Milan: The Arabic Cultural Institute in Milan, established by the Sharjah Book Authority, has entered into a collaboration with the Municipality of Milan to provide Arabic-language and cultural training to municipal staff who assist migrants and refugees.
According to Emirates News Agency, the program will offer beginner-level Arabic language courses and introductory modules on Arab culture to personnel at the Milan Reception Centre and throughout the city's extensive reception and integration network. This initiative is a response to the increasing demand for municipal services, as more Arabic-speaking individuals seek assistance within Milan's migrant support system.
Founded in 2024 through a partnership between the Sharjah Book Authority and the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, the institute aims to expand Arabic language education in Europe and enhance academic and cultural exchanges between the Arab world and European institutions. The Milan Reception Centre, opened in 2024, is the city's only specialised facility focused on migrant and refugee services, employing around 100 cultural and linguistic mediators and supporting approximately 1,000 beneficiaries each month.
The first courses under this agreement are slated to begin in March, with registrations already surpassing expectations. This initiative aligns with the Sharjah Book Authority's strategy to promote the professional and educational use of Arabic beyond the Arab world and to establish Sharjah as a cultural and knowledge bridge between East and West.