Alexandria: Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH), participated in a symposium titled "Experiences in Documenting Arab Heritage," held at the Delegations Hall at the Conference Centre as part of the cultural program of the 20th Alexandria International Book Fair. The symposium attracted a distinguished audience of intellectuals, academics, and heritage enthusiasts from various Arab countries.
According to Emirates News Agency, Dr Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, warmly welcomed Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, highlighting the event's alignment with the Library's mission to promote cultural awareness. Dr Zayed emphasized the importance of passing on the message of preserving Arab heritage as a cultural and civilizational identity to younger generations. He noted the success of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina's recent documentary series on Arab cultural heritage, which has been well-received by young audiences. The library is committed to preserving heritage and strengthening its role in shaping cultural identity.
In his address, Dr Al Musallam outlined Sharjah's pioneering efforts in cultural heritage preservation, tracing its journey from the 1970s to the establishment of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage in 2014. The institute is the first scientific body dedicated to the documentation and preservation of Emirati and Arab cultural heritage. Al Musallam detailed the evolution of Sharjah's efforts, from initial individual and institutional initiatives to the founding of the Heritage Department and the documentation of oral narratives. Major projects by the institute include the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage, the Encyclopedia of Emirati Crafts and Professions, and the Thesaurus of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Arab World.
Dr Al Musallam praised the Bibliotheca Alexandrina's contribution to digitizing these efforts within a comprehensive scientific framework. He also announced SIH's plans to incorporate artificial intelligence technologies in heritage documentation and to enhance international collaboration through the "Centre for International Cultural Heritage Organisations," which facilitates the exchange of expertise and knowledge among cultural institutions globally.
Al Musallam emphasized that "intangible cultural heritage is not merely a past we preserve, but a future we shape through a deep understanding of our identity." He highlighted Sharjah's commitment to this mission through fieldwork, research, academic publishing, and both regional and international cooperation.
The symposium concluded with the distribution of several publications from the Sharjah Institute for Heritage to attendees, reinforcing the institute's mission to "preserve heritage and preserve identity." The event underscored the continued collaboration between Sharjah and Alexandria in advancing Arab cultural heritage.