Bodour Al Qasimi addresses Sharjah Publishers Conference on industry resilience

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi addressed attendees at the 16th annual Sharjah International Publishers Conference on November 1, 2026. Zawya, WAM, and Sharjah24 all reported on her opening speech, which focused on global cooperation across the publishing trade. She stated that the true resilience of the publishing sector rests on cross-border solidarity. [1][2][3]

According to Zawya, Sheikha Bodour told conference guests that creative solutions to publishing challenges often emerge by looking across international borders. She noted that publishing operates within an accelerating age but expressed optimism about the ability of publishers to adapt. Zawya reported her observation that when challenged, publishers reimagine their craft and build new bridges to readers. [1]

Sheikha Bodour is an Emirati publisher who served as President of the International Publishers Association from 2021 to late 2022. She has also served as President and Chairperson of the American University of Sharjah since 2022. In 2025, she was appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Book Culture. [4]