SBA rebrands Publisher Weekly to Book magazine

The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has announced that its publication, Publisher Weekly, will be renamed to Book magazine, beginning with its 75th issue, which will be released in early January 2025. The issue encompasses subjects related to writing and publishing, literary studies, interviews, and reviews of books in Arabic, Spanish, French, and English.

A cultural evolution

Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the SBA and Editor-in-Chief, stated in the editorial that His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, guided the magazine's inception as part of Sharjah's cultural project. On 30 October 2017, the magazine released its inaugural issue, coinciding with the opening of the SBA headquarters and the Sharjah Publishing City in Al Zahia.

Al Ameri emphasised that Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), spearheaded the rebranding, signifying the magazine's metamorphosis into a cultural symbol of the SBA's contributions.

Worldwide perspective

With its new identity, Book Magazine seeks to adopt a transformative approach to knowledge production, highlighting developments and challenges in the literary and publishing landscape at local, regional, and global levels.

Al Ameri emphasised the magazine's esteemed reputation among readers and within Arab cultural circles, as well as its influence in non-Arabic-speaking communities. The publication maintains its emphasis on creative, intellectual, and critical writing, providing valuable insights into Arab literature as well as global linguistic and cultural contexts.

Highlights of the latest issue

The January 2025 issue features a study on the emergence of author-publishers in the Arab world, articles discussing Arabic manuscripts in Spain, an examination of the influence of Ibn Hazm’s "Ṭawq al-Ḥamāmah" (The Ring of the Dove) on Spanish poet Juan Ruiz, and interviews with poet Catherine Boudet from Réunion, Yemeni author and publisher Dr Hani Al Salwy, and Bolivian poet Daniel Ayoroa.