MADRID: The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) marked a significant milestone with its debut participation at Readmagine 2025, becoming the first Arab city to feature in one of Europe’s key publishing innovation platforms. Held in Madrid and organised by the Germán Sánchez Ruipérez Foundation (FGSR), the event reaffirmed Sharjah’s position as a global hub for publishing and cultural development.
During the event, SBA hosted a dedicated session titled “Empowering Emirati publishers through the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur)”, with speakers Iman Ben Chaibah, SBA’s Director of strategic initiatives and global markets, and Shatha Nasser, founder of Kairos Publishing House and recipient of the Onshur fund’s inaugural grant.
Ben Chaibah highlighted Onshur as a strategic initiative committed to building a sustainable and resilient future for the UAE’s publishing industry. She explained how the fund, through its launch, scale and disrupt tracks, offers publishers a comprehensive package of training, financial support, and professional mentorship.
She credited Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA, for the fund’s integrated vision, which combines practical resources like trade licences, co-working spaces, printing services, and translation support. The session also drew international praise for its replicable model and strategic depth, prompting multiple follow-up discussions on potential partnerships.
Nasser shared how Onshur was instrumental in launching her publishing house, which translates literature from Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese into Arabic. She underlined the value of access to mentorship and production know-how that helped bring culturally rich global stories to Arab readers.
The session became one of the most engaging at Readmagine 2025, with participants lauding Sharjah’s leadership and innovation in building a future-ready publishing ecosystem through the impactful Onshur Fund.
