Qindeel Printing and Publishing Services, one of the investment projects of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF), today announced its participation in Sharjah International Book Fair 2014, which will be held from November 5 to 15, 2014. The exhibition is the largest regional literary celebration involving more than 1,000 publishers from 53 countries, and will be attended by more than a million visitors from around the world.

The announcement follows the huge positive response Qindeel received on its launch announcement through MBRFs participation at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2014 early October. With its presence in Sharjah International Book Fair, Qindeel aims to achieve its strategic objectives to strengthen cooperation and partnerships with various institutions and enhance its role as a leading Arab and international publishing entity in the areas of development and dissemination of knowledge.

Commenting on the participation, H.E Jamal Bin Huwaireb, Managing Director of MBRF, said: Our participation in the Sharjah International Book Fair is aligned to the ongoing efforts to achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to invest in knowledge-based economy. It is also based on the directive of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of MBRF, to open communication channels that can achieve the objectives of Qindeel to localize knowledge and promote the transfer of intellectual creativity.

H.E Jamal Bin Huwaireb added: Through this participation, Qindeel is keen to discuss opportunities for collaboration and partnerships with local, regional and international publishing and printing houses in order to strengthen its position as a key developer of the printing and publishing sector in the region. As part of our participation we will host veteran authors and leading publishers as well as participate in a series of seminars. This will also be an opportunity for us to meet a large number of writers and thinkers.

During its participation at Frankfurt Book Fair, Qindeel succeeded in signing a number of memoranda of understanding and partnership agreements. Qindeel also held a special reception attended by more than 60 Arab and international publishing houses as well as groups of thought leaders and stakeholders in an effort to enhance cooperation and support knowledge transfer initiatives.

Qindeel is focused on strengthening the dissemination of culture and knowledge for the development of intellectual activity in Arab societies. It will publish more than 1,000 books, both print and digital, every year on a wide range of topics such as knowledge and development, and business management, as well as creativity and innovation.

Having obtained copyrights to translate and publish more than 1,000 books that have influenced the Arab libraries, MBRF is committed to disseminating knowledge throughout the region by fostering ideas and innovation and funding research projects, activities and initiatives.
MBRF launched the Dubai International Program for Writing (DIPW), which is aimed at encouraging and empowering young talented writers from around the world who have displayed a flair for writing in various fields such as science, research, literature, fiction and poetry. It has also launched the Arab Knowledge Report, a joint initiative between the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and the UNDP and articulates a shared vision of the two organizations to shape a knowledge economy in the Arab world.

One of its creative initiatives is Flashes, the first knowledge magazine in English in the UAE. The magazine has been inspired by the book Flashes of Thought by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It covers the latest events and activities of importance to the knowledge society in Dubai and the UAE, and contains exclusive interviews with public figures and decision makers on a variety of topics of current relevance.

As part of its efforts to reinforce the position of Arabic language, MBRF introduced Bil-Arabi initiative on the World Arabic Language Day, observed annually by the United Nations on 18 December. Aiming to enhance the image of Arabic language and promote it as an international language connecting people, the initiative encourages people to post and share updates on social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram solely in Arabic for the entire day. In addition, MBRF provides "The Knowledge Page" initiative, a daily page from Sunday to Thursday in partnership with Al Bayan newspaper, to showcase articles and opinion pieces on knowledge by some of the most famous Arab and international writers.
MBRF launched Book in Minutes monthly initiative to share knowledge with the widest possible audience by publishing translated summaries of international best sellers by prominent authors. It also launched My Family Reads initiative to encourage learning and reading and enhance knowledge level in the local community by translating into Arabic various book collections from across the world, including classics and best-selling titles, and distributing them among families. MBRF also launched Wamadat, a monthly knowledge magazine, which carries contributions by professional authors and researchers. The magazine also publishes scientific, economic, and social research from a development angle, and features outstanding youth leadership case studies.