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)
" 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?
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?
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?
PanelModerator
Ed Nawotka
International and Bookselling Editor, Publishers
Weekly
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?
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?
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?
PanelModerator
Ed Nawotka
International and Bookselling Editor, Publishers
Weekly
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.
