Sharjah Book Authority

What Sharjah Book Authority does

Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) is a government cultural entity of the Government of Sharjah, UAE, established by Royal Decree in 2014 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah. Its mandate is to promote literature and culture, invest in creative industries, and build platforms for knowledge dissemination. SBA serves publishers, authors, readers, children, families, and educational institutions across the MENA region and globally.

SBA operates an integrated portfolio that includes the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) — established in 1982 and ranked as the third-largest book fair in the world with over 2 million annual visitors — the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF), the Sharjah Festival of African Literature, the Sharjah Literature Festival, six public Sharjah Libraries, and a Publishing & Distribution arm providing state-of-the-art production and online sales services. Its flagship infrastructure asset is Sharjah Publishing City (SPC), the world's first publishing free zone, covering 65,000 sq.m. with tax-free operations and 100% foreign ownership for tenants. Under the Onshur Fund, SBA has launched the Disrupt Track initiative (October 2025) to integrate AI and advanced technologies into Arabic publishing, and runs the International Award for Arabic Children's Literature with a Dh1.2 million prize pool.

SBA's go-to-market is event-driven, partnership-driven, and government-backed rather than transactional. It generates revenue through multiple streams: free zone licensing fees, publishing and distribution services, book fair exhibitor and visitor activity, library programs, and cultural sponsorship — all underwritten by direct government ownership. The organization conducts international cultural diplomacy as Guest of Honour at major book fairs (including Warsaw International Book Fair 2026), pursues strategic partnerships with global publishing players (Ingram Content Group, Penguin Random House, Elsevier, Big Bad Wolf, BookXcess), and is positioning Sharjah as a global cultural hub through the upcoming hosting of the 42nd IBBY International Congress in 2030 — the first time the event will be held in the Arab world.

Name

Sharjah Book Authority

Legal name

Sharjah Book Authority

Website

https://sba.gov.ae

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Sharjah Book Authority is a Government of Sharjah cultural entity promoting literature through the world's third-largest book fair, the first publishing free zone, six public libraries, and a publishing and distribution arm serving publishers, authors, and readers across 109 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Authority and Publishing Industry Services

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313), Libraries and Archives (51921)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Rights, ISBN & Publishing Administration Services (Identifiers, Metadata, Royalties) (MPAJAJAK)

Keywords

• Cultural authority services
• Book fair organization
• Publishing free zone
• Public library services
• Creative industry development

Headquarters

HQ city

Sharjah

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Publishing and Distribution Services: State-of-the-art publishing and distribution services producing books meeting highest quality standards, with dedicated online sales and distribution entity serving worldwide circulation of literary creations.
2. Book Fair Participation: Organizing and hosting major book fairs including Sharjah International Book Fair and Sharjah Children's Reading Festival, attracting millions of visitors annually.
3. Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone: Tax-free business hub offering 100% ownership corporate structure for publishing industry companies with various business-friendly regulations and incentives.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) is a government cultural entity that organizes the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF), Sharjah Festival of African Literature, and Sharjah Literature Festival. It operates Sharjah Publishing City, the world's first publishing free zone, runs six public libraries under the Sharjah Libraries brand, and provides publishing and distribution services for local and international authors. Its mission is to make books accessible and affordable, support Arab authors in reaching global audiences, and foster cultural dialogue between Arab and international communities.

Product overview

The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) operates as a comprehensive cultural and publishing ecosystem with multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) - the world's third-largest book fair attracting over 2 million visitors annually, and the Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF) - an edutainment program for children with 1500+ activities. SBA manages Sharjah Publishing City, the world's first publishing free zone providing tax incentives and infrastructure for publishers. The portfolio also includes six public Sharjah Libraries, a Publishing and Distribution division with state-of-the-art facilities, the International Award for Arabic Children's Literature (Dh1.2 million prize), the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur), the Sharjah Festival of African Literature, and the Sharjah Literature Festival. Together, these initiatives position Sharjah as a global cultural hub connecting Arab publishing to worldwide markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF): Annual 12-day international book fair, third-largest in the world, attracting millions of visitors and thousands of publishers
• Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF)
• Sharjah Publishing City (SPC)
• Sharjah Libraries
• Sharjah Festival of African Literature (SFAL)
• Sharjah Literature Festival
• Disrupt Track

Products and services

• Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) Annual 12-day book fair attracting over 2 million visitors per year, recognized as the third-largest book fair in the world and the most prestigious in the Arab world; features millions of books from thousands of publishers across subjects and languages sold at discounted prices.
• Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF) Annual edutainment program for children featuring over 1,500 activities including book fairs, stage shows, author sessions, workshops, and the Sharjah Children's Book Illustrations Exhibition; attracts more than 150,000 visitors annually.
• Sharjah Publishing City Free Zone World's first publishing free zone covering 65,000 sq.m., offering tax-free, 100% foreign ownership corporate structure with offices, IT infrastructure, and business support services for publishing companies; includes zero corporate/personal income tax, zero import/export tax, and no currency restrictions.
• Sharjah Libraries Public libraries operating six locations across Sharjah (Cultural Square, Dhaid, Dibba Al Hosn, Kalba, Khor Fakkan, Wadi Al Helow) offering access to books, references, scientific journals, audio-visual resources, and community programs including membership services, private hall booking, and monthly events.
• Publishing and Distribution Services State-of-the-art publishing and distribution services operating as the most extensive in the region, including a dedicated online sales and distribution entity for worldwide circulation of literary works from local and international authors.
• International Award for Arabic Children's Literature Annual award featuring five categories with total prize value of Dh1.2 million, distributed among authors, illustrators, and publishers of Arabic children's literature; submissions accepted from Arabic-speaking authors, illustrators, and publishers worldwide.
• Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur) - Disrupt Track Innovation initiative under the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur) connecting global technology firms with the Arab publishing sector by integrating AI and advanced technologies; selected companies receive operational licenses, funding, and networking opportunities.
• Sharjah Festival of African Literature (SFAL) Four-day inaugural cultural event celebrating African literary and cultural heritage, serving as a cultural bridge between the UAE and the African continent.
• Sharjah Literature Festival Joint collaboration between Emirates Publishers Association and Sharjah Book Authority celebrating Emirati literature through workshops, panel discussions, poetry evenings, and cultural performances; supports Emirati publishers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2 million+ annual visitors to SIBF
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 21 UAE Cultural InstitutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 May 202621 UAE cultural, academic, and media institutions participating in Sharjah's Guest of Honour program at Warsaw International Book Fair 2026.
• Big Bad Wolf and BookXcesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026SBA conducted official visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to deepen partnerships with Big Bad Wolf and its parent company BookXcess. Discussions centered on cross-market cultural initiatives and expanding Arabic content in Asian markets.
• Kota Buku (Malaysia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026SBA engaged with Kota Buku during Malaysia visit to review publishing and retail ecosystem models including library transformation concepts and discounted book fair approaches.
• UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 April 2026Partnership recognized when UAE was selected to host the 42nd IBBY International Congress in 2030, underscoring IBBY's recognition of UAEBBY's programmes and reinforcing Sharjah's status as global cultural hub.
• Dubai Culture and Arts AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2026Partnership with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority for the Big Bad Wolf Ramadan book sale held at Dubai Studio City, offering over one million titles at discounts up to 95 percent.
• Oman's Ministry of Culture, Sports and YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Oman named Guest of Honour at 45th Sharjah International Book Fair with dedicated Omani pavilion and cultural programme featuring literature, poetry, theatre, fiction, visual arts and music.
• Emirates Publishers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 January 2025Joint collaboration between Emirates Publishers Association and Sharjah Book Authority to organize the inaugural Sharjah Literature Festival, celebrating Emirati literature and supporting Emirati publishers.
• Ingram Content GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership page on Ingram Content Group website showcasing Sharjah Publishing City, facilitating global distribution and access to publishing services.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Ingram Content Group: World's largest book distributor and SBA partner (listed on Ingram's partner page for Sharjah Publishing City). Comparable as a key distribution and publishing services partner enabling SBA's global book distribution ambitions.

Broad incumbents

• Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA): South Korean government agency under the Ministry of Culture supporting creative industries including publishing. Comparable as a government cultural agency operating funding programs and international cultural initiatives with broader creative-industry scope than SBA's publishing focus.

Direct peers

• Bologna Children's Book Fair: The world's leading children's book fair held annually in Bologna, Italy. Directly comparable to Sharjah Children's Reading Festival (SCRF) as a children's book event with strong publisher and illustrator participation; SBA even hosts an International Award for Arabic Children's Literature.
• London Book Fair: Major annual international book fair held at Olympia London, focusing on rights trading and publishing industry networking. Comparable as a top-tier international book fair competing for publisher participation and global cultural relevance.
• Frankfurt Buchmesse (Frankfurt Book Fair): The world's largest international book fair organized by a German trade body. Directly comparable as the global benchmark for international book fairs; SIBF positions itself as the leading book fair in the Arab world and third-largest globally.
• Emirates Publishers Association (EPA): UAE-based publishers' association operating in the same market and ecosystem. Directly comparable as a publishing-industry body that organizes joint initiatives with SBA (e.g., Sharjah Literature Festival), and its executive director sits on SBA's board.
• National Book Trust of India (NBT): Indian government entity established to promote book publishing and reading. Closely comparable as a national government publishing/book authority that organizes book fairs (New Delhi World Book Fair) and operates publishing programs — a structural parallel to SBA's role in the UAE.

Regional players

• Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF): Asia's largest book fair with significant rights trading focus. Comparable as a major international book fair serving a large regional market and competing for global publisher participation, particularly relevant given SBA's Asian market expansion (Malaysia partnerships).
• Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara (FIL Guadalajara): The most important book fair in the Spanish-speaking world and the second-largest globally after Frankfurt. Comparable as a major regional book fair with strong international publisher participation and cultural diplomacy ambitions.
• Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF): Major UAE book fair organized by Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre. Regional peer operating in the same UAE market with overlapping publisher base; competes for exhibitors and regional cultural recognition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SharjahBookAuth
• Facebookfacebook.com/SharjahBookAuth
• Instagraminstagram.com/sharjahbookauthority/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sharjah Book Authority