On the sidelines of the just-concluded 41st edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2022, the Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) launched the website of Menassah Distribution Company, its new distribution company, calling on publishers and authors to sign up to avail expansive distribution services during the launch at SIBF 2022.
The EPA’s aim is in line with its commitment to boost the culture of readership and strengthen the foundations of knowledge in the Arab world and internationally.
The new website www.menassah.ae features titles in various categories on its e-store. It also serves as a platform that provides comprehensive services to international and local authors and publishers, including design, editing, marketing, and production using advanced methods and technologies. The website also builds the company’s efforts to promote their online work and broaden exposure to a larger audience beyond the local market. The website offered in Arabic and English also contains blogs that serve as an interactive space to discuss books.
After the launch, EPA called on authors, publishers, and researchers in the UAE to apply for and sign contracts to distribute and market their work through the new website. EPA’s Executive Director Rashed Al Kous says, “With the launch of this website, the EPA offers its Emirati authors, members, and publishers, and researchers a brand new platform to promote their works, be it online or at international events and exhibitions, aligned to the EPA’s goals and strategies to provide readers with rich content in both traditional and digital formats.”
The Menassah Distribution Company under the EPA was established in May 2021 to offer solutions to the challenges relating to the publishing industry and enabling local publishers to expand their reach into regional and international markets with reduced operating costs.
The company continues its distribution activities in the UAE through bookstores, exhibitions, and online platforms. It also aims to alleviate the larger financial burden related to shipping and other logistical activities by charging only a nominal fee through subscription contracts and special requests made by the publishers.