The Mohammed bin Rashid Library has announced full details of the second edition of the Dubai International Libraries and Publishing Summit 2025, held under the theme “Future of the Publishing Industry,” from October 30 to November 1. The summit will feature more than 80 speakers from 14 countries, including 5 keynote speakers, along with 45 discussion panels and 10 specialized workshops.

During the conference, Ibrahim Al Hashimi, Chairman of the Supreme Committee of the Dubai International Libraries and Publishing Summit 2025, stated that the summit represents a strategic platform that reinforces Dubai’s commitment to supporting knowledge and culture regionally and globally. He noted that it aligns with Dubai’s ambitious vision to enhance its position as a global center for cultural and intellectual dialogue. The summit aims to highlight the vital role of libraries in empowering future generations with knowledge tools and creating new pathways that integrate human creativity and modern technology, thus enhancing the region’s status in the publishing industry and giving it a significant presence in the global cultural scene.

Ali Juma Al Tamimi, Director of Libraries at Mohammed bin Rashid Library and member of the summit’s supreme committee, explained that key topics to be discussed include digital transformation and artificial intelligence in the literary and publishing ecosystem. He emphasized that the summit serves as a practical platform for generating actionable ideas and recommendations that contribute to developing the publishing system and enhancing its competitiveness locally and globally.

Jamal Al Shehi, member of the summit’s supreme committee, said the publishing industry is undergoing a pivotal phase driven by rapid technological changes and evolving reading behaviors, requiring practical solutions to ensure the sector’s sustainability and responsiveness to these transformations. He added that the summit will provide participants with a unique opportunity to exchange experiences and expertise, discuss challenges related to intellectual property rights, supply chains, and changing reading patterns among new generations. The expected recommendations from the summit will form a roadmap to help institutions and individuals face challenges and offer an innovative model that strengthens the publishing industry’s presence regionally and globally.

The summit brings together representatives from publishers, university presses, literary agents, organizations concerned with literary awards, commercial libraries, and local publishing communities in the UAE such as the Emirates Publishers Association. It also includes senior representatives from three of the world’s top five commercial publishing houses: Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and HarperCollins, along with prominent voices from across the Arab region.

The summit discusses several main themes including innovation, technology, transformation, the global publishing scene, translation, purposeful publishing, and the art of writing. Special attention is given to the practical aspect through specialized workshops combining creativity and practical skills, covering diverse topics such as translation, editing, publishing operations, children’s literature writing, printing arts, and best practices for building inclusive work environments in the publishing sector. These workshops offer valuable opportunities for aspiring writers, editors, and publishers to acquire new tools and refine their skills to keep pace with rapid industry developments.

The summit’s events highlight the major digital transformation witnessed by the global publishing sector, where digital and audio books have become essential parts of the market, and how to integrate multimedia experiences to meet the needs of the new generation of readers. It also discusses commercial aspects of publishing such as intellectual property rights, marketing, and international distribution, aiming to balance traditional and digital publishing, enhance book circulation, and accelerate their access to global markets, while adhering to ethical standards and sustainability in content creation. These events reflect Mohammed bin Rashid Library’s commitment to supporting the publishing industry and providing a comprehensive model for an innovative knowledge system that combines creativity, technology, and human values to ensure sector sustainability and enhance its role in building a global knowledge and creative community.