At the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2024), Tamer Said, the Director of the Sharjah Literary Agency (SLA), spoke about the agency’s ongoing efforts to bring Arabic literature to a global audience. During a session titled “An Introduction to the Sharjah Literary Agency and its Range of Services,” moderated by Rashid Al Kous from the Emirates Publishers Association, Said explained how SLA connects Arabic authors and publishers with international markets.
Launched in 2020 by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), SLA has built a diverse catalog of over 150 literary works, including novels, poetry, and children’s books. Said highlighted that all the works are carefully selected to meet high linguistic and editorial standards. One of the key aspects of SLA’s mission, he noted, is protecting the copyrights of authors and publishers. By managing copyrights effectively, the agency ensures that its clients can generate income through translation rights, audiobooks, and other opportunities.
The agency emphasizes building trust with authors and publishers by offering transparent terms, detailed analytics, and a commitment to fairness. This approach has helped establish SLA as a reliable partner for those in the literary field. In addition, SLA has created a global network that links publishers, editors, and translators. This network has sparked growing interest in Arabic literature in regions such as the Balkans, among others.
Tamer Said concluded by emphasizing that SLA’s ultimate goal is to create lasting change by expanding the reach of Arabic literature worldwide. The agency aims to build long-term partnerships that will help Arabic authors and publishers thrive on the international stage, ensuring that their works find audiences far beyond the Arab world.
