Bilateral agreement signed at Moscow International Book Fair establishes year-round exchange programmes and reciprocal presence for Emirati and Russian authors
MOSCOW, Sept. 14, 2026 : The Sharjah Book Authority has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Russia’s Directorate of International Book Exhibitions and Fairs to expand direct Arabic-Russian literary translation and streamline publishing rights transactions between the two markets.
Announced during the Moscow International Book Fair, the pact shifts the working relationship between the two entities from seasonal book fair participation into a permanent, year-round publishing corridor. The framework enables publishers, literary translators, and rights brokers from the United Arab Emirates and the Russian Federation to collaborate directly on co-publishing ventures, reciprocal trade delegations, and joint literary showcases.
Khoula Al Mujaini, General Coordinator of Fairs and Festivals at the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), concluded the agreement in the Russian capital alongside Elena Grebeneva, General Director of the Autonomous Non-profit Organisation “Directorate of International Book Exhibitions and Fairs”.
Under the terms of the deal, both parties will expand operational support for Russian publishing houses attending the annual Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), while establishing dedicated exhibition pavilions and networking platforms for Emirati and regional Arab publishers across major Russian literary festivals. The agreement sets up working pipelines for copyright transactions, directly addressing historical translation bottlenecks between modern Arabic prose and contemporary Russian literature.
Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chief Executive Officer of the Sharjah Book Authority, stated that the partnership reflects the cultural diplomacy vision laid out by Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, alongside directives from Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the SBA.
“Books cross linguistic and territorial divides to create authentic dialogue between societies,” Al Ameri said, pointing to the literary lineages shared across the Arab world and Russia. “This framework deepens that historic exchange, moving our existing international ties into measurable market opportunities for writers, translators, and creative agencies on both sides.”
Sharjah previously established historic cultural ground in Russia when it participated as the first Arab Guest of Honour at the 32nd Moscow International Book Fair in 2019. During that engagement, the emirate oversaw the translation and release of 59 distinct titles by Emirati and Arab writers into the Russian language.
Elena Grebeneva noted that the renewed institutional structure will broaden reading opportunities across both linguistic markets.
“Sharjah remains a crucial cultural bridgehead for Russia,” Grebeneva said. “Our priority is turning this bilateral trust into structured industry events that bring independent editors, translators, and distributors into shared rooms, expanding mutual discovery for book audiences in both regions.”
The signing coincides with Sharjah’s ongoing push to position its publishing free zone and flagship November fair as the primary distribution gateway linking global rights buyers with Middle Eastern and North African markets.
