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“Congress PCI 2022 Edition”

2022 marked the inaugural edition of the Congress, which attracted more than 380 in-person attendees and welcomed 35 inspiring speakers from a range of sectors across book publishing, film, video streaming, gaming and social media.

Key stats of 2022 Edition
Keynote Speakers
3
Speakers
35
Attendees
380
In-Depth Discussions
6
Fireside Discussions
1
Favourable Rating Of Overall Experience
97%
Net Promoter Score
+71
Likelihood Of
Future Attendance
97%
Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi
Former President of the International Publishers Association (IPA)
HE Dr. Ali Bin Tamim
Chairman, Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre
Keynote Speakers
Nicholas Carr
" Pulitzer Prize finalist for “The Shallows: What the I...
Ann Hiatt
Bestselling Author, Silicon Valley Veteran, and Investor
Michael Tamblyn
CEO of Global Digital Bookseller Rakuten Kobo
All Our Panel
Speakers
Maha Abdullah
MENA Localization Consultant and Regional Languages Expert...
Annie Arsane
Head of platform strategy, METAP, TikTok
Sherif Bakr
Publisher, Al Arabi Publishing and Distributing
Sami Al Batati
Founder and presenter of YouTube channel the Shadow of the Book
Juergen Boos
President and chief executive officer, the Frankfurt Book ...
Carlo Carrenho
Publisher
Cristóbal Cobo
Senior education specialist, World Bank
Rawan Al-Dabbas
MENA regional director, International Federation...
Nafez Dakkak
Managing partner at work and learning venture studio BLDR.
Giacomo D'Angelo
CEO, StreetLib.com
Mohamed Ellabban
Head of Arabic community, Quora
Todd Calgi Gallicano
Author, Hollywood Screenwriter; Podcast Host
Michael Garin
Former CEO of twofour54 Abu Dhabi
Abdulsalam Haykal
Executive chairman, digital knowledge and platform provider Majarra
Hannah Johnson
Publisher, Publishing Perspectives
Al Kingsley
CEO of edtech company NetSupport and chair of multiple...
Jonathan Knight
General manager, games, the New York Times
Bissan Korban
Head of higher education products and services, MENAT region...
Persa Koumoutsi
Persa Koumoutsi, writer, translator of Arabic literature...
Shereen Kreidieh
General manager, Asala publishing house
Stefanie Lamprinidi
Regional content expansion manager, Storytel
Alan Lee Janney
Award-winning self-published author
Ed Nawotka
International and bookselling editor, Publishers Weekly
John Russell
Director of education, Alef Education
Sultan Al Ryami
Head of gaming and esports, AD Gaming Creative Media Authority...
Hanada Taha Thomure
Endowed professor of Arabic language and director of the Arabic...
HE Saeed Al Tunaiji
Executive director, Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre
Ruediger Wischenbart
President and founder, Content and Consulting
Joelle Yazbeck
Partner manager, MENA, Twitter
Testimonials
Al Kingsley
"Thank you for a fantastic visit and brilliantly organised event. Your team made the trip so easy and welcoming. Genuinely after 30 years in the sector, this was the best organised event I have attended. I very much hope we can do it again the future"
Sherif Bakr
"It was such a good organization and moderation . I was so relaxed that I felt I was with friends talking casually. You guys all Rock. Thanks a million."
Giacomo D"Angelo
"I learned a lot at the conference, I met many new people and I also started to build new professional relations thanks to you. I feel very grateful for that, and I hope that my humble contribution was useful for you all."
Maha Abdullah
"It's so heart warming and promising to witness such an important and highly organized event happening in our MENA region with the unfortunate and obvious lack of attention to the Arabic language and the related industries that we are currently witnessing. To see this level of investment and dedication can only make us feel very proud and confident that this is the beginning of many more great achievements to come."
Discover our panels
Keynote Speech:
“The 70-20-10 Model for Innovation in Publishing”
Keynote
Speaker
Ann Hiatt
Bestselling Author, Silicon Valley Veteran, and Investor
Arabic publishing: where are we and where are we heading?
What are the top Arabic publishing markets? Which genres are most popular, and what are their market shares? How big are digital books? How important are imports? Are imports and exports fully serving the Arabic market?
Panel Moderator
Carlo Carrenho
Publishing Consultant
Read Bio
Panel Speakers
Rüediger Wischenbart
President and Founder, Content and Consulting
Shereen Kreidieh
General Manager, Asala Publishing House
Sherif Bakr
Publisher, Al Arabi Publishing and Distributing
Stefanie Lamprinidi
Regional Content Expansion Manager, Storytel
Education and Publishing in the Virtual World
Few sectors are more affected by Covid than education. The pandemic heightened the importance of and brought significant attention to digital learning platforms. Are these new platforms here to stay? What is their role in higher education? Will open access become a reality?
Panel Moderator
Hanada Taha Thomure
Endowed Professor of Arabic Language
Read Bio
Panel Speakers
John Russell
Director of Education, Alef Education
Cristóbal Cobo
Senior Education Specialist, World Bank
Bissan Korban
Head of Higher Education Products and Services, MENAT Region, Pearson ME Publishing
Al Kingsley
CEO of Edtech Company Netsupport and Chair of Multiple Educational Boards.
Keynote Speech:
“Reading in a Time of Distraction”.
Keynote
Speaker
Nicholas Carr
Pulitzer Prize Finalist for “The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains,” and New York Times Bestselling Author.
Is Social Media the New Book Market
Social media is playing an increasingly important role in book publishing. Big western houses now want authors with a platform, usually in the form of thousands of followers on social media. Publishers invest heavily in digital marketing as e-commerce comprises an increasing portion of the book market. Is this a bubble or a solid trend? Does the Arabic market have the same relationship to social media as other markets?
Panel Moderator
Ed Nawotka
International and Bookselling Editor, Publishers Weekly
Read Bio
Panel Speakers
Sami Al-Batati
Founder and Presenter of YouTube Channel the Shadow of the Book
Annie Arsane
Head of Platform Strategy, METAP, TikTok
Joelle Yazbeck
Partner Manager, MENA, Twitter
Exporting Arabic to the World
What are the challenges of selling Arabic translation rights to other markets? What are the best practices and success stories? How can Arabic literature reach more readers around the world?
Panel Moderator
Hannah Johnson
Publisher, Publishing Perspectives
Read Bio
Panel Speakers
HE Saeed Al Tunaiji
Executive director, Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre
Rawan Al-Dabbas
MENA Regional Director, International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)
Juergen Boos
President and Chief Executive Officer, the Frankfurt Book Fair/Frankfurt Buchmesse
Persa Koumoutsi
Co-founder and Director, the Centre of Greek and Arabic Literature and Culture in Greece
Keynote Speech:
Digital Self-Determination: How Countries Can Choose Their Own Paths in Ebooks & Audiobooks
Keynote
Speaker
Michael Tamblyn
CEO of Global Digital Bookseller Rakuten Kobo
Arabic Media Crossover: Adapting Books into Audio, Film, and Games
Streaming video is becoming the main source of content for users all over the world, and companies are seeking localised, original content in numerous languages. This has inspired production companies to generate creative content in multiple formats, including music, film, TV, and digital gaming. How can the Arabic publishing industry maximize the appeal of original Arabic content around the world while maintaining its cultural distinctiveness?
Panel Moderator
Michael Garin
Former CEO of twofour54 Abu Dhabi
Read Bio
Panel Speakers
Jonathan Knight
General Manager, Games, the New York Times
Maha Abdullah
MENA Localization Consultant and Regional Languages Expert – Ex-NETFLIX and Disney+ Streaming Services
Sultan Al Ryami
Head of Gaming and eSports, AD Gaming, Creative Media Authority, Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi
Todd Gallicano
Author, Hollywood Screenwriter; Podcast Host
Is the reader the new author?
New digital platforms have facilitated content creation and publication to such an extent that traditional publishers are no longer required. Are digital platforms the future of publishing? What are the advantages and risks of this market? Will the trend have a significant effect on the Arabic language market?
Panel Moderator
Ed Nawotka
International and Bookselling Editor, Publishers Weekly
Read Bio
Panel Speakers
Giacomo D’Angelo
CEO, StreetLib.com
Mohamed Ellabban
Head of Arabic community, Quora
Alan Lee Janney
Award-winning Self-published Author
Fireside Discussion:
What Does the Future Hold for Arabic Content on the Internet?
Good-quality Arabic content on the internet is limited, despite Arabic being the fifth-most spoken language in the world. Trusted sources are very difficult to find, leading to less trust and high levels of frustration among knowledge seekers.
Moderator
Nafez Dakkak
Managing Partner at Work and Learning Venture Studio BLDR.
Read Bio
Speaker
Abdulsalam Haykal
Executive Chairman, Digital Knowledge and Platform Provider Majarra
Download The Full 2022 Agenda
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