around the world, and the Association was granted membership of the Arab Publishers Union.

At the level of participation in international forums, the association participated in more than 280 local and international book exhibitions, and provided readers with more than 16 thousand titles.

First meeting

The Emirates Publishers Association organized, for the first time, last October, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the International Federation of Publishers the "Educational Publishing Forum", which brought together 22 speakers who participated in seven interactive sessions dealing with opportunities and challenges facing the educational sectors.

- 166

Publishing house, number

Association members, which

Her career started

With 13 houses.