Sharjah 24: His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, issued an Emiri Decree to reorganise Sharjah Book Authority (SBA).

The decree stipulates that the Authority shall be a legal entity and shall have full capacity to perform the necessary legal actions to achieve its objectives and exercise its competences, and shall have financial and administrative independence.

The name of the Sharjah Book Authority in English is approved as follows: “Sharjah Book Authority”, known as (SBA).

According to the decree, SBA main headquarters shall be in the city of Sharjah, and may by a decision of the Ruler, establish branches and offices in the rest of the emirate's cities and regions.

The decree states that SBA aims to achieve the following:
1. Encouraging investment in the creative industries and increase their share.
2. Providing an intellectual platform for knowledge, intellectual and cultural exchange between peoples, civilisations and cultures.
3. Emphasising the importance of the book and its impact on raising awareness among society members in light of the technical development and the diversity of sources of knowledge.
4. Enhancing the Emirate's position at the local, regional and international levels to attract those concerned with the culture sector in general and publishing, printing, translation and documentation sectors in particular.
5. Encouraging community members to continuously learn and develop their abilities to adapt to the constantly changing conditions of life.
6. Pursuing modern knowledge in different aspects of life and disseminate such modern knowledge among members of society.
7. Encouraging community members to communicate with other peoples’ culture.
8. Developing community members' awareness of the importance and value of information and how to benefit from it in developing their lives and society.
9. Supporting the cultural movement and scientific research at the local, regional and international levels, in coordination with the concerned authorities.

The decree also stipulates that, taking into account relevant federal and local legislation, SBA shall, in order to achieve its objectives, exercise the following competencies:
1. Drawing up the general policy, setting up the SBA strategic plans, and proposing legislation and regulations that contribute to the review and development of policies related to the book.
2. Collecting and preserving Emirati, Arab and international archaeological documents and manuscripts using scientific methods and modern technologies in coordination with other competent authorities in Sharjah, taking expertise into account.
3. Preparing, designing, developing, using and maintaining materials, programmes and databases related to publishing, printing, translation, libraries in coordination with other competent authorities.
4. Contributing to the preparation of studies, research, tests, and the development of printing, publishing, translation, and documentation products.
5. Participating in events related to publishing, printing and book fairs activities within and outside the Emirate.
6. Communicating, participating and coordinating with international bodies and institutions concerned with intellectual property and copyright.
7. Concluding agreements, memoranda of understanding and partnerships with similar bodies and institutions within and outside the Emirate.
8. Participating in local, regional and international conferences and meetings concerned with the books’ sector.
9. Seeking the assistance of Sharjah competent authorities to obtain administrative and technical support, and seeking the assistance of experts and consultants, and cooperating with other bodies that fall within SBA objectives and competencies.
10. Implementing any other functions assigned to the Authority by the Ruler.

According to the decree, a decision of the Ruler shall be issued to specify the specialised agencies and administrative units that follow SBA.

The Authority shall be managed by a board of directors representing SBA higher authority, and shall be composed of a chairman and a number of members who are assigned by an Emiri decree, provided that the term of membership in the board is four years starting from the date of its formation and may be extended for a similar period or periods, provided that the board continues to implement its work at the end of its term until a new board is formed, may be reappoint outgoing members.

According to the decree, the board shall meet at the invitation of its chairman or whoever the chairman chooses to act on their behalf in their absence whenever necessary, based on a decision by the chairman. Board’s meetings shall not be valid unless more than half of the members are present, provided that the chairman or whoever they choose to act on their behalf is present. The chairman’s decisions and recommendations shall be issued by the majority of the votes of the present members, and when the votes are equal, the chairman side shall prevail. The board may invite experts it deems appropriate to attend the board sessions without having a counted vote in the deliberations.

The decree also stipulates that the board shall undertake the work of the Authority, manage its affairs, and work to achieve its objectives. In particular, it shall exercise the following competencies:
1. Approving the general policies necessary to achieve SBA objectives.
2. Proposing legislations related to SBA work or regulating SBA affairs and submitting it to the Ruler to take what he deems appropriate in this regard.
3. Issuing executive, organisational, internal, financial, administrative and technical regulations and instructions for SBA to ensure the achievement of its objectives.
4. Approving the Authority's draft budget and final account.
5. Approving the appointment of senior executive positions in SBA.
6. Forming permanent and temporary committees and work teams of the Authority and defining their terms of reference and work system.
7. Contracting with expert institutions and auditors to carry out tasks of investment nature for the Authority.
8. Approving agreements, memoranda of understanding and partnerships concluded by the Authority.
9. Approving lending and borrowing and requesting banking facilities.
10. Approving draft organisational structure of the Authority.
11. Any other functions assigned to the board by the Ruler.

According to the decree, SBA shall have an Executive Chairman who shall be appointed by an Emiri Decree and shall be responsible before the Board performing his duties. He shall be assisted by a sufficient number of employees and experts in accordance with SBA organisational structure. He shall have the necessary powers to manage the Authority’s affairs and take the necessary decisions to achieve its objectives, in particular:
1. Proposing the general policy and strategic plans necessary to achieve the objectives of the Authority and present them to the Board for approval or take the necessary action in this regard, and follow up on the proper implementation of those related to the affiliated departments.
2. Proposing draft laws and decisions related to SBA work and presenting them to the Board to decide what it deems appropriate in this regard.
3. Supervising the workflow of the Authority in accordance with the legislation and regulations in force, issuing administrative decisions and following up on their implementation.
4. Presenting the annual budget and final account of the Authority to the Board to take the necessary action in this regard, and supervise the mechanism of disbursement from the Authority's budget.
5. Representing the Authority before government and private agencies, in their relations with others, and before the judiciary.
6. Signing contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding and partnerships concluded by the Authority following the approval of the Board.
7. Submitting periodic reports on the Authority's work to the Board.
8. Delegating some of his powers or competencies to senior employees of the Authority in accordance with the legislation in force in Sharjah.
9. Any other tasks assigned to him by the Board.

The Authority shall also have an Executive Director who shall be appointed by an Emiri Decree and shall manage its affairs in a manner that ensures the achievement of its objectives within the limits of the powers delegated to him. The Executive Director shall be responsible before the Executive Chairman, and in particular he shall have the following:

1. Managing the Authority and submitting periodic reports in this regard to the Executive Chairman.
2. Supervising the workflow in the affiliated departments in accordance with the legislation and regulations in force, issuing administrative decisions and following up on their implementation.
3. Following up on the proper implementation of the strategic plans approved by the Board and related to its affiliated departments.
4. Preparing and implementing plans and programmes for training in the Authority.
5. Preparing periodic reports on the work of his departments and submitting them to the Executive Chairman.
6. Overseeing the administrative activities of the Authority and all its employees to ensure proper implementation of the Executive Chairman decisions.
7. Preparing periodic reports on the work of his departments and submitting them to the Executive Chairman.
8. Any other duties or competencies entrusted to him by the Executive Chairman.

The Authority shall also have an international advisory council that includes in its membership a number of experienced people in the fields of culture. A decision of the chairman shall issue its formation and define its powers.

The decree stipulates that this decree replaces Decree No. (13) of 2013 regarding the establishment of the Sharjah Book Authority and its amendments, provided that all regulations and executive decisions issued continue to work until they are amended or canceled pursuant to this decree or the decisions pursuant to the decree.

The decree shall also include a number of regulatory articles for the Sharjah Book Authority in a number of fields.