Photos: Supplied
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, officially launched the 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair, organized by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) under the theme 'It Starts with a Book,' at Expo Centre Sharjah on Wednesday. The event will continue until November 17. The Ruler of Sharjah was accompanied by several dignitaries, including Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler; Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA; Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Ruler's Office; Sheikh Khalid bin Isam Bin Saqer Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Department; Sheikh Majid bin Sultan bin Saqer Al Qasimi, Chairman of Districts Affairs Department; Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture and Youth; Sheikha Nawar Al Qasimi, Director of the Sharjah Art Foundation; Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Office; and other top officials, intellectuals, and authors.
The Ruler of Sharjah emphasized the efforts to promote the Arabic language, its literature, sciences, and history, highlighting the significant role of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language. He affirmed the commitment to advancing knowledge, spreading cultural awareness, and strengthening the Arabic language globally.
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi warmly welcomed the international audience, stating: “We are delighted to welcome you to the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair. We are grateful to the distinguished guests, including scholars, intellectuals, writers, publishers, and the media, for their exceptional presence, which underscores the enduring strength of our culture.” The Ruler of Sharjah expressed pride in this grand occasion, which celebrates the book at the highest level and offers a distinguished program, including the unprecedented achievement of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language. This milestone reinforces Sharjah’s commitment to books and cultural heritage.
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi outlined the vision behind the corpus, a long-held aspiration for the Arab world, and detailed his leadership over many years in bringing this project to fruition. The Sharjah Ruler noted that the corpus preserves an invaluable linguistic and cultural heritage, paving the way for further projects that honor Arabic as a great and enduring language.
In conclusion, he addressed scholars, cultural advocates, and knowledge seekers, affirming the continuation of major scholarly projects and a bright future for the Arabic language, saying, “To my children: the future is rich with major scholarly projects, and I am confident that the future of Arabic is bright and blessed. The Arabic language will endure as long as life continues, safeguarded by preserving the Holy Quran.”
The Sharjah Ruler also honored renowned Algerian author and novelist Ahlam Mosteghanemi as the 'Cultural Personality of the Year' for the 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF). His Highness also paid tribute to the heads of Arabic language academies who contributed to the completion of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language, alongside Al Qasimi Publications, which undertook the execution, printing, and presentation of the complete volumes, in addition to taking commemorative pictures.
Following the opening ceremony, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi signed copies of the completed Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language, the first-of-its-kind project to chronicle 17 centuries of the development of the Arabic language in 127 volumes, and honored members of the team who worked tirelessly to bring the project to fruition.
Deep-rooted relations between the UAE and Morocco were also highlighted, with Latifa Moftaqir, Director of Books, Libraries, and Archives, Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication - Department of Culture, Kingdom of Morocco, expressing gratitude on behalf of the Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication.
Short film screenings were held, including one about the SIBF theme, ‘It Starts with a Book,’ and another unveiling the incredible seven-year project that culminated the efforts of a 700-member crew into the 127-volume Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language.
Following the opening ceremony, The Ruler of Sharjah toured SIBF accompanied and briefed by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of SBA. The Sharjah Ruler also visited the Guest of Honour pavilion and explored the pavilions of various Sharjah-based entities, gaining a deeper understanding of their contributions to the cultural landscape.
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