As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the presence of Emirati literature both regionally and internationally, Menassah Distribution Company participated in the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2025. The event is organised by the Malaysian Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the National Book Council of Malaysia and several local associations specialising in the publishing industry. It is considered one of the most prominent cultural fairs in Southeast Asia, attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually.
Menassah’s participation in this significant cultural event, which runs from 23 May to 1 June 2025, was marked by a distinguished pavilion showcasing 5,667 books from the latest releases of 86 Emirati publishing houses. This gave Malaysian and international visitors the opportunity to explore 662 diverse titles reflecting the richness of Emirati and Arab cultural and intellectual output, and to acquire literary and scientific works that illustrate the UAE’s cultural diversity.
Through this participation, “Menassah” aims to expand the regional and international distribution of Emirati books and build bridges of cooperation with publishers and distributors from various countries worldwide, especially via the accompanying ASEAN Publishing Rights Fair. This three-day fair serves as an important platform for exchanging publishing and distribution rights as well as forging international partnerships in the field.
Rashid Al Kous, General Manager of “Menassah”, stated that this participation aligns with Menassah’s strategy aimed at supporting the publishing movement in the UAE and opening wide horizons for local content through active presence at major international fairs. This contributes to enhancing the UAE’s position on the regional and global publishing map and supports the country’s creative industries.
He added, “Our participation in the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair is part of our ongoing efforts to expand the distribution of Emirati content and make it accessible in promising markets. We are committed to building a flexible distribution network that allows Emirati books to reach readers worldwide, particularly in Southeast Asia, where there is significant growth in demand for translated Arabic content.”
It is worth noting that the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair has been organised since 1981 and is now considered one of the most anticipated annual events for both publishers and readers. It serves as a rich cultural gathering that brings together publishers, authors, and the public under one roof at the World Trade Centre in Malaysia’s capital.
