Meet Thee First Arab Woman to Head International Publishers Association

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, the Emirati founder of UAE's first publishing house solely for publishing Arabic children's books, Kalimat, is moving from success to another. The Emirati woman was appointed on Sunday at the IPA General Assembly Congress, “President of the International Publishers Association”, becoming the first woman from the Arab world to be given the title since the organization launched in 1896.

After her appointment as the President of the IPA, Sheikha Bodour chose Twitter to send her thankful words to every supporter and to promise to do her best.

“A BIG thank you to all those who supported me throughout my incredible journey in @intPublishers” She said.

“Your trust and confidence inspire me to strive more for the development of the publishing industry and success of all IPA members. Grateful beyond words”.

The IPA is made up of 83 organizations from 69 countries and represents thousands of publishers around the world. It was set up to protect the interests of the publishing industry, and Al Qasimi is perfect for this significant and influential position in the book industry. Why?

The powerful Emirati woman has worked so hard for developing the publishing industry and boosting the prospects of publishers in the UAE, across the GCC, and in the wider Arab region. Her relentless efforts in launching several regional and international initiatives has enabled the regional and global publishing sectors enhance the quality of their output.

Not only she’s the founder of the Emirates Publishers Association, but she’s also the founder of Kalimat Group, and founder of The UAE Board on Books for Young People.

Most recently, Sheikha Bodour has spearheaded an initiative to restore several libraries damaged by August's devastating explosion in Beirut port.

When a woman says she can, yes she can. So let’s congratulate one more powerful and influencing Arab woman.