Emirates Publishers Association and SMSA Express Forge Landmark Logistics Deal

Malaz Madani

Last updated 2-10-2025

3 min

The Emirates Publishers Association and SMSA Express signed a deal for better logistics solutions.

This aims to provide more affordable and efficient book distribution across the GCC.

Rashid Al Kous sees this as a strategic boost for Emirati publishers entering new markets.

SMSA plans to enhance the visibility of regional publishers with global logistics support.

Overall, the partnership empowers creativity, helping UAE become a cultural and knowledge hub.

The Emirates Publishers Association has struck a fresh partnership with SMSA Express that looks set to give publishers across the UAE and GCC a bit of a leg up. The deal, signed as a Memorandum of Understanding between the two sides, promises not just preferential shipping rates but a bundle of logistics solutions tailored for the publishing industry. Put simply: smoother, cheaper, and faster ways of moving books into readers’ hands, whether down the street or across the region.

Rashid Al Kous, who heads up the EPA, described the agreement as a “strategic step” that can open up new markets for Emirati publishers. It’s easy to see what he means. Many publishers—especially the smaller independents—struggle with distribution. Getting books into Cairo or Riyadh can be a bit of a faff without the right networks. This collaboration, then, could be spot on in helping them punch above their weight.

On the flip side, Yasser Zahreddine from SMSA highlighted the company’s intent to leverage its global logistics muscle. According to him, advanced solutions will make regional publishers more visible to worldwide audiences. And believe it or not, that’s not just corporate speak. I once sat with a young Arabic children’s book publisher in Sharjah, and she lamented how her beautiful, colourful titles rarely reached readers beyond the Gulf simply because distribution costs were sky-high. Partnerships like this could turn the tide for folks like her.

What stands out to me is the cultural angle. This isn’t only about parcels and tracking numbers—it’s about empowerment. By streamlining the business end, publishers can focus energy back into crafting stories and ideas that matter. And as we’ve often seen here at Arageek, when barriers ease, creativity tends to flourish.

Of course, nothing’s foolproof. Execution is key, and I reckon some publishers will watch closely to see if the promised “competitive rates” are genuinely affordable. But if it all goes as planned, the UAE could strengthen its claim as a regional hub for knowledge and culture.

If you ask me, that’s quite a win for a sector that too often plays second fiddle to bigger industries. And yes, chuffed to bits would not be an overstatement for the many local publishers who may finally find a smoother road into new markets. For the region’s readers, it could mean more voices, more stories, and fewer delays in getting their hands on them. That’s definately a good thing.

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