The Mohammed bin Rashid Library successfully concluded the second edition of the Dubai International Library and Publishing Summit 2025, held under the theme “The Future of the Publishing Industry.” The three-day event brought together more than 80 speakers from 20 countries, including five keynote speakers, across 48 panel discussions and sessions and over 20 workshops, underscoring Dubai’s growing influence as a regional hub for knowledge, culture, and innovation.
The summit witnessed notable growth compared to its inaugural edition, with registration numbers increasing by 27.3 percent, while attendance and participation rose by 31.5 percent. The diversity of visitors’ nationalities expanded by 33 percent, and the number of international speakers grew by 50 percent, reflecting the summit’s growing global reach and appeal. The organising committee said the results highlight the success of the summit in enriching the experience of participants and attracting a wider international audience, in line with Dubai’s vision of fostering cultural and intellectual exchange.
In his closing remarks, Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, described the summit as a milestone for the publishing industry, one that explored the balance between human creativity and technological advancement. “Digital transformation is no longer an option, but a necessity dictated by the nature of our era, which is based on open knowledge,” Al Murr said. He added that the convergence of content, knowledge, and technology calls for new intellectual and institutional systems that harmonise human values with innovation, reinforcing culture as a bridge for dialogue and understanding.
Al Murr further emphasised the need for collaboration and sustainable partnerships among cultural, academic, and technological institutions to support the evolution of Arab and global publishing. He highlighted knowledge as the “highest investment in humanity,” stressing that the future of Arab publishing carries immense opportunities to create a more connected and forward-looking cultural landscape.
The summit’s agenda covered a wide spectrum of subjects, including innovation, technology, transformation, translation, sustainability, and publishing ethics. Day one focused on emerging technologies and creativity, featuring discussions such as Theory for Robots: The Impact of AI on Creativity and Publishing and The Art of the Illustrated Book. Day two focused on literary creativity and industry practices, with sessions on children’s story writing, manuscript editing, and cross-border publishing. Day three explored key industry themes, including copyright in the age of AI, promoting reading habits, and supporting underrepresented voices in translation.
On the sidelines of the summit, the Mohammed bin Rashid Library announced the launch of its publishing and translation arm, which will translate literary and knowledge-based works from various languages into Arabic. The initiative aims to strengthen the Library’s role in knowledge production, enrich Arabic content, and expand its influence across regional and international cultural landscapes. The event also saw the announcement of the tenth edition of the Mohammed bin Rashid Arabic Language Award, part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and organised by the Library Foundation.
The successful conclusion of the 2025 summit reinforces the Mohammed bin Rashid Library’s pivotal role in shaping the future of knowledge and publishing, advancing digital transformation, and promoting Arabic content on the global stage. By bridging East and West through knowledge and culture, the Library continues to position Dubai as a leading centre for thought, creativity, and sustainable publishing.
–Input WAM
