Arab writers will extend the reach of their words after the region's first independent distributor of Arabic books is launched.
Abu Dhabi Distribution (ADD) is to be launched by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), it was announced at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair yesterday.
The company will address the lack of a robust system for distributing books across national boundaries, one of the biggest problems facing the Arabic book industry.
ADD, which will be funded and owned by ADACH, will start operating next year and will have five years to turn a profit.
"In this region, we don't have a book distribution system," said Dr Axel Goehler, the managing director of the Hamburg-based Newmex Consulting, part of the team that will run ADD. "A lot of the culture is lost."
Dr Goehler's team conducted a six-month study of the Arabic publishing industry and found that only 2 per cent of those involved in it were satisfied with the way it works.
Arabic authors face physical hurdles to selling books on a massive, regional scale, but ADD aims to break them down as a business-to-business service provider and an intermediary between Arab publishers and regional distributors, with the goal of becoming the market leader in the MENA region.
As it stands, all distributors in the region are tied to book shops, publishers, or both.
The company will be based in Abu Dhabi with sales offices in cities including Beirut, Jeddah and Amman. So far, it has signed up 30 publishers representing between 40,000 and 50,000 titles, Dr Goehler said.
They include major players such as Dar Al Moualef, Librarie Orientale and Hachette Antoine, all based in Lebanon, and Jarir Bookstore, based in Saudi Arabia.
Ultimately, it aims to built a database of between 150,000 and 200,000 Arabic titles, Dr Goehler said. Initially, these will be sorted according to the international standard book number (ISBN), but he added that "we are thinking about creating our own registry number besides ISBN".
There is no central database where book buyers can go to find a comprehensive list of all titles published in the region.
Self-published authors will be able to participate, Dr Goehler said, as the company will offer a range of services, from money collection to physical distribution.
"The publishers are a really important part of this," he said. "The publishers are really the main players."
While ADD would not be the region's first attempt to create a system similar to that of more developed book markets, it is the first one to have the strong financial backing that such an endeavour requires, Dr Goehler said.
"There have been attempts to create a distribution network before but they underestimated the complexity of the task," he said. "This project in the beginning is not going to be profitable. But ADACH is willing to sponsor this for a number of years."
The team will only run the company in the early initial phase, Dr Goehler noted. "Our role will be the starting team, and then we will hand it over to be run as an Arab company."
khagey@thenational.ae
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
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The specs
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Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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6.30pm: Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm: Meydan Sprint – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Curlin Stakes – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (D) 2,200m
8.15pm: UAE Oaks – Group 3 (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m
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10pm: Al Shindagha Sprint – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (D) 1,200m
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
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RESULTS
2.30pm Jaguar I-Pace – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt)
1,600m
Winner Namrood, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi
(trainer)
3.05pm Land Rover Defender – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D)
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Winner Shadzadi, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
3.40pm Jaguar F-Type – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner Tahdeed, Fernando Jara, Nicholas Bachalard
4.15pm New Range Rover – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner Shanty Star, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly
4.50pm Land Rover – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner Autumn Pride, Bernardo Pinheiro, Helal Al Alawi
5.25pm Al Tayer Motor – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 T) 1,000m
Winner Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm Jaguar F-Pace SVR – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,600m
Winner Scabbard, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
The Bloomberg Billionaire Index in full
1 Jeff Bezos $140 billion
2 Bill Gates $98.3 billion
3 Bernard Arnault $83.1 billion
4 Warren Buffett $83 billion
5 Amancio Ortega $67.9 billion
6 Mark Zuckerberg $67.3 billion
7 Larry Page $56.8 billion
8 Larry Ellison $56.1 billion
9 Sergey Brin $55.2 billion
10 Carlos Slim $55.2 billion
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
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About Okadoc
Date started: Okadoc, 2018
Founder/CEO: Fodhil Benturquia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Healthcare
Size: (employees/revenue) 40 staff; undisclosed revenues recording “double-digit” monthly growth
Funding stage: Series B fundraising round to conclude in February
Investors: Undisclosed
Essentials
The flights
Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes.
The stay
A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
Company%20profile
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Company%20Profile
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