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

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member 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 theatre of the International Center for Cultural Heritage Organizations of the Institute, in the presence of a distinguished gathering of senior officials, experts, and researchers from around the world. The ceremony opened with welcoming remarks, followed by a short film highlighting the journey of the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage. H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees, then delivered a speech affirming that the Award embodies the vision of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in supporting cultural heritage and honoring its pioneers. He noted that Sharjah has become a global model in safeguarding cultural heritage and enhancing its presence. Dr. Al Musallam added: “Sharjah launched this Award as an international platform recognizing efforts in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. Today it celebrates experts, researchers, and narrators who have left clear imprints in protecting this shared human legacy. The Award also consolidates Sharjah’s pioneering role as a bridge for civilizational dialogue and cultural exchange worldwide.” Commendation of 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 hallmark among specialized cultural awards. She stated: “The Award reflects the vision of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in safeguarding heritage and supporting its pioneers. Today it stands as a global platform honoring individuals and institutions contributing to its preservation. This year we also celebrate the ‘Cultural Heritage Personality of the Year,’ an initiative to honor those who have devoted their lives to serving and protecting heritage.” She added: “The success of this event is the result of collective efforts involving the organizing teams, jury committees, and all supporting entities.” Thereafter, Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, accompanied by H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam and Ms. Aisha Rashid Al Hosani, was invited to the stage to inaugurate the honoring ceremony of the winners of this edition of the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage. Cultural Heritage Personality of the Year The Cultural Heritage Personality of the Year Award was granted to Dr. Najeeb Abdullah Al Shamsi from the United Arab Emirates, in recognition of his scholarly and community contributions to safeguarding Emirati heritage and protecting it from disappearance over successive decades through his significant studies and research. Winners of the Fifth Edition The fifth edition witnessed distinguished participation from various countries, with awards distributed across three main fields comprising nine categories (local, Arab, and international): In the field of Best Safeguarding Practices of Cultural Heritage, the Local Practices Award was granted to the Holy Quran Academy in Sharjah for its distinguished file titled “The Role of the Holy Quran Academy in Safeguarding the Arabic Manuscript Heritage.” The Arab Practices Award was granted to the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for its work in traditional wooden door craftsmanship in the Najd region. The International Practices Award was granted to the Malabar Foundation for Research and Development, India, for its project “Malabar Digitization Initiative – HMML.” In the field of Narrators and Bearers of Heritage (Living Human Treasures), the Local Narrator Award was granted to the narrator Muhaina Ali Obaid Al Suraidi; the Arab Narrator Award to Mr. Salman bin Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Hamad from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and the International Narrator Award to narrator Elizabeth Weir from Ireland. In the field 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 “Traditional Performing Arts and Folk Chants in the United Arab Emirates.” The Arab Research Award was granted to Mr. Saeed bin Abdullah bin Mubarak Al Farsi from the Sultanate of Oman for his study “Constants and Variables in Folk Traditions Associated with the Fishing Profession in the Sultanate of Oman (North Al Batinah Governorate as a Model).” The International Research Award was granted to Mr. Jean Lambert from France for his study “Al-Tarab or Al-Qanbus: The One-Piece Lute and Music in Yemen.” A number of supporting entities were also honored, in addition to members of the jury committee comprising distinguished cultural heritage specialists at the local and international levels. About the Award The Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage was established in 2017 under Emiri Decree No. (19) and is regarded as the first Arab award with an international orientation in the field of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. The Award aims to highlight outstanding practices, honor narrators, and encourage studies and research that contribute to preserving cultural heritage. It is conferred annually at a high-level ceremony with the participation of academic, cultural, and media institutions from around the world.