SCC organises "The Book Economy” session at SIBF

The session, held on Wednesday, was attended by Her Excellency Mira Khalifa Al Muqarrab, Secretary-General of SCC, and His Excellency Ayman Othman Al Barout, Secretary-General of the Arab Parliament for the Child (APC), along with several invited guests, representatives of official and cultural organisations, and those interested in the book and publishing industry across the Arab world.

The session was part of the Council's efforts to strengthen the cultural aspect of parliamentary work and to increase community engagement on intellectual and economic issues that are part of the comprehensive development seen in the Emirate of Sharjah, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the leading supporter of culture and the publishing industry in the Arab world.

Publishing industry: Bridge between culture and economy

The session, moderated by journalist Ismail Al Shaibani, explored four key themes: the connection between thought and economics in the publishing sector; the challenges encountered by the Arab book market; investment opportunities in cultural content; and the future of digital transformation in Arab publishing.

His Excellency Rashid Abdullah bin Huwaiden, Member of the SCC and Chairman of the Financial, Economic, and Industrial Affairs Committee, opened the discussion, emphasising that the publishing industry is a vital bridge between culture and the economy. He stated that it contributes to shaping minds and supporting sustainable development and is an essential part of the creative economy system adopted by the UAE. Bin Huwaiden highlighted that the Emirate of Sharjah has established a global model in this sector through its leading cultural institutions, such as Sharjah Publishing City and the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), which have transformed books into a sustainable economic and developmental project. He explained that the SCC, for its part, is working through its legislative and oversight mechanisms to support cultural investment and encourage entrepreneurs to enter the fields of digital publishing and Arabic content, thereby strengthening the role of culture in sustainable economic development.

Challenges and advancements 

For her part, Her Excellency Dr Fatima Khalifa Al Muqarrab, a member of the SCC and rapporteur of the Economic, Financial, and Industrial Affairs Committee, addressed the state of the Arab publishing industry and its challenges. She explained that the Arab market faces complex economic, legislative, and technological obstacles, but also has the potential for growth thanks to a new generation of writers and substantial government support, particularly in the Emirate of Sharjah, which has built a strong cultural and economic infrastructure.

She emphasised the importance of creating a stimulating economic environment for young publishers and authors through legislative support, fostering academic partnerships, and increasing the visibility of Arabic books on global digital platforms.

Knowledge economy

Professor Dr Mohammed Qasim Al Shaboul, Professor of Finance and Banking at the College of Business Administration at the University of Sharjah (UOS), discussed the concept of the knowledge economy and emphasised the importance of cultural financing in fostering sustainability within the publishing industry. He noted that investment in Arabic and digital content constitutes a key pillar of the modern economy. He advocated for the creation of cultural investment funds to support publishing, translation, and creative content projects, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of Arab publishing.

Digital transformation

Dr Maysar Zuhair Al Ta'i, Assistant Professor at the College of Business Administration at UOS, emphasised the importance of digital transformation in Arab publishing, highlighting that advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital publishing platforms are shaping the future of the Arab book industry. 

He highlighted that digital transformation extends beyond merely converting books into electronic formats; it also involves creating an integrated legislative and technological infrastructure that protects intellectual property and governance, thereby establishing a globally competitive Arab publishing market.