Sharjah: The Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) has reinforced its leadership in the regional publishing scene through its active participation in the Sharjah International Book Fair 2025 (SIBF 2025).
The Association has played a key role in advancing the publishing ecosystem by promoting innovation, intellectual property protection, and global partnerships. At this year’s event, the EPA pavilion has hosted a series of strategic collaborations, highlighted by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.
The agreement aims to enhance cooperation in intellectual property management, ensuring the protection of authors’ rights and fostering a sustainable publishing environment in the UAE. In partnership with the International Publishers Association (IPA), the EPA has organized a comprehensive meeting involving the Arab Publishers Association and several regional publishing unions.
The discussions have addressed key challenges within the industry and explored collaborative strategies to strengthen the Arab publishing network. The session has served as a bridge for continuous communication between Arab publishing bodies and the International Publishers Association.
Continuing its commitment to global engagement, the EPA has hosted a delegation of leading French publishers to exchange expertise and explore joint projects in translation and rights management.
Additionally, a special meeting has been held between the Emirates Publishers Association and the China Printing and Printing Equipment Industries Association to boost cooperation in printing technologies and introduce advanced innovations to the UAE publishing market.
Promoting awareness of intellectual property rights remains central to EPA’s mission. In cooperation with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) and the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, the Association has conducted a focused session titled ‘Mechanisms for Blocking Websites that Violate Intellectual Property Rights.’
The Emirates Publishers Association has also organized an awareness workshop with the UAE Media Council on New Service Fees for Media Content Licensing. The session has provided publishers with key insights into licensing regulations, helping them adapt to evolving industry standards.
His Excellency Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the Emirates Publishers Association, stated that the Association’s annual participation in the fair aligns with its strategy to empower the national publishing sector and foster international cultural exchange. Al Kous noted that continuous collaboration with local and global partners contributes to a thriving creative ecosystem and supports the UAE’s vision for a sustainable knowledge economy.
Through its proactive engagement at SIBF 2025, the Emirates Publishers Association has reaffirmed its dedication to strengthening the publishing industry, promoting intellectual property awareness, and positioning Sharjah and the UAE as leading global cultural hubs.
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