Under Patronage of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and in the Presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Winners of the Fifth Edition of Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage Honoured

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Statistics and Community Development in the Emirate of Sharjah, the Sharjah Institute for Heritage organized this morning an official ceremony to honor the winners of the Fifth Edition of the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage. The ceremony was held at the auditorium of the Institute’s International Organizations Centre for Cultural Heritage and was attended by a distinguished gathering of dignitaries, officials, experts, researchers, and cultural heritage practitioners from around the world. The ceremony commenced with welcoming remarks to the attendees, followed by the screening of a short documentary highlighting the journey and achievements of the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage. Subsequently, His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees, delivered a keynote address in which he emphasized that the Award embodies the vision of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in supporting cultural heritage and honoring its custodians and practitioners. He noted that Sharjah has become a global model in safeguarding cultural heritage and strengthening its visibility and relevance. Dr. Al Musallam stated: “Sharjah established this Award as an international platform dedicated to recognizing outstanding efforts in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. Today, it celebrates experts, researchers, and tradition bearers who have made remarkable contributions to the preservation of this shared human legacy. The Award also reinforces Sharjah’s pioneering role as a bridge for intercultural dialogue and cultural exchange across the world.” Recognition of Outstanding Efforts and Affirmation of Leadership For her part, Ms. Aisha Rashid Al Hosani Al Shamsi, Director of the Award, affirmed that the Fifth Edition represents a continuation of the Award’s successful journey, which has become a benchmark among specialized cultural awards. She stated: “The Award reflects the vision of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in safeguarding cultural heritage and supporting its custodians. It has evolved into a global platform that honors individuals and institutions contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage. This year, we are also celebrating the ‘Cultural Heritage Personality of the Year,’ an initiative dedicated to recognizing individuals who have devoted their lives to the service and protection of heritage.” She added: “The success of this event is the result of a collective effort involving the organizing teams, the jury committees, and all supporting partners.” Following the speeches, Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, accompanied by His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam and Ms. Aisha Rashid Al Hosani, was invited to the stage to inaugurate the award presentation ceremony and honor the winners of the Fifth Edition of the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage. Cultural Heritage Personality of the Year The title of “Cultural Heritage Personality of the Year” was awarded to Dr. Najib Abdullah Al Shamsi from the United Arab Emirates in recognition of his distinguished academic, research, and community contributions to safeguarding Emirati heritage and protecting it from disappearance through decades of dedicated studies and scholarly work. Winners of the Fifth Edition The Fifth Edition witnessed distinguished participation from numerous countries. Awards were presented across three main categories encompassing nine subcategories at the local, Arab, and international levels. In the category of Best Practices in Safeguarding Cultural Heritage, the Sharjah Holy Quran Academy received the Local Practices Award for its comprehensive project entitled The Role of the Sharjah Holy Quran Academy in Safeguarding Arab Manuscript Heritage. The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (WRTH) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia won the Arab Practices Award for its work in preserving the traditional craft of wooden door-making in the Najd region. The Malabar Foundation for Research and Development from India received the International Practices Award for its project entitled Malabar Digitization Initiative – HMML. In the category of Narrators and Heritage Bearers (Living Human Treasures), the Local Narrator Award was presented to heritage bearer Muhaina Ali Obaid Al Suraidi. The Arab Narrator Award was awarded to Mr. Salman bin Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Hamad from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, while the International Narrator Award was presented to Ms. Elizabeth Weir from Ireland. In the category of Best Research and Studies in Cultural Heritage, the Local Research Award was granted to Dr. Aisha Ali Ahmed Al Ghais Al Zaabi for her study entitled Traditional Performing Arts and Folk Chants in the United Arab Emirates. The Arab Research Award was presented to Mr. Saeed bin Abdullah bin Mubarak Al Farsi from the Sultanate of Oman for his study entitled Constants and Variables in the Folk Traditions Associated with the Fishing Profession in the Sultanate of Oman: North Al Batinah Governorate as a Case Study. The International Research Award was awarded to Mr. Jean Lambert from France for his study entitled Tarab or Qanbus: The Single-Piece Lute and Music in Yemen. The ceremony also included the recognition of supporting institutions and members of the jury panel, comprising distinguished specialists in cultural heritage from both the local and international arenas. About the Award: The Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage was established in 2017 pursuant to Emiri Decree No. (19). It is the first Arab award of an international character dedicated to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. The Award aims to highlight exemplary practices, honor narrators and heritage bearers, and encourage research and studies that contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage. It is presented annually during a prestigious ceremony attended by academic, cultural, and media institutions from across the globe.