Tag: H H Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi

SHARJAH, U.A.E: Warsaw International Book Fair 2026 opens with Sharjah as its first-ever Arab Guest of Honour

In the presence of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), Sharjah officially opened its participation on Thursday as the first Arab Guest of Honour in the history of the Warsaw International Book Fair.

The emirate has brought to the European city a cultural project it has built over five decades, presenting a contemporary image of Emirati and Arab culture at one of Central Europe’s leading cultural events.

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi joined Włodzimierz Czarzasty, Marshal of Sejm of the Republic of Poland; the lower house of the Polish parliament, Marta Cienkowska, Poland’s Minister of Culture and National Heritage; Dorota Malinowska-Grupińska, Chairwoman of the Warsaw City Council, and Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, Marshal of the Polish Senate; at the opening ceremony of the fifth edition of the fair, which runs until 31 May at the National Stadium in Warsaw.

Following the ribbon-cutting, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi attended the opening ceremony, where she conveyed the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wishes for the fair’s continued success.

She said His Highness has devoted his life to culture because he believes books create the kind of dialogue that allows civilisations to meet with dignity and depth. She recalled the Sharjah Ruler’s words: “Dialogue between civilisations is not an option, but a necessity. And culture is not an inheritance we keep to ourselves, but a noble bridge through which we connect with others.”

Sheikha Bodour added that Sharjah is proud to be the Guest of Honour in a country that understands language as memory, identity and continuity. Describing Warsaw as a city shaped by history and renewed by culture, she said it reminds us that culture does not merely survive history, but has the power to transform it.

She added that Arab and Polish cultures share a deep understanding of literature’s role, noting that poetry in both traditions remains central to how societies understand themselves and express memory, values and belonging across generations.

Sheikha Bodour said Sharjah’s theme at the fair, “Two Civilisations. One Language of Letters”, celebrates difference and reflects the belief that civilisations do not have to resemble one another to understand one another; they only need to approach each other with patience, curiosity and empathy.

In closing, she said that Sharjah comes to Warsaw not only with its stories but also with an open invitation to read one another, translate one another, and imagine together. She expressed hope that the fair would spark a dialogue that continues long after its conclusion and grows stronger between Warsaw and Sharjah.

Włodzimierz Czarzasty, Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, said it was a cultural honour to welcome Sharjah as the Guest of Honour of Warsaw International Book Fair 2026, and described the emirate’s participation as a valuable cultural contribution that reflects the growing ties between Poland and the UAE.

He said books remain a powerful tool for fostering understanding and dialogue between cultures, while publishers continue to play a vital role in preserving and sharing knowledge across societies.

In her keynote, Marta Cienkowska, Poland’s Minister of Culture and National Heritage, thanked Sheikha Bodour for her remarks at the opening ceremony and praised Sharjah’s appreciation of Polish culture and history. She said cultural exchange remains a powerful means of fostering dialogue and understanding between peoples, adding that the Warsaw International Book Fair plays a vital role in connecting readers, writers and publishers with Poland’s cultural scene.

Dorota Malinowska-Grupińska, Chairwoman of the Warsaw City Council, said Sharjah’s participation as Guest of Honour highlights the role of books and publishing in fostering cultural dialogue and mutual understanding. As a publisher herself, she said books serve not only as cultural products but also as a means of human connection and exchange, adding that Sharjah’s presence in Warsaw brings a new dimension to dialogue with the Arab world.

For his part, Jacek Oryl, Director of the Warsaw International Book Fair, said Sharjah’s selection as Guest of Honour marks a significant moment in the fair’s history and reflects growing cultural ties between Poland and the UAE. He added that the emirate’s participation offers visitors insight into Arab and Emirati culture through its literature, arts, thought and living heritage.

Sheikha Bodour led an official tour of the Sharjah pavilion alongside Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, joined by distinguished guests including Dr. Tomasz Makowski, Director of the National Library of Poland; and Grzegorz Jankowicz, Director of the Polish Book Institute, alongside publishers and representatives of cultural institutions from Poland and across Europe.

During the tour, visitors were introduced to key initiatives and programmes that reflect Sharjah’s cultural project, including works presented by Emirati publishers, initiatives led by the emirate’s cultural institutions, and heritage and artistic activities featured as part of Sharjah’s participation in the fair.

The fair’s inaugural day featured the IKAR Publishing Season Awards ceremony, organised by the fair. This year’s Ikar Award was presented to Polish author Professor Stefan Chwin in recognition of his literary and humanitarian contributions, and his role in defending human values and cultural memory in contemporary Polish literature.

The IKAR Publishing Season Awards also honoured Piotr Dobrołęcki, who received the Author award for his contributions to Poland’s cultural and literary scene, while Wydawnictwo Czarne received the Publisher award for its role in enriching the country’s publishing industry and bringing influential literary and intellectual works to readers. The Bookstore award went to Księgarnia Artystyczna Firmin w Gdańsku for its efforts to promote reading culture and strengthen the presence of books in community life.

This year’s Warsaw International Book Fair features more than 1,200 cultural and professional events, reinforcing its position as one of Central Europe’s leading cultural platforms. Sharjah’s participation as Guest of Honour presents a model for Arab cultural engagement built on dialogue, openness and the strengthening of connections between peoples through literature, arts, and knowledge.

Over four days, Sharjah is presenting on its 400-square-metre pavilion, an institutional and creative presence reflecting the diversity of the UAE’s cultural landscape, with the participation of 21 cultural, academic and media institutions, 36 Emirati writers, poets, academics and artists, alongside 15 Polish participants, in a programme based on direct dialogue between Arab and Polish cultural experiences and placing books at the heart of exchange between peoples.

Sharjah’s participation includes 35 cultural events, featuring 28 panel discussions, four poetry evenings, and three children’s workshops, held across the fairgrounds, the University of Warsaw, and the Grochoteka Public Library, in addition to 18 musical performances by the Sharjah National Band at the Warsaw National Theatre. These performances introduce fair visitors and audiences across Warsaw to the elements of traditional Emirati arts through a programme that links written knowledge with immersive cultural experience.

Sharjah will also be activating public spaces, libraries and theatres, transforming Warsaw into an open platform introducing audiences to the history and contemporary Emirati and Arab culture.

As a key part of the programme, the project Tasawurat (“Visions”) brings together 10 artists and designers from the UAE and Poland to produce works inspired by Arabic and Polish poetry, exploring themes including humanity, nature, the sea, and existential reflection. It combines elements of Arabic poetic tradition with poster art, a defining feature of Poland’s visual culture.

The emirate’s pavilion comprises a showcase of cultural and academic institutions.

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

 SHARJAH, U.A.E: Sultan Al Qasimi witnesses the launch of the ” 02nd Sharjah Conference on Arab Studies in Europe” and simultaneously announces the Unique Achievement of the completion of the historical dictionary of the Arabic language consisting 127 volumes

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, announced the completion of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language, consisting of 127 volumes, in a unique achievement for the Arab and Islamic nation, which is added to the series of achievements of Sharjah, under His Highness’s leadership, in various fields of culture, literature and the Arabic language.

This came during His Highness’s attendance today at the launch of the activities of the Second Sharjah International Conference on Arabic Language Studies in Europe, which is organized by the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, at the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi House.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah welcomed the conference guests from various European countries, including scholars and students, pointing out the overwhelming joy of completing all the volumes of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language, saying, “Your presence on this day, which coincides with the completion of the dictionary, is a joy and delight and the reaping of fruits. It is a happy occasion. This dictionary took seven years and was scientifically researched by 500 researchers and approximately 200 proofreaders, reviewers, printers, administrators and technicians.”

His Highness added that the scientific and research team of the Historical Dictionary will continue to work diligently with the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah to complete research and reference work for the benefit of the Arabic language, as work will begin on the Arabic Encyclopedia, which will cover all literary and scientific branches, and will become the first reference for all people.

At the end of his speech, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah pointed out the continuation of efforts to establish more cultural centres that play an important role in spreading support for Arabic culture and language and their valuable projects.

The conference was opened with the recitation of clear verses from the Holy Quran, after which Dr. Mohamed Safi Mosteghanemi, Secretary General of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, delivered a speech in which he welcomed the presence and honor of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah at the conference in its second edition, pointing to His Highness’s great support and personal interest in the Arabic language in terms of learning, teaching, publishing, literature and culture. He also welcomed the participating guests of the conference from various European countries and their great contributions to supporting the Arabic language in their countries.

Al-Mostaghanemi discussed the importance of joint cooperation between all scholars, researchers and orientalists to research and care for the Arabic language, pointing out the importance of the Arab Studies Conference in Europe in achieving many goals for the development of the dissemination and learning of the Arabic language in many European countries and in achieving research goals therein and discussing challenges and finding solutions.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and the attendees watched a visual presentation about the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, its vision, mission and objectives in the fields of publishing, developing and supporting the Arabic language, its research and studies, in addition to the publications and educational courses it supervises and its efforts in honoring scholars and outstanding individuals in various branches of the Arabic language.

Dr. Laura Gago delivered a speech on behalf of the conference guests, in which she praised the efforts of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and what he provides to the Arabic language in general and in Europe in particular, and the support and interest that the Emirate of Sharjah represents for the Arabic language, which has made it a destination for lovers and students of the Arabic language and its capital.

She noted the importance of the conference and its success at the international level, and the competition of scholars from different countries to participate in it, saying, “We came from every corner of Europe, from East to West, to talk about Arabic in the capital of Arabic in the modern era, because we know that Arabic is not a race, but rather Arabic, as the Prophet of Islam said, is the language, so whoever speaks Arabic is an Arab. The Arabic language sits on the throne of human languages, and if its people love it by nature, then the love of the Arabic language for us, who speak other languages, is a decision and a choice.”

She concluded her speech with thanks and appreciation to the Sharjah Academy of Arabic Language for organizing the conference and ensuring its success.

Dr. Dragana Djordjevic delivered a word of thanks and gratitude on behalf of the forum attendees to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for his support for the issues of the Arabic language and its teaching, especially in European countries, and for providing the opportunity for scholars and researchers to attend to study and come up with what contributes to supporting and spreading Arabic. She said, “In Sharjah, we feel that we are in our homes and among our people.”

At the end of the conference opening activities, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah honored the participating scientists and researchers.

The conference will be attended by a number of scholars and academics from Romania, Kazakhstan, Spain, Norway, Poland, Russia, Germany, Serbia, Croatia, Denmark, Turkey, France, Greece, and Italy. They will present various research papers that address the conference themes and the experiences and challenges of learning and teaching the Arabic language in their countries.

The conference seeks to research and discuss a number of topics, namely: Arab tales in the West: One Thousand and One Nights, Kalila and Dimna, Juha, and others, the Arabic language and contemporary technology, translation and cultural communication, the translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an into European languages: reality and prospects, the image of the Arab in travel literature and the books of European geographers, in addition to the topic of Arab manuscripts in Europe.

The conference aims to define the curricula and rules related to teaching Arabic to non-native speakers, reveal the linguistic, social and human heritage of nations, advance to acquire terms and values ​​that keep pace with contemporary scientific developments, focus on translation curricula and methods of communication between civilizations, care for interpretive readings of the meanings of the Holy Quran from the perspective of European languages, codify travel literature and the records of European geographers with Arabic and European edits, highlight the characteristics of Arabic manuscripts and their caches, in addition to employing global expertise and innovative methods in serving the Arabic language and spreading it in the countries of the European continent, and investing human energies, research skills, concepts and scientific theories to benefit from the linguistic heritage and the Arab knowledge treasure.

The second edition of the conference, which will continue for two days, September 21 and 22, will address several areas related to the Arabic language, namely: serious Arabic and human studies that embody the reality of the Arabic language in Europe, innovative research in learning and teaching the Arabic language, and practical experiences and live practices in the fields of the Arabic language and human studies.

The conference was attended by the Ruler of Sharjah, Dr. Khalifa Al Tunaiji, Chairman of the Holy Quran Academy in Sharjah, Jamal Salem Al Turaifi, President of Al Qasimia University, Abdullah Khalifa Al Sabousi, Chairman of the Department of Islamic Affairs, Ali Al Marri, Chairman of the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Foundation, Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, heads and representatives of Arabic language unions and academies, and a number of officials and specialists. 

source/content: wam.ae (headline edited)

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SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)