The Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) has been awarded full membership of the International Publishers Association (IPA) – the global network representing publishers and national publishing authorities around the world.
The EPA became the 51st publishers association to achieve full membership, after a majority vote result during the IPA General Assembly, which took place on the 11th of October during the Frankfurt Book Fair.
The EPA joined the IPA as an affiliate member in the first year after the EPA’s inception – the first association to accomplish such a feat – and has been actively pursuing full membership. EPA recently commissioned a survey of the Emirates publishing industry. The survey is the first ever truly in-depth report of the full scope of publishing activities in the UAE and was a landmark achievement that considerably aided the EPA’s successful bid for membership. The EPA report portrayed a publishing sector that, albeit still very young, is growing at a remarkable rate and offers a multitude of possibilities for further growth and expansion.
According to the survey the overall market worth of the Emirates’ publishing sector is currently estimated to be in the region of 260 million USD, with areas such as educational books in Arabic, practical information, heritage, and children’s books all having shown excellent growth. The study also indicated that the UAE has become a regional leader with regards to legislation – with all relevant agreements on copyright being implemented. The Emirates’ potential to become a hub for international leaders in publishing and distribution for the entire Middle East region, as well as a gateway between Europe, the Arab world, and South Asia was further highlighted.
