Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation engagement at Cairo underscores CIBF’s growing significance as a hub for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and industry advancement.
The Cairo International Book Fair (CIBF), often dismissed as a mere “public-facing” event, is proving to be a vital platform for global publishing professionals.
This year, Dubai’s Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) is showcasing a dynamic blend of literary and digital innovations that underscore CIBF’s growing significance as a hub for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and industry advancement.
A Platform for Literary and Digital Excellence
Running until 5 February, CIBF 2025 has become a focal point for the MBRF to highlight its initiatives in literature, digital knowledge, and content creation. Through a series of interactive sessions, workshops, and panel discussions, the foundation is demonstrating CIBF is much more than just a book fair.
Key highlights of MBRF’s participation include:
The Dubai International Program for Writing (DIPW): Launched with an introductory session, the DIPW aims to nurture talent and promote literary excellence. Workshops such as ‘Building Worlds: Science Fiction from Idea to Story’ and ‘Embarking on a Journey to the World of Children’ offer practical insights into storytelling and creative writing.
Translation and Knowledge Transfer: Sessions like ‘The Deep Influence of Scientific Translation’ and ‘Scientific and Literary Translation: Between Technical Precision and Linguistic Creativity’ explore the challenges and opportunities in bridging linguistic and cultural divides.
Digital Innovation: The Digital Knowledge Hub (DKH) is hosting workshops on building digital platforms and content, including ‘How to Build Digital Systems: DKH as a Model’ and ‘The Future of Digital Knowledge’, which delve into the transformative potential of digital infrastructure and innovation.
The Knowledge Lounge complements these events with discussions on creative writing, e-libraries, AI in Arabic, literary journalism, and the intersection of memory and reality in narratives.
Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships
Beyond its public-facing events, MBRF is leveraging CIBF 2025 to strengthen its network and forge strategic partnerships, including engagements with publishing unions from Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya, as well as prominent publishing houses like Nahdet Misr and Al-Haram Publishing.
Implications for the Publishing Industry
MBRF’s presence at CIBF 2025 offers several key takeaways:
The Convergence of Literature and Digital Innovation: MBRF’s focus on digital knowledge and content creation reflects a growing trend in the industry. Publishers must embrace digital transformation to remain competitive and meet the evolving demands of readers.
The Importance of Translation: As global markets become increasingly interconnected, translation plays a critical role in expanding the reach of literary works. Publishers need invest in high-quality translation services to tap into new audiences, and AI can help make this happen.
This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsfeed.
