Ruler of Sharjah Honors Winners of the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage in its Second Edition

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, attended on Sunday morning at Sharjah Institute for Heritage the ceremony honoring the winners of Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage in its second edition, across its three fields distributed over nine categories. The ceremony commenced with the national anthem of the United Arab Emirates, followed by recitation from the Holy Quran. H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, then delivered a speech in which he expressed appreciation for the efforts of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and his far-sighted vision in supporting the preservation and safeguarding of heritage and in caring for those working in this field. He highlighted His Highness’s directives aimed at preserving, safeguarding, and promoting cultural heritage, and at providing the diverse means necessary to achieve this noble objective. He also underscored the significant efforts undertaken by the Emirate of Sharjah in collecting, documenting, studying, and verifying heritage, to the extent that it has become a model to be emulated. He stated: “The second edition of the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage has achieved distinguished participation across its various branches and the local, Arab, and international fields derived from them. This is thanks to the generous support and strong encouragement that the Award has received—and continues to receive—from His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah. Within a short period, it has succeeded in attracting leading figures and promising scholars in the field of cultural heritage, achieving a qualitative addition in its domain, as the only international award in the United Arab Emirates dedicated to cultural heritage. It celebrates a constellation of experts, narrators, specialists, and researchers who have devoted their lives to serving, preserving, and safeguarding cultural heritage, whose safeguarding practices have set notable benchmarks locally, regionally, and internationally.” H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam congratulated the winners, noting that competition had been strong among participants from various countries whose practices, experiences, and research rose to the Award’s standards, representing six countries. He also indicated that the Cultural Heritage Personality of the Year Award had been introduced to honor individuals and groups for their overall achievements and valuable contributions in the field of cultural heritage. He emphasized that the Award opens its doors to projects, research, and studies to expand human communication through heritage, which constitutes a genuine bond uniting humanity across diverse backgrounds through values that encourage interaction and mutual engagement. Dr. Rashad Salem, Chancellor of Al Qasimia University and member of the Award Jury Committee, delivered the Jury’s address, expressing thanks and appreciation to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for his wise and forward-looking vision in supporting all programmes of the Emirate of Sharjah, which has become a principal host and supporter of numerous events worldwide. He stated: “The Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage represents a new dimension added to the many Sharjah awards dedicated to human development and the advancement of humanity through well-designed scholarly programmes across all fields of culture,” and he congratulated the winners of this year’s edition. Thereafter, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, accompanied by H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, was invited to the stage to inaugurate the honoring ceremony of the winners of this edition of the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage, presenting them with commemorative shields and certificates of appreciation. The Cultural Heritage Personality of the Year Award was granted to H.E. Ali Abdullah Khalifa, President of the International Organization of Folk Art, in recognition of his valuable contributions and pioneering efforts in the field of preserving and safeguarding cultural heritage. In the field of Best Safeguarding Practices of Cultural Heritage Elements, the Emirates Heritage Club won the Local Practices Award; the King Salman Programme for the Care of the Kingdom’s Cultural Heritage, submitted by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, won the Arab Practices Award; while Chinese master craftsman Jin Juho, an expert in wooden boatbuilding, won the International Practices Award. In the field of Narrators and Bearers of Heritage (Living Human Treasures), Abdullah Saeed Al Suwaidi won the Local Narrator Award; Fatima Sarhan from the Arab Republic of Egypt won the Arab Narrator Award; and Rosa María from Mexico won the International Narrator Award. In the field of Researchers in Cultural Heritage, the Local Research Award was granted to the late researcher Ibrahim Saleh Al Awadhi for his study “Traditional Textiles in the United Arab Emirates,” received on his behalf by his son Khalid Ibrahim. In the Arab Research category, Ahmed Mubarak Salem from the Kingdom of Bahrain won for his study “Cultural and Social Life in Bahrain One Hundred Years Ago and Its Reflection on the Art of the Ahzoujah.” The International Research Award was won by Zhao Rongguang from the People’s Republic of China for his study “Chinese Food Culture and Inherited Traditions.” His Highness also honored the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority and the Sharjah Government Media Bureau for their media sponsorship of the Award. Members of the Award Jury Committee were likewise honored by His Highness and took a commemorative group photograph with him. Following the ceremony, His Highness attended a traditional musical heritage performance by a troupe from the Republic of Bosnia participating in the Sharjah Heritage Days, presenting a series of heritage artistic tableaux. His Highness also listened to the award-winning narrator Fatima Sarhan, who praised his significant efforts in safeguarding cultural heritage in all its forms and his commitment to honoring winners at all levels. His Highness exchanged remarks with her on the art of oral narration and the importance of preserving it as an essential component of Arab heritage. Alongside His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, the ceremony was attended by Major General Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police; H.E. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture; H.E. Mohammed Obaid Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality; as well as a number of researchers, cultural specialists, and officials from Sharjah government entities.