
under the patronage of
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Emirates Literature Foundation.
#DubaiPublishing
5-6 MARCH 2017 | INTERCONTINENTAL, DUBAI FESTIVAL CITY
DUBAI INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING CONFERENCE 2017
The inaugural Dubai International Publishing Conference was held by the Emirates Literature Foundation in partnership with The General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai on 5 and 6 March 2017
International and local delegates were joined by renowned speakers from the UAE, MENA and across the world who gave a vibrant and inspiring vision of publishing today and into the future.
From starting up a business to managing runaway bestsellers, exploiting international rights and exploring new markets, the conference offered fresh ideas, lively debate, and the opportunity to hear from world-class experts from all sectors of the industry.
In addition to the main speaker and panel sessions there were outstanding masterclasses on key publishing skills, and a special translation event to highlight a selection of exceptional titles in Arabic and English. With speakers and delegates from around the globe, the DIPC became a unique opportunity for an exchange of ideas and knowledge to give the global publishing industry new insight into the exciting developments taking place in the Arab publishing world.
The conference ran alongside the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, giving delegates and speakers the chance to experience the UAE’s premier literature festival.
EVENT SPEAKERS
LOOK WHO'S SPEAKING

Amal Farah

Fahad Ali Al Mamari

James Spackman

Lucy Strange

Rachel Hamilton

Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi

Trevor Naylor

Vineeta Gupta
Programme
All main speaker sessions, panel sessions and masterclasses will have simultaneous translation in Arabic and English’
Day 1
8.00-8.45
Registration
8.45-9.00
Welcome from David Perry, Dubai International Publishing Conference Director
followed by Keynote Address from Jeffrey Archer
9.00-9.45
The Global Publisher’s Role in Today’s World
In a vastly changed global, multilingual, digital world of culture, education, and research, how can publishers keep up, and what should they be doing?
Richard Charkin
9.45-10.30
Starting Up to Success
From ambition to established publisher, how do start-ups get started, and how do they find and publish the best authors?
Emma Shercliff
10.30-10.45
Inaugural Address
HE Abdulla Abdul Rahman Al Shaibani, Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai
Introduced by Ibrahim Khadim, Deputy Festival Director, Emirates Literature Foundation
10.45-11.15
Break
11.15-12.00
Publishing a Runaway Bestseller case study: Lean in 15 by Joe Wicks
International success brings unexpected challenges. How do we navigate the path of a brand-new bestseller?
Carole Tonkinson will be in conversation with David Perry
Or:
Masterclass - What Does the Consumer Want:
How to use data to find out
Louisa Livingston
Max 15 participants
12.00-12.45
Great Publishing Strategies for SMEs
What are the best ways to sell and market books across the exciting, expanding market of the Middle East?
Adrian Greenwood
12.45-14.15
Lunch with talk from Nisha Katona, author of Pimp My Rice
14.15-15.00
Innovative Publishing for the Visually Impaired
How Braille, audio and large print can bring great books to everyone
Fahad Ali Al Mamari, Mohammed Al Friah & Dr Ahmed Omran Al Shamsi, moderated by Mohammed Rashed Aleghfeli
Or:
Masterclass – Marketing Matters:
How to make it work
James Spackman
Max 15 participants
15.00-15.45
Social Media Publishing: The Story So Far, and Where is it Going?
Holly Harris will be in conversation with Emma Shercliff
15.45-16.15
Break
16.15-17.15
Publishing in the UAE
The successes, challenges and opportunities of today’s publishing scene
Jamal Al Shehhi, Charlie Scott & Alsa'ad Almenhali, moderated by Ibrahim Khadim
17.15
Closing remarks for Day One
David Perry
Day 2
9.00-9.45
Welcome
Ibrahim Khadim, Deputy Festival Director, Emirates Literature Foundation
followed by
Engaging with Publishers
Creating a culture of engagement between the National Media Council and publishers: the rules and the challenges
H.E. Mansour al Mansouri & H.E. Jamal Bin Huwairab, moderated by Julie Till
9.45-10.30
What Publishers' Associations and Unions do for You
Competition, yes, but cooperation, too. Working together raises everyone’s game
Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Richard Charkin & Mohamed Rashad, moderated by Dr Ali Abdul Qader Al Hammadi
10.30-11.00
Arab Authors Writing in French
From the fringes to the centre
Charif Majdalani
11.00-11.30
Break
11.30-12.15
Today’s Fashions in Children’s Books
What do children really want to read today, and how can we predict what they want tomorrow?
Marwa Al Aqroubi, Amal Farah, Rachel Hamilton & Lucy Strange, moderated by Samar Al Mashta
Or:
Masterclass: International Rights and How to Exploit Them
Jason Bartholomew
Max 15 participants
12.15-13.00
Going Digital
Ebooks and audio in Arabic – what are the platforms and where are the readers?
Shadi Al Hasan & Tarek El Bolbol, moderated by Ranya Abdel Rahman
13.00 -14.00
Lunch with Translation Matchmaking Session
The Emirates Literature Foundation team will present ten books – five in Arabic, five in English – that they passionately believe deserve translation
14.00-14.45
Creating the Roald Dahl Dictionary
An exercise in collaboration between Oxford University Press, Penguin Random House, and the Dahl Estate
Vineeta Gupta
Or:
Masterclass: Creative Commissioning
How to choose and nurture the best authors for your list
Carole Tonkinson
Max 15 participants
14.45-15.30
Publishing Great Authors: the ‘Cairo Trilogy’ by Naguib Mahfouz
Finding new markets for Arab writers around the world
Trevor Naylor
15.30-16.15
Got data? How to use it. No data? How to get it, and why it matters
Can you sell more books using information you didn't know was any use?
Louisa Livingston
16.15-16.45
Break
16.45-17.30
Maximising International Rights
There’s a whole world out there. What have you got to sell, and who’s buying?
Jason Bartholomew
Or:
Masterclass – Breaking Through in Children’s Publishing:
A new way forward
Amal Farah
Max 15 participants
17.30-18.15
Know your Booksellers
How to motivate the people who sell your books!
James Spackman
18.15
Closing remarks
David Perry
Please note the programme is subject to change.
VENUE
CONFERENCE CENTER
Al Baraha Rooms, The Event Centre, InterContinental, Dubai Festival CityDubai, United Arab Emirates
ACCOMMODATION
TOP HOTELS IN DUBAI FESTIVAL CITY
Accommodation is not included. Discounted room rates are available at the InterContinental and Crowne Plaza in Dubai Festival city