SBA, NYU gather 161 Arab, African publishers

Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) in collaboration with New York University (NYU) at Expo Centre Sharjah, the event reflected a broader push for innovation in publishing; with the purpose of supporting Arab and African publishers in expanding their global reach.

Publishing strategies shaped by global expertise

In his opening remarks, Mansour Al Hassani, Director of Publishing Services at the SBA, said the programme is part of the Authority’s broader initiative, under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA; to support publishing professionals; and stressed the importance of learning from international industry leaders and of building cross-border collaboration to raise the standards and effectiveness of publishing in the region.

Helping to shape the future of storytelling

Andrea Chambers, Associate Dean of the NYU SPS Center for Publishing, Writing, and Media; welcomed the guests and outlined the programme’s agenda. She stated, “For this year, we are focused on sharing best practices and strategies, hearing your challenges, and exploring how you can achieve growth, expand your reach, and find new audiences. Our goal is to help you advance that process by learning from leading executives in the field of publishing.” She concluded by highlighting the significance of the partnership with SBA, and for Sharjah’s important role and efforts within the global publishing industry, helping to shape the future of storytelling.

The best time in book publishing

In his keynote presentation, “Global Book Industry & Publishing in Emerging Markets,” Markus Dohle, CEO Emeritus of Penguin Random House, connected global trends to opportunities in the Arab World and Africa. He underscored that 86% of the world's population lives in emerging economies, which boast higher GDP growth, creating a vastly larger opportunity for publishing. He cited booming markets in India and Southeast Asia, as well as Africa which is projected to reach $18.5 billion by 2050, driven by population growth, rising literacy, and digital access.

While acknowledging challenges like complex supply chains, language and cultural nuances, and lack of IP protection, Dohle argued this is “the best time in book publishing since Gutenberg invented the printing press,” citing record 2024 global revenue, the healthy coexistence of print and digital, and the rapid growth of children's books and audiobooks. He urged collaboration, stating, “Partnerships among publishers… we all share similar goals,” and called on attendees to become industry ambassadors, spreading a positive message backed by the data that shows that publishing is on the rise.

Audiobook strategies for publishers of all sizes

Amanda D’Acierno, Global President of Penguin Random House Audio, led a session titled “Bracing Audio: Effective Strategies for Publishers Big and Small,” and urged publishers to capitalise on the “borderless” potential of audiobooks. While around 30% of the global population have listened to at least one audiobook in their lives, she revealed a massive opportunity for the Arab world with 400 million speakers, and only around 12,000 available titles in Arabic. Her strategy for emerging markets focused on localised production and ensuring ultimate quality and standards. “A customer that has a positive experience with audiobooks will return time after time,” she stated, advising publishers to invest in skilled narrators and educate consumers on the value of paid, quality content over inferior AI-generated or pirated material.

She also highlighted unique marketing angles, noting that a well-known narrator can dramatically extend a campaign's reach and that promoting the format's versatility; for commutes, chores, or exercise; is key to driving adoption. Following the session, attendees broke out into groups to develop and present their own audiobook campaign concepts; with input and guidance through D’Acierno’s expertise.

Expanding into new markets

Brooke O’Donnell, Senior Vice President at Independent Publishers Group (IPG), guided attending publishers on global expansion; and outlined key benefits, including increased reach and maximizing intellectual property value. To navigate common challenges like cultural fit and territory rights, her central advice was to find the right distribution partner. “Start with a clear goal,” O’Donnell advised. “Do you need global reach or specific regions? Look for a partner with proven market knowledge, transparency, and the operational capacity to manage sales and data effectively.” She emphasised having a proper budgeting strategy and leveraging print-on-demand to test new markets without large upfront inventory costs, allowing for strategic and scalable growth.

Maximising digital growth

During a presentation by Mariana Féged, General Manager of Bookwire MENA, she highlighted the company’s growth, saying “As a digital distributor with 2,500 clients across seven markets, over 1,000,000 ebooks, and more than 200,000 audio books; audio is by far the most profitable opportunity, generating 71 percent of digital revenue.” With the Arabic digital market growing at a 147% CAGR, she urged publishers to capitalise on this boom, saying, “It is important to make your catalogues available in all business models to increase revenue opportunities,” Féged advised. To conclude, she emphasised that success hinges on securing digital rights, perfecting metadata for discoverability, and choosing a distribution partner to ensure optimal platform placement.