Experts Discuss Growth Opportunities for Arabic Publishing at Sharjah Book Authority Event

Under the theme ‘Seeking New Audiences: Connecting and Communicating on an International Scale’, the program combined insights from global experts with regional case studies and practical workshops. Mansour Al-Hassani, Director of Publishing Services at SBA, highlighted the need for publishers to adapt to changes in the industry. He stated, “Publishing today extends beyond producing books and delivering them to readers. It encompasses content development, rights management, marketing, and international expansion.” He encouraged publishers to adopt innovative tools to enhance their competitiveness.

Andrea Chambers, Associate Dean of the NYU SPS Center for Publishing, Writing, and Media, welcomed attendees and emphasized the program's relevance in the rapidly changing global publishing landscape.

The event featured a session called ‘Connecting with Listeners: Audio Goes Global’, led by Iria Alvarez, Vice President of Global Audio Strategy at Penguin Random House. Alvarez discussed the growth prospects of the audiobook market in the Arab world, suggesting that lessons could be drawn from Brazil and Spanish-speaking countries. She noted that the diversity of the Arabic language across various cultures offers opportunities for tailored content development and early investment in audio rights.

Following Alvarez's session, Ali Abdel-Moneim, CEO of Arabookverse, and COO Ahmed Rewihel presented ‘Connecting with Listeners: Audio Goes Regional’. Abdel-Moneim pointed out that the Arabic audiobook market is significantly underdeveloped, with only 14,000 titles available for approximately 470 million Arabic speakers. He reported a 165% growth in the Arabic audiobook market by 2025, and emphasized the necessity for publishers to recognize regional market differences.

Rewihel added that while the Gulf region generates 61% of audiobook revenue, it only accounts for 26% of listening, whereas Egypt, North Africa, and the Levant comprise 54% of consumption but only 24% of revenue. He stressed the importance of understanding these discrepancies to capitalize on the growing audio market.

Tamer Said, Director of the Sharjah Literary Agency, discussed the need to maintain the authenticity of Arabic literature while introducing it to global audiences. He argued that adaptation should focus on marketing and presentation, not on altering the stories themselves.

In another session, literary scout Kelly Farber discussed strategies for publishers to engage international markets through rights licensing and distribution partnerships. Lauren Hesse, Senior Director of Social Media at Little, Brown and Company, spoke on how platforms like YouTube and TikTok can be leveraged for effective book promotion.

The program concluded with a session by Dr. Mahmoud Al-Rajabi from East University in Jordan, focusing on AI-assisted manuscript evaluation and its implications for the publishing industry.