Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi

Publisher | Policy Leader | Higher Education Advocate

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi is recognised internationally for her leadership in publishing, education and cultural development.  Her work spans local and global initiatives that promote literacy, inclusive education, and support for women in leadership.  She brings to these roles a commitment to social impact, institution building, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Career and contributions

Sheikha Bodour is currently serving as President and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at the American University of Sharjah (AUS) where she is leading strategic efforts to strengthen the university's regional and global engagement, research capabilities and focus on gender equality.  In 2024, she established the Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammad Al Qasimi Endowed Chair in Women's Leadership, the first of its kind in the UAE.

In the publishing sector, Sheikha Bodour is best known as the Founder and CEO of Kalimat Publishing Group, which she established in 2007.  Kalimat focuses on Arabic-language literature, particularly for children and young adults, and has been instrumental in expanding access to culturally relevant books across the region.  Through the Kalimat Foundation, she has also supported inclusive reading initiatives in more than 30 countries, including accessible publishing for children with visual impairments and outreach in refugee and crisis-affected areas.

Sheikha Bodour served as President of the International Publishers Association (IPA) from 2021 to 2022, becoming the first Arab woman and only the second woman overall to hold this position.  During her term, she focused on recovery and resilience in the publishing sector following the COVID-19 pandemic, and launched InSPIRe, a global industry dialogue platform.  She also founded PublisHer, a professional network promoting the role of women in publishing leadership.

Beyond publishing and higher education, she plays a significant role in Sharjah's cultural and economic development.  As Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), she supports local entrepreneurship, sustainable tourism and creative industries.  She also played a key role in Sharjah's designation as UNESCO World Book Capital 2019 and helped establish the House of Wisdom, a public library and cultural space.

Recent recognition

In July 2025, Sheikha Bodour was awarded a Honorary Professorship by the University of Leicester.  The award recognises her contributions to global publishing, education, and social development, and reflects a growing collaboration between the University of Leicester and institutions in the Middle East.  During her visit, Sheika Bodour met with academics and student groups to discuss themes such as internationalisation, inclusive education, and the role of universities in supporting change.

Education and board roles

Sheikha Bodour holds a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology from the University of Cambridge and an MA in Medical Anthropology from University College London.  In addition to her role at AUS, she serves on multiple advisory and governance boards, including the World Economic Forum's Regional Business Council and UNESCO's World Book Capital Cities Network.