Sharjah: Sharjah has announced that it has acquired the exclusive rights to operate and manage Malaysian "Book Access" bookstores in the Middle East and Africa region. This move reinforces the emirate's position as a global hub for the publishing industry and expands its role in leading international initiatives aimed at promoting reading and facilitating access to knowledge. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi witnessed this significant development for Sharjah.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Sharjah's acquisition of the exclusive rights to develop and operate Book Access libraries in the Middle East and Africa represents a new achievement for the cultural and civilizational project led by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah. This project has solidified the emirate's position as a global center for books, knowledge, and the publishing industry. This step also reflects the growing confidence that Sharjah enjoys among major cultural institutions and the global publishing industry, recognizing it as a capable partner in leading, developing, and expanding international initiatives that promote reading and knowledge.
Under the memorandum, Big Bad Wolf Sharjah will be responsible for developing, operating, managing, and marketing Book Access libraries in the Middle East and Africa, encompassing operational, marketing, and organizational aspects. This includes expanding into new markets with promising growth opportunities, building upon Sharjah's established position over the past decades as one of the world's leading capitals for the publishing industry and a vital link connecting publishers, distributors, and readers regionally and internationally.
BookXx is one of Malaysia's leading bookstore chains, founded with the mission of making books and knowledge accessible to everyone by offering millions of new titles at affordable prices. BookXx continues to expand its presence through its network of bookstores in Malaysia and Singapore, and further strengthened its global mission with the launch of the Big Bad Wolf Book Fair in 2009, which became the world's largest traveling book fair, bringing millions of books to readers in dozens of cities across continents. This underscores BookXx's commitment to disseminating knowledge and fostering a culture of reading worldwide.
The partnership reflects the Sharjah Book Authority and BookXx Malaysia's commitment to facilitating access to affordable books, supporting a culture of reading, and stimulating book sales in the Middle East and Africa, benefiting publishers, readers, and stakeholders in the publishing and distribution sectors.