User:Malbatta/sandbox

Avid advocate of the importance of books and literacy and key driver in the establishment of publishing and literacy related ventures and initiatives in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, and the GCC region. Holds a BA (Hons) from Cambridge, an MSc in Medical Anthropology from University College London, and has successfully completed publishing courses from both Yale and Columbia.

History
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi is a leading contributor to the development and growth of Sharjah and the UAE.

In her primary capacity, she serves as chairperson of Shurooq, the Government of Sharjah’s Investment and Development Authority, which was originally set up as Al Qasba Development Authority in 2004. In 2009, the authority was renamed and the scope of its mandate increased to oversee the social, cultural, environmental and economic development of Sharjah. Shurooq facilitates investment activities and conceptualises the development of tourism and infrastructure projects. Within this scope, Sheikha Bodour ensures that the initiatives retain and reflect the distinct Arab and Islamic identity which is looked upon as a key driver of sustainable and holistic growth in Sharjah.

Under her leadership, Shurooq is changing the face of Sharjah into a contemporary city that affords modern-day luxury while remaining true to its cultural heritage. Her relentless efforts and far sighted vision have consequently positioned Sharjah as a must-visit destination on the global tourism map.

Driven by a clear vision and passion for the growth of Sharjah, Sheikha Bodour steered Shurooq to launch world class tourism and leisure projects including Al Qasba and the Al Majaz Waterfront. In the same vein, iconic development projects are underway such as the Heart of Sharjah, a five-phase heritage and leisure restoration project as well as the ground-breaking Kalba eco-tourism project, the Chedi Khorfakkan Resort and, most recently, Al Bait Hotel, the first authentic Emirati hospitality venture in the UAE. Shurooq’s complementing role in enhancing the stature of Sharjah bore fruit when the emirate was declared 'Capital of Arab Tourism for Year 2015' by the Council of Arab Tourism Ministers.

With a clear directive from the Government to ensure the emirate’s long-term sustainable growth, Shurooq is equally committed to attracting global investors to Sharjah. In pursuit of this objective, Sheikha Bodour has demonstrated consistent efforts to link international investors with opportunities in Sharjah and position the emirate as an attractive investment destination.

Sheikha Bodour’s commitment to the sector was recently recognised by Forbes Middle East when she was named one of the Most Influential Women in the Arab world in the Investment Development Sector category. She also received the first ever Tourism Personality of the Year accolade, an award instituted by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), that was presented to her during the Sharjah Tourism Excellence Awards 2013.

As a woman, wife, and mother, Sheikha Bodour works to support the intellectual and social development of women and children. In 2002, she took on the role of deputy chairperson of the Sharjah Ladies Club, an entity of the government of Sharjah. During her tenure, the club was refurbished to incorporate a complete range of facilities such as a fitness centre, spa, day-care and pre-school. Today, the club not only serves as a renowned centre for community work, but also ranks high among the preferred leisure destinations for women.

In recognition of her social, economic and cultural contributions to UAE, Sheikha Bodour was honoured by the Emirates Women Award and named as a Hot Forty young leader paving the way for a prosperous future for the UAE’s children.

Sheikha Bodour is also involved in a number of non-profit and charity organizations that prioritise maternal and infant wellness.

A strong advocate of literacy among individuals of all ages, she has to her credit a number of publishing initiatives. In 2007, she founded Kalimat, the first publishing house dedicated to the production of Arabic titles for children. To date, Kalimat has published over 155 children’s books in Arabic. In appreciation of her contribution to Arab literature, Sheikha Bodour was named Personality of the Year at the 2013 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature as well as Personality of the Year at the Sharjah Award for Educational Excellence 2013.

In addition, Sheikha Bodour is the Patron of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), the national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), which is a non-profit organization that represents an international network of people from all over the world who are committed to bringing books and children together. Sheikha Bodour is also the Director of Knowledge without Borders, an initiative launched by the Ruler of Sharjah with the aim of establishing a library in every house in the Emirate.

She is also the honorary president and founder of the Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) - responsible for representing UAE publishers internationally. In 2012, her efforts gained the EPA full membership of the International Publishers Association (IPA). Under her tenure, the EPA was presented with the Taryam Omran Media Award in recognition of its contribution to culture and humanity.

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from Cambridge, and a Master’s in Medical Anthropology from the University College, London. She has successfully completed publishing courses from Yale and Columbia.

CEO – Kalimat Publishing Group

 * Founded Kalimat in 2007 – the first publishing house dedicated to the production of quality original Arabic children’s titles
 * In 2013, led the expansion of Kalimat into Kalimat Publishing Group, comprised of two imprints – Kalimat Publishing House and Horouf Educational Publishing, an educational programme aimed at pioneering a fresh, fun, future oriented approach to Arabic Education.

Founder and Former President – Emirates Publishers Association

 * Initiated the establishment of the Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) in 2009 and served as EPA President 2009 to 2013.
 * Played key role in facilitating the EPA gaining full International Publishers Association (IPA) membership in 2012, after have guided the EPA’s attainment of Affiliate IPA Membership within the first year of its establishment – the first publishers association to do so.
 * Initiated the first in-depth study of the UAE’s publishing industry under the auspices of the EPA.

Patron, Founder, and Former President – UAE Board on Books for Young People

 * Initiated establishment of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), the national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY).
 * Initiated creation of the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature – the most significant and prestigious award of its kind.
 * Played a pivotal role in the organisation of the First IBBY Conference for the Region of Central Asia and North Africa (CANA).
 * Led the establishment of the Sharjah IBBY Fund – dedicated to the development and support of long-term projects to promote reading among children in post-crisis situations in the region of Central Asia and North Africa.
 * Initiated the creation of ‘Books – Made in UAE’, aimed at encouraging the development of Emirati-written children's books that reflect the values of the UAE.