His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah and a member of the Supreme Council, has recently unveiled the completion of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language, a monumental work comprising 127 volumes. This significant accomplishment further solidifies Sharjah's reputation as a beacon of cultural and linguistic excellence, benefiting both Arab and Islamic communities.
The announcement was made during the inauguration of the Second Sharjah International Conference on Arabic Language Studies in Europe (SICALE) on September 21, organized by the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah at the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre. The conference, which runs until September 22, is dedicated to exploring critical aspects of the Arabic language, including comprehensive studies in Arab humanities, innovative approaches to teaching Arabic, and practical insights into Arabic language and humanities studies.
The Ruler of Sharjah warmly greeted an array of scholars and researchers from Europe, expressing profound satisfaction over the completion of the Historical Dictionary. He remarked, "Your presence here today, as we mark the culmination of this monumental project, fills us with immense joy and pride. This achievement is a reflection of our collective dedication. Over the course of seven years, this dictionary has been brought to fruition through the tireless efforts of 500 researchers and nearly 200 proofreaders, reviewers, and printers."
The conference features a diverse group of academics and scholars from countries such as Romania, Kazakhstan, Spain, Norway, Poland, Russia, Germany, Serbia, Croatia, Denmark, Turkey, France, Greece, and Italy. They will present research papers that delve into the conference themes, sharing their unique experiences and challenges in learning and teaching Arabic.
Dr. Sheikh Sultan also announced that the research team behind the Historical Dictionary will continue their work in collaboration with the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, commencing the development of the Arabic Encyclopedia, which will encompass all literary and scientific fields, serving as a primary reference for all.
In closing, the Ruler of Sharjah emphasized the ongoing commitment to establishing more cultural centers that play a pivotal role in promoting Arabic culture and language, alongside various related projects. The conference aims to delve into several key topics, including Arab tales in the West, the integration of Arabic with contemporary technology, translation and cultural communication, the translation of the Holy Quran into European languages, the portrayal of Arabs in travel literature, and the state of Arabic manuscripts in Europe.
Joining the Ruler of Sharjah at the conference's opening were several dignitaries, including Khalifa Musabeh bin Ahmed Al Teneiji, chairman of the Holy Quran Academy in Sharjah; Jamal Salem Al Tarifi, president of Al Qasimia University; Abdullah Khalifa Al Sabousi, head of the Department of Islamic Affairs in Sharjah; Ali Al Marri, head of the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre; Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, general-director of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; as well as heads and representatives of Arabic language unions and academics, along with several officials and specialists.
