Show Magazine May 2022 - Publishing Perspectives
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Show Magazine
May 2022
DIGITAL PUBLISHING IN THE GERMANY’S CULTURAL AND EXHIBITOR VIEWPOINTS:
ARAB WORLD PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM PUBLISHERS AT ADIBF
Publishers are using digital Find out what’s on at Arab-world publishers on
book formats to reach Germany’s Guest of Honor their businesses, books, and
readers — PAGES 10-13 pavilion, 8B05 — PAGES 19-22 views — PAGES 29-35
2 MAGAZINE CONTENTS
Abu Dhabi Book Fair 2022: Inside This Issue
3 Letter from the Editor
4 31st Abu Dhabi International Book Fair #abudhabibookfair:
5 Perspective from Dr. Ali Bin Tamim Get More News
6 Juergen Boos: Frankfurt-Abu Dhabi Partnership
From Publishing
Perspectives
7 25 Years of Banipal Magazine
8 Digital: Sail Publishing Online in Dubai Interactive Magazine
10 Digital: Al Arabi’s Ebooks and Audiobooks in Egypt This digital magazine includes links on every
page so you can click through to events, com-
panies, and find more information. Look for
12 Digital: Storytel on Creating Arabic Audiobooks buttons and underlined text.
14 Market Outlook: Emirates Publishers Association
16 Market Outlook: Moroccan Publishers Association Online Coverage
Publishing Perspectives is providing ongoing
17 Rights: Akdem Agency in Istanbul coverage of the 2022 Abu Dhabi International
Book Fair during the show on our website.
18 ADIBF Program: Spotlight on Rights Follow along to get the our latest headlines.
19 Germany’s Guest of Honor Program ABU DHABI COVERAGE
21 Germany: Foreign Rights at Aufbau Verlage
22 Germany: Müller & Schindler’s Facsimile Editions Event Recommendations
23 Sheikh Zayed Book Award’s 2022 Winners Visit our landing page for curated event
listings and other important information.
25 ADIBF Program: New International Congress
EVENTS PAGE
27 Maha Abdullah Explains Content Localization
28 Majarra’s Business Model for Arabic Digital Content
ADIBF Videos and Online Events
29 Arab Scientific Publishers on the Pandemic’s Effects Many events in the ADIBF program will be
broadcast online for remote participants.
30 Dar Al Saqi on Arabic Literature
ADIBF ON YOUTUBE
31 Poland-Arab Ties in Publishing
32 Dar Al Muna’s Translations Into Arabic
Publishing Perspectives Email News
33 Lebanese Market Outlook From Dar Al Adab
During ADIBF, we’re releasing special email
editions that include more stories, event
34 Children’s Books: Noon Books in Canada
coverage, and news from the fair.
35 Children’s Books: Dar Al Buragh in Iraq
SUBSCRIBE FREE
PUBLISHING PERSPECTIVES | ABU DHABI 2022
3 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
From the Editor
Watchwords at ADIBF:
‘Platforms’ and ‘Localization’
Publishing Perspectives is a leading source of
information about the global book publishing
business. Since 2009, we have been publishing
daily email editions with news and features
from across the book world.
Our mission is to help build and contribute
to the international publishing community by
offering information that publishing and media
professionals need to connect, cooperate, and
work together year-round and across borders.
In addition to our daily online coverage,
we also offer an online monthly rights edition,
as well as special issues and magazines at
events including the London Book Fair and the
Frankfurt Book Fair.
Founded by the Frankfurt Book Fair’s
New York office and now a brand of its sister
company, MVB US, Publishing Perspectives At the 2021 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (Image: ADIBF)
works with our colleagues in Frankfurt and
around the world to share with you the latest
publishing trends and opportunities, people to
know, companies to watch, and more.
A s the stately stands and booths go up on
the exhibition floor at the Abu Dhabi
National Exhibition Center, acres of book
also to readers and scholars, educators and
parents, rights directors and acquisition edi-
tors, authors and literary agents.
covers start to fill the hall. It’s smart to keep in mind that the pan-
Those happy greetings between demic still is a major international concern,
PUBLISHER : Hannah Johnson book-industry professionals and between with health-security experts warning of the
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : Porter Anderson kids, their parents, their friends are about potential for new variants and summertime
ADVERTISING MANAGER: Meike Eckern to ring out again, as the 31st edition of Abu surges. The Abu Dhabi International Book
Dhabi International Book Fair opens its run. Fair is one of the first to have returned to
But how have things changed? You’re welcoming exhibitors and visitors in its suc-
CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE: going to hear a lot during the fair about two cessful hybrid (in-person and digital) format
Jarosław Adamowksi concepts that are surfacing with potential last year, and in a fully physical, in-person
Olivia Snaije impact in the region. And in this special event this year.
show magazine, we’ll let you hear from an We have a list of COVID-19 safety
expert on each. measures for you on Page 4.
PUBLISHING PERSPECTIVES The first case is platforms. You know This year, more than 1,100 exhibitors
a brand of MVB US, Inc the word, of course, but Abdulsalam Haykal are here amid a program of more than 450
of Majarra knows the importance of lever- events, all being kicked off by the inaugural
Read more at publishingperspectives.com aging platforms as a way of advancing the International Congress of Arabic Publishing
region’s access to some of the most import- and Creative Industries. Under the aegis of
ant contemporary content in the world. the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center, one
Find our interview with him on Page 28. of the great fairs of the region and the world
And then there’s localization. Transla- is reawakening.
CONNECT WITH US ONLINE: tion is one thing. But Maha Abdullah, a lo- What will live on in the visual memo-
calization consultant formerly with Netflix ries of those who attend, of course, are the
and now with Disney Streaming Services, kids. Those moments of discovery, of ex-
wants you to think ambitiously. She’s spe- citement, of passing a book among friends,
cialized in the Middle East, Turkey, and these are all around you here. And what the
Africa, and knows that there is a lot of po- industry will be thinking about—for the fu-
tential for publishers in the approach the ture of reading and publishing—is localiza-
studios come to her about. Find our story tion and platforms.
OUR PARTNER: on her on Page 27. Welcome to Abu Dhabi International
Book fairs have been among the first Book Fair. •
public publishing events to regain their
footing amid the coronavirus COVID-19
pandemic, and that’s been critical for pub-
lishers who depend on book sales at these Porter Anderson
vast marketplaces. In the Arab world, those Editor-in-Chief,
fairs have come back faster than in many Publishing
other regions: they’re just that important, Perspectives
not only to publishers and booksellers, but
PUBLISHING PERSPECTIVES | ABU DHABI 2022
4 WHATS NEW AT ADIBF
The 31st Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
Reaffirms Necessity of In-Person Events
Back to pre-pandemic exhibitor levels, this year’s ADIBF features new programming
highlights and promises a robust show for publishers, creators, and book buyers.
COVID-19 Safety
Measures at ADIBF
The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
has updated its safety measures for
2022, aimed at keeping visitors and
exhibitors healthy:
• Pre-registration is required to
enter the fair. Get your ticket
online at www.adbookfair.com
At the 2021 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (Image: ADIBF)
or on the fair’s mobile app. Your
ticket will be scanned at the fair’s
entrance.
By Publishing Perspectives Staff The “German Stories” cultural program
is to include screenings of German films that • Attendees must wear a face
highlight the collaborative dynamic between mask at all times while at the fair.
T he 31st Abu Dhabi International Book
Fair is expecting more than 1,100 exhibi-
tors from 80 countries. The fair is also present-
German and Arab cultures, and includes
events with German-Lebanese author Pierre
Jarawan, spoken word poet and scholar Dr.
• Download and active the
Al Hosn app on your mobile
ing an expanded program of some 450 events, Afra Atiq, and writers Olga Grjasnowa from phone. This is the UAE’s official
including seminars and panel discussions for Germany, and Deepak Unniskrishnan from app for contract tracing and for
professional visitors, a cultural program high- Abu Dhabi (more on Page 19). displaying your health status.
lighting authors and creators, and numerous More info at alhosnapp.ae
activities for children and educators. Cultural Figures from the Arab World
These figures are back to the fair’s pre-pan- • Adults 16 years and older: if
demic levels, and up from pandemic-related ADIBF’s expansive cultural program for you are fully vaccinated, you
reductions at the 2021 fair—which hosted 889 both professional visitors and members of must present a green status on
exhibitors from 46 countries the public will feature a number of writers your Al Hosn app—activated by
As you’ll read in this magazine, many of and thinkers from across the globe, includ- uploading a negative PCR test
the fair’s exhibitors are excited to be back to ing: Syrian poet Adonis, Indian feminist critic taken within the last 30 days; if
physical fairs, where they can meet their cus- and literary theorist Gayatri Spivak, authors you are unvaccinated, you must
tomers face-to-face and sell books. and Columbia University professors Muhsin present a negative PCR test
In a statement about this year’s ADIBF, HE al-Musawi and Hamid Dabashi, British writer taken within the last 48 hours.
Dr. Ali Bin Tamim, who is secretary-general Ed Husain, and American University of Beirut
of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award as well as professor Dr. Bilal Orfali. • Visitors to the UAE from
chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language The fair will also feature the late Taha outside the country: if you
Center, said, “The 2022 fair will reaffirm the Hussein (1889-1973) as its 2022 “personality are fully vaccinated, you must
role of culture and books in advancing societ- of the year.” Considered a leading Egyptian present a negative PCR test,
ies and building bridges between nations, with literary figur, this program offers a chance to conducted inside the UAE in
a special highlight being Germany’s return appreciate his contributions to Arab culture. the last 30 days, along with
as guest of honor—a celebration of the long- proof of vaccination; if you are
standing cultural and intellectual collaboration ALC’s Creative Industries Congress unvaccinated, you must present
between the Federal Republic of Germany and a negative PCR test taken within
the Arab world.” Ahead of the fair’s official opening, the the UAE in the last 48 hours.
Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center is orga-
Germany in the Spotlight nizing the inaugural International Congress of
Arabic Publishing and Creative Industries on
This year, Guest of Honor Germany, co- May 22 to highlight the intersection of pub-
ordinated by Frankfurter Buchmesse, is pre- lishing and technology, and as organizers put More info on the ADIBF website:
paring a full presence of some 35 cultural and it, “how different media can thrive as the busi-
professional events, titles from 34 German ness of storytelling evolves. The program in-
publishers at its stand, and a delegation of book cludes speakers from Disney, Netflix, TikTok, COVID-19 INFORMATION
industry professionals, authors, artists, trans- the New York Times, and the international
lators, and academics. book industry (more on Page 25). •
PUBLISHING PERSPECTIVES | ABU DHABI 2022
5 FROM THE ORGANIZER
Dr. Ali Bin Tamim: Abu Dhabi International
Book Fair as a ‘Home for Creative Minds’
Under the leadership of Bin Tamim, the Abu Dhabi fair is returning for its 31st year to
help regional publishers connect with the public and to provide an important forum
where creative industries can meet.
Dr. Ali Bin Tamim at the 2022 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair press conference
(Image: Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre)
By Hannah Johnson being back at physical fairs to sell books is im- Center is the inaugural International Congress
portant for their bottom lines. of Arabic Publishing and Creative Industries,
Publishers have also reported that finding taking place on May 22, a day before the offi-
A s the chairman of the relatively young
Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and
its many projects—which include the Abu
digital solutions—like embracing ebooks and
launching online shops—during the pandemic
are helping to propel their businesses forward
cial fair opening. The program spans publish-
ing, streaming film and tv, audiobooks, and
technology platforms (more on Page 25).
Dhabi International Book Fair and the Sheikh in new ways. This type of progress, says Bin Bin Tamim calls this new event “a think
Zayed Book Award—HE Dr. Ali Bin Tamim is Tamim, is another element he wants the fair tank on the latest trends in publishing and
aiming to enhance the fair’s atmosphere as a to address. technology. We are proud to host distin-
place for intellectual exploration and a celebra- “As an international event and a gateway guished speakers from the literary, publishing,
tion of all things literary. to the Middle East,” he says, the fair “helps to and arts sectors, and we offer our gratitude to
“Over the course of more than three de- shape Abu Dhabi’s vibrant culture and com- our dedicated partners and stakeholders who
cades, the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair merce by driving the professional and com- have made this industry event possible.”
has succeeded in positioning the emirate as a mercial development of the regional publish- And taking a broad view of what this year’s
home for creative minds and innovators in ing industry.” fair has in store, Bin Tamim says, “The 2022
the literary and publishing sectors,” says Bin In addition to this crucial support for re- fair will reaffirm the role of culture and books
Tamim. gional publishers, Bin Tamim says, “We are in advancing societies and building bridges
“Each year we aim to not only facilitate the pleased to welcome back the international between nations, with a special highlight be-
growth and evolution of the industry,” he says, publishing community to the Abu Dhabi In- ing Germany’s return as Guest of Honor—a
“but to empower individuals with knowledge ternational Book Fair for our most ambitious celebration of the longstanding cultural and
and creativity, and spark passion for the writ- event yet. We are creating an ideal platform intellectual collaboration between the Federal
ten word.” for members of the international book indus- Republic and the Arab world.” •
This energetic support comes at a crucial try and literary world, as well as global media
time, as many book markets in the Middle East and technology brands, to come together and
region are still recovering from COVID-19 share their knowledge and expertise across
pandemic setbacks. Many publishers inter- cultures, industries, and disciplines.”
viewed for this magazine said that business New on the agenda this year and spear- ADBOOKFAIR.COM
during the pandemic was difficult, and that headed by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language
PUBLISHING PERSPECTIVES | ABU DHABI 2022
6 GERMANY GUEST OF HONOR
Revitalizing Our Connections: Juergen Boos
at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
In 2022, Juergen Boos is focused on making sure these vital interactions continue in the
book industry, both at Frankfurter Buchmesse and throughout the world.
“As we continue
to adapt to new
conditions in our
world and in the
book industry,
one thing remains
constant: we need
each other.”
Juergen Boos
from German Federal Foreign Office—are also
working to ensure that Germany’s turn in the
spotlight at ADIBF will be a success.
Juergen Boos (Image: Frankfurter Buchmesse, Jonas Ratermann)
Looking Ahead to October
As we continue to adapt to new conditions
By Juergen Boos that the ADIBF team have put an enormous in our world and in the book industry, one
CEO, Frankfurter Buchmesse amount of time and energy into staging this thing remains constant: we need each other.
year’s fair and rebuilding after disruptions No matter who we are or where we live, we
caused by the pandemic. And having now at- need trading partners, business connections,
I t’s a pleasure to return to the Abu Dhabi
International Book Fair this year, especially
as in-person events and travel are increasing
tended several in-person fairs and events this
year, I’ve seen how eager our industry is to
gather together again—and how important
and professional supporters.
Frankfurter Buchmesse is committed to
making sure these vital interactions continue
after more than two years of the COVID-19 fairs like ADIBF are for regional publishers to in the book industry—whether through our
pandemic. And while many of us have been connect with readers. activities at fairs like the Abu Dhabi Interna-
able to continue our important work in pub- tional Book Fair or during our own fair this
lishing, we’ve also seen during our two years of Germany Guest of Honor, 2022 October. In Frankfurt this year, we’ll host our
limited contact how vital in-person meetings four fellowship programs that introduce in-
are to maintaining professional relationships In 2019, Germany was announced as ternational publisher and booksellers to each
and building new ones. As we return to these Guest of Honor at the 2021 Abu Dhabi In- other and to the German book market. Our
vital events that allow us to meet, I anticipate ternational Book Fair. Because of COVID-19 Literary Agents and Scouts Centre is filling up
seeing more friends in Abu Dhabi this year and considerations, Frankfurter Buchmesse and quickly, and the exhibition halls will be bus-
making new ones. our partners opted to host a scaled-back, hy- tling with publishers from across the globe.
The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair brid program in 2021 and to push our in-per- I hope that 2022 revitalizes our network-
(ADIBF), now part of the newly established son program to 2022. So this year, you’ll see ing, connections, new business, and new ideas.
and auspicious Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Germany’s 400-square-meter booth at ADIBF, Please join us at the German stand at the Abu
Centre (ALC), has long been one of the Frank- featuring titles from 34 German publishers Dhabi International Book Fair and at the
furter Buchmesse’s most trusted partners in and event space for our cultural and profes- Frankfurter Buchmesse in October. •
the Middle East. This vital relationship, es- sional programming (more on Page 19).
tablished many years ago, has enabled both Our supporters and partners of the Guest
Frankfurt and Abu Dhabi to facilitate the kind of Honor program—Federal Ministry for Eco-
of international exchange in the publishing in- nomic Affairs and Climate Action, AUMA Find Frankfurt at ADIBF: Stand 8B05
dustry that’s needed to ensure important scien- – Association of the German Trade Fair In-
tific and literary works are available to readers dustry, LMI – Leipziger Messe International,
around the world. Goethe-Institut Gulf Region, and the German WWW.BUCHMESSE.DE
As a fellow book fair organizer, I know Embassy in Abu Dhabi; with generous support
PUBLISHING PERSPECTIVES | ABU DHABI 2022
7 TRANSLATION
25 Years of Banipal Magazine: 75 Editions of
Arabic Poetry and Literature in Translation
Founders and publishers Margaret Obank and Samuel Shimon have been publishing
talented Arab-world writers in translation for a quarter-century. Without new
management, this year’s 75th edition could be the last.
By Olivia Snaije
A t the end of this year, Banipal magazine
will have been bringing readers contem-
porary Arabic literature in English three times
a year for a quarter of a century. It’s a measure
of their passion and dedication that founders
and publishers Margaret Obank and Samuel
Shimon have for the most part operated on
a shoestring, developing a book publishing
business, running a yearly prize for literary
translation, a book club, and—since 2020—a
Spanish-language edition of Banipal.
The magazine publishes Arab poets and
writers in English translation—and now in Samuel Shimon and Margaret Obank, founders of Banipal
Spanish—from Arabic and from other languag-
es at times, and it highlights the importance of
literary translation. Banipal also features inter-
views with authors, translators, and publishers of all Banipal’s work over the previous years,” online Web-zines, along with the few literary
as well as book reviews. It’s a resource both for says Obank. Then, as Shimon says, they set agents serving Arab authors, are ways of pro-
academics and lovers of literature. about spending the money, with their creativ- viding access to potential titles for translation
Obank says that the 75th edition of Banipal ity “spilling over.” and publication.”
(Autumn/Winter 2022) will be a special 25- In 2021, they published the three issues of Their challenge, Obank says, is to contin-
year celebratory publication with events orga- each magazine, as well as two novels and two ue “to be the bridge, the ever-open window
nized around it, but will also be the moment to books of poetry. The motivation for starting on the Arab literary scene, to keep on creating
make a change—she’ll be retiring as publisher Banipal in Spanish was that, “Over last five new avenues for inter-cultural dialogue, and
of the magazine. And unless it’s taken over, “It years, there’s been a big change in the number ones that can be sustained. [This means] back-
will be the swan song of Banipal magazine in of houses publishing in English from the Arab ing up the magazine issues with live events.”
its present form,” she says. world,” Obank says. “We wanted to do some- Keeping up with technology has also been
But Obank is not really retiring, she says, thing different.” a challenge, which led to the Banipal team
as she’ll continue to oversee the publication of There have been six editions in Spanish so launching a full digital archive of issues in 2017
Banipal books and the Spanish edition of the far, working with associates in Madrid, Grana- and keeping their sites updated.
magazine. da, Murcia, or Barcelona. As far as growth in reading and publishing
In 2019, before the pandemic began, “Responses from Arabists all over Spain in the Arab world, Shimon says he feels that
Obank and Shimon had already decided to have been good,” Shimon says. For the mo- it’s increasing, both on the part of readers and
publish more books, and to establish a Spanish ment they don’t have a distributor, but they publishers.
edition of Banipal. Publication dates for three work with universities, bookshops, and the He has noticed, he says, “Authors them-
books were planned for April 2020, and issue Casa Arabe institution. selves are setting up publishing houses, which
No.1 of Banipal, revista de literatura árabe mod- Indeed, interest in Arabic literature does means it’s easier for local writers to get pub-
erna was also scheduled for spring 2020, to be seem to be increasing, Obank says, with a lished, instead of having to make relations with
printed in Spain. greater variety of works being translated. the big established Arab publishers in Beirut,
During multiple COVID-19 lockdowns, “More publishers are taking on works by for example, to get their works published.
international coordination became complicat- Arab authors, from Arabic, French (and En- “Growth in publishers means more books
ed, but “With various adjustments to working glish) originals,” she says. “There are more can be entered into the various major Arabic
life,” Obank says, “we were able to continue translators and more translators making ca- literary prizes. Along with this, there seems
planning and producing books, the magazine reers from translating literary works. In the to be a much-increased use of Facebook and
in English and Spanish editions, print and dig- UK, there have been more translation work- other social media, and of course Zoom, to
ital.” shops that include an Arabic strand, and Ara- promote and launch books, particularly in the
The Spanish edition had to be printed in bic translation mentorships.” last two years.”
the United Kingdom—where the Banipal op- Still, she says, there’s “the never-ending
eration is based—but now plans are underway question of what kind of books get translated.
to begin printing in Spain. Mainstream and some big independent pub-
In April 2020, Banipal magazine won a lishers have their business model for Arabic Find Banipal at ADIBF: Stand 9G30
$200,000 Sheikh Zayed Book Award in the literature that sees the Arab world in stereo-
Publishing and Technology category, “a won- typical ways. But translators, prize shortlists, BANIPAL.CO.UK
derful honor that was a terrific confirmation current affairs, issues of Banipal magazine, and
PUBLISHING PERSPECTIVES | ABU DHABI 2022
8 DIGITAL PUBLISHING
Digital Success in Dubai: Sail Publishing
Masters the Transition
Iman Ben Chaibah launched Sail Publishing 12 years ago as an ebook-first company.
She’s since added print books and, with a push from the pandemic, an online store.
By Porter Anderson
W orking across a wide range of genres
including children’s books, poetry,
fiction, and nonfiction both in Arabic and
English, Dubai’s Sail Publishing started as the
English-language Sail magazine and is now 12
years old.
Sail CEO Iman Ben Chaibah offers a per-
fect example of a publisher embracing the
“digital acceleration” that arose during the
COVID-19 pandemic and in response to
changing market conditions.
Ben Chaibah says, “Our journey with digi-
tal publishing has been humbling.” And yet, in
our exchange with her, it’s clear that she and
Sail Publishing have prevailed over the chal-
lenges and made an important transition to
the growing digital-platform awareness of the
region.
We start by asking her what she antic-
ipates in being at Abu Dhabi International
Book Fair this year.
Iman Ben Chaibah: Sail has been run-
ning as a book publishing house since 2014,
based here in the United Arab Emirates. We’ve
been running before that, since 2010, as Sail
magazine, which publishes articles about the
community and about cultural topics written
by regular writers from across the Emirates. In
the publishing house, we specialize in books,
both in print and digital. We aim to be a one-
stop shop for individuals and the families to
find whatever they might want to read with us.
Book fairs are definitely a great spot for
authors who are looking for new publishers to
publish their works, as it gives them first hand Iman Ben Chaibah
experience to talk with the publishers, sense
if there is a chemistry in communicating with
them, and if they get the essence of what they
wrote about and can be the best home for their had to find new ways to sell our books and
new book. continue to release new titles, and the store “Participating in Abu
Participating in Abu Dhabi Internation- was our solution for that. Before then, we only
al Book Fair gives us first-hand access to our
audience and the mainstream reader. We get
sold in fairs and via marketplaces such as Am-
azon. Having our digital store gave us access
Dhabi International
to gauge what books they respond to, what to our audience. We could get the full margin
genres attract them, and the overall consumer of our sales. And it also helped us release new Book Fair gives us
behavior around book-buying that we often titles across the year as opposed to just around
don’t get through online sales or bookstores. book fairs. first-hand access to
Publishing Perspectives: How has From another side, in the main COVID
Sail fared during the pandemic years? year, 2020, we actually doubled our new releas- our audience and
Iman Ben Chaibah: COVID-19 has es compared to years before and after. Thanks
been very interesting from different perspec- to quarantine periods, it seems that finally had the mainstream
tives for us. From one side, it pushed us to the chance to focus on the books ideas they’d
launch our online store in order to sell our
physical books much sooner than what our
had for so long and get them written.
While we did have a book fair later that
reader.”
business plans dictated at the time. year, it didn’t have a third of the sales we’d
When book fairs stopped operating, we had the year before, but we did next page » Iman Ben Chaibah
PUBLISHING PERSPECTIVES | ABU DHABI 2022
9 DIGITAL PUBLISHING
Sail Publishing stand at the 2021 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
(Image: Sail Publishing)
« from previous notice that most of the sales As we became expert in digital publishing
shifted to online retail instead, which still was in the region, those who didn’t have the means
a plus for us. for it partnered with us to digitally publish
Publishing Perspectives: Being as their own books, whether from large cultural
advanced in digital publishing and sales as you entities, small publishers, or niche publishers
are now, do you think of Sail as a kind of plat- and a few self-published authors.
form of services? Who are your usual clients? We’re proud to have grown our digital
And do you offer distribution and marketing publishing expertise not only in English books
as well as publication? but also in Arabic books, as they come with
Iman Ben Chaibah: Our journey with their own intricacies. Through those services
digital publishing has been humbling. When we’ve allowed our partners to expand their
I started Sail, I was an avid Amazon Kindle reach, and some of them have seen their eb-
reader and thought that’s exactly what’s miss- ooks on Amazon’s bestseller lists for a few
ing in our region. weeks, which we’re really proud of.
So when I launched Sail, it was exclusive- Publishing Perspectives: Can you
ly about digitally publishing books on Kindle, point to a couple of the specific pieces you’ll be
iBooks [later Apple Books], Kobo, and the presenting at your stand at Abu Dhabi Interna-
likes. But I was faced by a number of obstacles. tional Book Fair?
When I found the sales number too low Iman Ben Chaibah: We’ll be releasing fully this encourages them to go on and write
to be sustainable, I realized that—at the time— a few new books, one of which is a beautiful their next full poetry books to be published,
the main digital platforms didn’t exactly allow Arabic children book called ؟يمتنن نأ ىنعم ام and signals to other young potential poets that
users who reside in the Middle Eastern and which translates to What Does It Mean to Be- they can share their precious writings with the
North African region to buy the books. So long? by Maryam AlShehhi. world.
while I, as a publisher, had the digital rights It tackles belonging as a theme, whether to We also have one of our new releases,
for a book sold worldwide on those platforms, a country, to moments in our lives, to people called How I Survive Motherhood by Nada Bin-
there still were geographical limitations placed in our lives, or to our things and the places we ghalib. It’s a funny yet very helpful take on
on sales by the platforms themselves. grew up in. And in a time when we’re more parenting in today’s world. No matter what
While some avid digital readers knew aware of the power of belonging on the psy- generation you were born into, you’ll soon re-
their work-arounds, I realized that I wouldn’t chology of human beings, to teach young kids alize that this world is broken when it comes
be able to reach the mainstream with this ap- that they can belong to anything can give them to raising a child. So the book really taps into
proach. Some of the platforms since then have a huge sense of grounding and relief and secu- the emotional rollercoaster of what it means to
expanded their reach into the MENA region, rity which gives them the power to grow up be a parent in today’s increasingly complicated
but the catalog is still not as rich as it is for the secure in their own skin. world, as the author navigates the tides of rais-
Western readers. We’re also releasing the third book in our ing children amid the latest parenting trends
So after two years of that, we launched our English collective poetry series, in which we’ve and existing outrageous stereotypes. •
print line and were surprised by long queues been bringing together various groups of up-
for book signings. Some of these consum- and-coming authors and debuting their works
ers had already read digital versions of those in published books—which finally gives them
books, but they expressed their love for auto- the pride of knowing their works are on the Find Sail Publishing at ADIBF:
graphs on print books, nevertheless. market. Stand 9F01
And since then, we’ve been expanding our We’re proud to have shed light on about
catalog, and getting our books published in 30 young poets so far, bringing out their beau- SAILPUBLISHING.COM
digital and print simultaneously. tiful writings for the world to see. And hope-
PUBLISHING PERSPECTIVES | ABU DHABI 2022
10 DIGITAL PUBLISHING
Al Arabi Embraces Digital Solutions to the
Post-Pandemic Publishing Environment
At Egypt’s Al Arabi Publishing, the inventory is being digitized as ebooks, and a new
partnership is underway in print-on-demand.
“With the pandemic,
sales completely
stopped in the
Arab world.
Even if [in Egypt]
we didn’t close
bookstores or have
lockdowns, people
automatically went
to Netflix.”
Sherif Bakr
Sherif and Ranya Bakr New Business by Going Digital
Bakr says that the pandemic has been a
way to explore business opportunities that
he and his sister hadn’t tried before. “People
By Olivia Snaije held in January 2020, after which most book who are waiting for things to go back to the
fairs ground to a halt. But Al Arabi continued way they used to be are wasting their time,”
to publish, and between February 2020 and he says. In addition to changing their internal
E gypt’s independent Al Arabi Publishing has
been run by brother and sister Sherif and
Ranya Bakr since 1997. The company had been
July 2021, when the Cairo fair held its post-
poned 2021 edition, the company published 90
titles of which 50 were translated, Bakr says.
software, they tried producing audiobooks—”it
was a total failure”—and began developing eb-
ooks and launching a series of interviews with
run primarily as a nonfiction house by their fa- Between July 2021 and January of this year, authors on their YouTube channel.
ther, who founded it in 1976. They’ve since de- they published 88 titles, with 50 in translation. Besides a surge in digital printing, Bakr
veloped Al Arabi into a publisher many Arab “Actually, we wanted to publish less,” he says that digital platforms have been develop-
readers go to when they want quality literature says, “in order to do the proper distribution ing. Ebooks, which had never really taken off,
in translation. and go to all the book fairs. People want the are becoming increasingly popular. Al Arabi
new titles, so if you have more you don’t nec- has been working with a Jordanian reading
Book Sales During the Pandemic essarily sell more.” Moreover, printing costs app, Abjjad, run by Eman Hylooz. A subscrip-
have gone up again amid devaluations of the tion costs 60 Egyptian pounds per month
But the pandemic years have been tough, Egyptian pound. Earlier in the year, the pound (US$3.27) the price of one book, Bakr says.
says Sherif Bakr, a speaker at the International was down 14 percent; after the onset of the That’s affordable for readers, and for publish-
Congress of Arabic Publishing and Creative Russian war in Ukraine, the pound’s value was ers, “It’s a good way to combat piracy and pub-
Industries on the eve of Abu Dhabi Interna- down 20 percent. lish books that are censored.”
tional Book Fair’s opening. Now that book fairs have resumed, Al
“With the pandemic,” Bakr says, “sales Arabi’s biggest source of sales is back in place. Translation and International Trade
completely stopped in the Arab world. Even if For his company, he says the Riyadh Interna-
[in Egypt] we didn’t close bookstores or have tional Book Fair sells the most, followed by the Because so many of Al Arabi’s books are
lockdowns, people automatically went to Net- United Arab Emirates’ fairs as well as Algiers published in translation, the company’s series
flix. But at Al Arabi, we took a different ap- International Book Fair, at which Al Arabi ex- of interviews has focused on authors from a
proach and thought things had to go back to hibited this time for the first year. “Your books variety of countries, including Korea, Norway,
normal. Our pipeline is long, and we worked have to be diverse,” Bakr says, because “the and Finland, with the Estonian-Finnish author
on our titles.” books that sell in Algeria don’t sell in the Gulf Sofi Oksanen baking a cake for readers for Ra-
The Cairo International Book Fair was and vice-versa.” madan. “We learned a lot about next page »
PUBLISHING PERSPECTIVES | ABU DHABI 202211 DIGITAL PUBLISHING
Customer at Sharjah International
Customer at Cairo International Book Fair buying Al Arabi’s books Book Fair with Al Arabi’s books
(Image: Al Arabi) (Image: Al Arabi)
« from previous scripting the material, and company to develop print-on-demand books.
adding Arabic subtitles,” Bakr says. He likes “People who are Censorship and self-censorship remain
the fact that his own company’s videos can be problematic for Bakr. “Supposedly things are
found after an event, which is not always the waiting for things to changing in Saudi, but it doesn’t seem to get
case with a book fair’s media. better in the UAE and Kuwait. Sometimes
Bakr says that the book market in the Arab
world is getting bigger, but there’s less money
go back to the way even readers self-censor, and some translators
will refuse to translate ‘sensitive’ material.”
being made. Al Arabi at the Abu Dhabi Internation-
A member of the International Publish-
they used to be are al Book Fair is presenting a series translated
ers Association’s (IPA) Freedom to Publish crime novels from around the world, launched
committee, Bakr says three problems—distri- wasting their time.” in 2020. Their most recent translation, a Swed-
bution, piracy, and censorship—remain their ish crime novel titled Knock Knock by Anders
greatest challenges. Sherif Bakr Roslund, has become a quick bestseller and is
Ebooks are partly a solution. “You’re sell- in a second edition. Readers also are buying
ing more copies but you’re getting less money,” nonfiction titles in Al Arabi’s “Unconventional
he says. “It’s complicated with Arabic charac- on the site and selling books is not a priori- History” series. •
ters, but we’ve invested in this and now we’re ty for Amazon, Bakr says, although he sym-
converting all our books” to digital formats, pathizes because the bureaucracy and supply
and working with Amazon Kindle, Bakr says. chain for books in Egypt are so complicated.
Al Arabi began working with Amazon “You really need someone to pave the way. It’s Find Al Arabi at ADIBF: Stand 11D36
in Egypt, which relaunched its Souq.com site not easy for them to understand.”
as Amazon.eg in September 2021. Mobile In the last month, Al Arabi began initia- ALARABIPUBLISHING.COM.EG
phones, perfume, and electronics are pushed tives with Ingram Content Group and a Saudi
PUBLISHING PERSPECTIVES | ABU DHABI 202212 AUDIOBOOKS
Storytel: Building Audiobook Markets Across
the Arab World
‘We’re in a good position,’ says Storytel’s Yasmina Jraissati, after the first five years of the
audiobook subscription service’s operations in the region.
Yasmina Jraissati (Image: Jacob Russel)
By Porter Anderson circles that Storytel could be seen as an attrac- We ask if such “Storytel Originals,’ as
tive acquisition, as Katy Hershberger mentions they’re branded, are still part of the picture for
in her report for Publishers Lunch, especially the company in the Arab world.
A s the 31st Abu Dhabi International Book
Fair opens, the Stockholm-based interna-
tional audiobook subscription service Storytel
with some softening of the Swedish krona. In
January, Storytel completed its acquisition of
Audiobooks.com, but overall numbers showed
Yasmina Jraissati: That’s right. Apart
from a few children books publishers who
would provide audio CDs with their print-
is reporting growth in the first quarter of this a Q1 jump of 35 percent in Storytel’s world- ed books to their readers, there was virtually
year, albeit after making as many as 100 layoffs wide streaming sales. no audiobook production in the region at the
in what’s called “a strategic shift to focus on Publishing Perspectives has been glad to see time.
more mature markets.” Stefanie Lamprinidi, Storytel’s international Today, although things are mostly the
The company’s founding CEO Jonas content expansion manager, on the slate of same, we can observe a slight shift. Most print
Tellander departed from daily operations, speakers at the International Congress of Ar- publishers still don’t produce audiobooks, but
handing off to Ingrid Bojner as interim CEO. abic Publishing and Creative Industries in the a few of them now see it as an opportunity to
There’s some speculation in world publishing run-up to the Abu Dhabi fair this year. The increase the size of their audience, and have
company’s roughly 25 world markets now in- therefore started to do some production them-
clude the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, selves, which they distribute through Storytel,
Israel, and Egypt. for example. Most of these publishers are in
“Accents and dialects Having covered Storytel’s progress for Egypt, some are in the UAE or Saudi Arabia,
many years, we’re glad to have a chance to and they tend to have books that target a very
are certainly a gather some observations from Yasmina Jrais- broad audience.
sati, a well-known pioneering literary agent As you say, apart from distributing audio-
challenge in Arabic operating from her RAYA in the region and books and licensing audio rights, Storytel also
Storytel’s publishing manager for the MENA creates its own audiobooks, the Originals, in-
audiobook publishing, markets (Middle East and North Africa). cluding in MENA. Since I joined, toward the
but I also think they can We begin our conversation by recalling end of 2020, we’ve released quite a few Orig-
that as Storytel entered the Arab world in inals and have experimented with different
be a great opportunity.” 2017, the company found itself doing quite genres and audiences—epic fantasy, dystopia,
a bit of production in order to broaden and crime, biographies, for a general audience,
deepen the available inventory of Arabic-lan- and YA. We have more in the pipeline for the
Yasmina Jraissati guage audiobook content. coming months. next page »
PUBLISHING PERSPECTIVES | ABU DHABI 202213 AUDIOBOOKS
« from previous Publishing Perspec-
tives: How do you handle Arabic dialects?
Do you tend to opt for the Egyptian “central”
dialect or for Modern Standard or for several
dialect versions of an audiobook?
Yasmina Jraissati: Most books pub-
lished in print in the region are in Modern
Standard Arabic (MSA), and MSA is the lan-
guage of modern fiction and nonfiction alike.
In recent years, we’ve observed an in-
creased tendency to write dialogues in dialectal
spoken Arabic. This was a big thing when it
first started in the print world a couple of de-
cades ago. Today, in Egypt in particular, some-
times even the narrative parts are in Spoken
Egyptian. This can be seen in postmodern lit-
erary works in which Egyptian slang is mixed
with Standard as well as anglicism for exam- are in a good position, and there’s still so much
ple—which provides a lot of texture to the more we can do.
book, and kind of situates the narrative in one “Today, all users don’t Publishing Perspectives: What are
or another part of the social landscape. the main challenges for audio work of this
To push things farther, some Egyptian actually know that kind in the region? Various parts of the world
books that are nonfiction are also sometimes can be so different in how they receive and re-
written entirely in Spoken Arabic. Egypt is listening to a book on spond to audio.
so self-sufficient when it comes to publish- Yasmina Jraissati: I believe one im-
ing, that they can publish books with only the YouTube is piracy.” portant challenge has to do with understand-
Egyptian market in mind. ing the value of our service. We know that
So when we adapt a book to the audio for- people are listening to audiobooks: the need
mat, we are most of the time adapting it from Yasmina Jraissati is there. But many people turn to the pirate
an MSA text. Nonetheless, we try to be as industry instead of paying for a subscription—
faithful as possible to the author’s intentions, even though it’s much less practical and the
since our mission is to bring it to life in the material been a good source for Storytel? And quality is catastrophic.
most convincing way in audio. If the author are Sebastian Bond and his co-founder in- Today, all users don’t actually know that
is Egyptian, we’ll go for an Egyptian narrator. volved now with Storytel? listening to a book on YouTube is piracy.
Even if the book is written in MSA, say even Yasmina Jraissati: Storytel acquired There’s a low awareness level about how pi-
if the dialogues were in MSA, there are slight Kitab Sawti in the summer of 2020, along with racy damages the industry and ultimately im-
differences in accent to which people are very its library. And yes, definitely, Kitab Sawti’s pacts the readers and listeners.
sensitive. library represents a precious asset. Sebastian But I believe this will change. The parallel
Importantly, the names of cities and places Bond is currently the MENA bub manager, to music sheds an interesting light. I remember
are very hard to pronounce correctly for some- and Anton Pollak, co-founder of Kitab Sawti, back in the early 2000s, when music took the
one who is not from the country. We made is tech manager. digital turn and everyone downloaded it free
this mistake a couple of times, where because Publishing Perspectives: Overall, from different sites. At first it was exhilarating:
there was no Spoken Egyptian at all in the how does the reception of audio seem to be So many songs we never could have dreamt of
book, we thought we could go with a narrator going in the Arab world? Are subscriptions having access to. But soon, this became very
from a different country. But then, he got the growing at the rate Jonas Tellander—who re- cumbersome. It was an utterly time-consum-
pronunciation of the small unknown towns cently was succeeded by Ingrid Bojner—had ing experience for the consumer, and not sus-
and areas wrong—as you may know, print hoped? tainable for the industry.
books for adults don’t include diacritics, which Yasmina Jraissati: There’s no doubt Then, various authorities started cracking
in Arabic mostly stand for vowels, so it’s pretty that we’re an emerging, still immature market. down on illegal downloading and at the same
complicated to guess what the correct vowel is Most people in our target audience group still time streaming services took their place. And
in a proper name you’ve never heard before. don’t know what audiobooks are. To illustrate that was the real digital revolution within mu-
This means we work with voice talents this, the head of Arabic at a school in the UAE sic.
from across the MENA region, but they tend once told me, “Oh, so you’re like the radio.” ... This scenario is what’s needed for audio-
to belong to mostly three families: Egypt, Le- Well, yes, I can definitely see where he’s com- books in MENA. Storytel has an important
vant—Syria or Lebanon to be precise—and ing from, and in a sense we are. But in another role in that transition, providing a high-qual-
Gulf, or Saudi more specifically. sense, we are nothing like the radio. ity service and showing people there’s a more
I think the question here would perhaps For example, the experience of watching sustainable way to consume audiobooks than
rather be: What do listeners prefer? I won’t get Netflix today, versus the previous experi- piracy.
into that since it’s a complicated one to answer. ence of watching television when there were The way I see it, illegal downloading
But one thing we do know is that for example, five state-owned channels is quite different, means there’s a need for audiobooks in the
even Saudi (i.e. non-Egyptian) listeners enjoy I would say. It’s the same for audio. People’s market, and more potential readers and listen-
listening to an Egyptian book by an Egyptian lives have changed and as a result their time ers than we might think. •
narrator. And they particularly love it when constraints, expectations, and needs have
the dialogues are in Egyptian. It makes them changed. Some people find this out on their
feel connected to the place. Accents and dia- own, and they embrace Storytel. Others al-
lects are certainly a challenge in Arabic audio- ready experience it, but they’re not yet aware
book publishing, but I also think they can be a of the possible answers to their needs and ex- Find Storytel at ADIBF: Stand EZ07
great opportunity. pectations.
Publishing Perspectives: Since Sto- We’re definitely growing at a good pace STORYTEL.COM
rytel acquired the Kitab Sawti library, has its and are very optimistic about the future. We
PUBLISHING PERSPECTIVES | ABU DHABI 202214 ASSOCIATION UPDATES
Emirates Publishers Association Facilitates
International Opportunities for Its Members
The Emirates Publishers Association is tackling one of the region’s most daunting
challenges for its book business by creating its own Manassah Distribution Company.
Emirates Publishers Association seminar on educational publishing
with the UAE’s minister of education (Image: EPA)
By Porter Anderson • Providing exceptional rates and helping
to facilitate all publishing requirements
and needs of our member-publishers to
A mong the most active publishers associ-
ations in the international book business
today, the 13-year-old Emirates Publishers As-
support their books reaching the widest
audience
In addition, our Manassah Project sup-
sociation (EPA) is based at Sharjah Publishing ports publishers with marketing through var-
City and is the United Arab Emirates’ central ious local and international book fairs and ex-
organization for publishers and associated hibitions. Through the Manassah Project, our
stakeholders. goal is to facilitate participation in local and
For our special Abu Dhabi International international exhibitions for small publishers
Book Fair coverage, we’ve spoken with the who produce fewer than 20 publications. We
association’s Abdulaziz AlShomali, senior me- help them present their work to the most sig- Abdulaziz AlShomali (Image: EPA)
dia and marketing executive, for a picture of nificant possible range of audiences.
the organization’s outlook on the markets and This allows our members to enter new
their potentials. We begin by asking about the markets and expand their business outside the
association’s scope of activities this year. local region. Another essential criterion of our “Through the Manassah
Abdulaziz AlShomali: Emirates Pub- progress and development lies in the fact that
lishers Association (EPA) has 231 active mem- we’re seen as the pioneering entity of our kind Project, our goal is to
ber-publishers at this time. in the region’s publishing business. The associ-
The services we provide to our mem- ation represents Emirati publishers nationally, facilitate participation
ber-publishers to assist them with their special regionally, and internationally.
publishing projects include: Publishing Perspectives: Yes, we no- in local and
• Providing the required consultancy sup- ticed the role of the Manassah Project during
port for all the members’ publishing ac- the Emirates Book Fair this year, with what international exhibitions
tivities was reported to be 151 books showcased from
• Providing industry insights, research, and 17 publishers through the program. How have
for small publishers
reports as a base for them to develop their the EPA’s member-publishers fared during the
thoughts and procedures pandemic years?
who produce fewer
• Guiding our members to the proper spe- Abdulaziz AlShomali: Several pub- than 20 publications.”
cialists for publishing legal issues lishers working in the UAE have been bene-
• Designing workshops and seminars to im- ficiaries of our Publishers Emergency Fund,
prove publishing capabilities an initiative we launched to help next page » Abdulaziz AlShomali
PUBLISHING PERSPECTIVES | ABU DHABI 202215 ASSOCIATION UPDATES
« from previous sustain the publishing indus- erational capabilities offered to publishers, re-
try and support member-publishers who were tailers, and other stakeholders to expand their
“We’re currently impacted by the coronavirus’ outbreaks. access to books and content and their outreach
In addition to supporting the publishing into regional markets.
developing the sector, this fund contributes to the continuity What’s more, Lightning Source is helping
of the broader cultural and creative projects of our member-publishers by giving them the
Manassah Distribution the member-publishers, despite the difficult chance to sell a book first and then print it,
circumstances they’ve been through in these rather than going to the expense of large press
Company, a new pandemic years. runs and warehousing.
venture operating Publishing Perspectives: Can you Publishing Perspectives: Lastly,
pinpoint the most significant challenges cur- what needs attention in the UAE market these
under our association rently facing Emirati publishers? days? Where are the “pressure points” the or-
Abdulaziz AlShomali: Among the ganization is working on, and what’s the gen-
to enable local biggest challenges that Emirati publishers en- eral mood and tone of Emirati publishers as we
counter are distribution issues and the effort all hope for
publishers to expand to get Emirati books to international markets Abdulaziz AlShomali: The current
where they can find wider readership. Emirati publishing market is healing, and that
their reach into regional These distribution problems lie on top of makes things look promising for getting back
the high costs of publishing a book today. to our previous, regular business.
and international This is why we’re currently developing the We’re lucky to have had the emergency
Manassah Distribution Company, a new ven- fund, as I’ve mentioned, which was endowed
markets with reduced ture operating under our association to enable with 1 million dirhams (US$272,286). The
local publishers to expand their reach into re- fund has helped alleviate accumulated financial
operating costs. The gional and international markets with reduced burdens resulting from lost sales during the
operating costs. The company will also work closures that hit various sectors–including our
company will also to boost the culture of reading in the Arab cultural sector.
world and internationally. More services will In publishing, it’s how we have been able
work to boost the include integrated services for writers as well to help preserve our industry’s sustainability.
as publishers, including editing, design, mar- Twenty-five publishing houses have benefited
culture of reading in keting, production, and distribution. from the fund during the COVID-19 crisis, to
the Arab world and Publishing Perspectives: By contrast help support the continuance of their creative
to the struggle for effective distribution, are programs. •
internationally.” there successes, even surprises, that the asso-
ciation can point to?
Abdulaziz AlShomali: The Ingram
Lightning Source print-on-demand installa- Find the EPA at ADIBF: Stand 12M05
Abdulaziz AlShomali tion at the Sharjah Publishing City free trade
zone is just such a success. It represents an EPA.ORG.AE
essential addition to the free trade zone’s op-
Emirates Publishers Association stand at Frankfurter Buchmesse
(Image: EPA)
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