Sarah Sader Leads Historic Family Publishing House at Sharjah Book Fair 2026

"We were a publishing house established in the 19th century…in 1863 in Beirut, so we are probably considered the oldest publishing house in the Arab world. We specialize in poetry, heritage, and history books. Most of what we have here this year are poetry books because poetry is very important in the Arab world. Especially nowadays, people are becoming more and more attached to poetry," Sader stated.

The family business has maintained a presence at SIBF since its first edition 45 years ago, reinforcing its connection to the UAE's literary community. "We have been coming to the Sharjah International Book Fair since its very first edition. It's a family business; my great-great-grandfather started it, and I am the first woman in the family to lead it," she added.

This year, Dar Sader is featuring around 200 titles, predominantly poetry, a collection that includes works dating back nearly 1,000 years. Sader noted that poetry's appeal may be enhanced by contemporary consumption habits, as its compact nature allows for a deeper reflection without demanding sustained attention. "With people's attention spans becoming shorter, what's nice about poetry is that you can read one poem, enjoy it, think about it and move on to do something else, then come back to it. People love poetry these days," she remarked.

Sader emphasized the importance of publishing ancient works that honor the tradition of oral transmission of poetry within the Arab world. "Back in the day, poetry in the Arab world was transmitted orally, from generation to generation. Now, these works are being published, so it's a beautiful way to honor our ancestors. The titles are from the Arabian Peninsula."

While the publishing house has a small printing press in Lebanon, its primary focus remains publishing, collaborating with external presses to meet production needs. Sader noted, "We have a small printing press in Lebanon, but we are primarily a publishing house. Our business is mainly B2B, except when we are at the book fair, where it is B2C."

Sader is also actively managing the company's social media and noted that about 70% of their online audience is under 35, with 35% under 25. This statistic suggests that younger generations are still connecting with literature, countering the notion that they are distancing themselves from reading. "Our content is mostly aimed at young people, and that's very promising because it means there is a future for books, literature, and poetry."

Although the shift toward online purchasing is significant, Sader does not see it as a threat to traditional bookstores. She believes both online and physical platforms serve distinct purposes in engaging readers. "At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter, as long as people are reading. Going to a book fair or a bookshop is an experience. I personally like browsing to see what catches my attention… Online shopping isn't necessarily a bad thing either because it helps you connect with people you might not otherwise have reached. People still visit book fairs, especially here in the UAE…I genuinely see a lot of traction."