Officials praise the success of the Sharjah Cultural Project and its role in transmitting Arab and Emirati culture around the world

Warsaw, 30 May / WAM / Officials in Emirati cultural, academic and creative institutions and bodies praised the success of the Emirate of Sharjah in transmitting its cultural project developed by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to introduce it to the countries of the world through an influential dialogue that led to the emirate being chosen as a guest of honor at many international book fairs, the latest of which is the Warsaw International Book Fair 2026, which is one of the most prominent cultural events in Poland and one of the most important publishing platforms. In Europe, it brings together annually publishers, writers and cultural institutions from different countries of the world and provides a space for communication, exchange of experiences and display of the latest publications in a way that enhances the presence of books and their role in cultural life.

His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, said in a statement to the Emirates News Agency, WAM, that the presence of the Emirate of Sharjah in the Warsaw International Book Fair, through the participation of 21 cultural entities and institutions, represents a great success among the series of successes achieved by the emirate in transferring Arab culture to countries of the world and highlighting its civilizational role, pointing out that His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah launched his great cultural project 45 years ago, and today we are reaping what His Highness planted it; We find the world’s desire to learn about Arab and Emirati culture, which is confirmed by the presence of Sharjah as the first Arab guest of honor at the Warsaw Exhibition.

He explained that relations between the Emirate of Sharjah and Poland began many years ago. His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah implemented several cultural projects in a number of Polish universities, pointing out that Sharjah’s presence as a guest of honor at the Warsaw Exhibition comes as a continuation of these relations that seek to create more cultural and knowledge exchange between the two friendly countries.

His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Musallam, President of the Sharjah Heritage Institute, said that the Institute, through its participation in the Sharjah Pavilion, showcases crafts, professions, and popular and traditional women’s fashions, and presents a model of Emirati hospitality that received great demand from visitors to the exhibition for the purpose of learning about the Emirati identity.

He added that the exhibition includes the Institute’s latest cultural publications, in addition to the participation of the Sharjah National Band in presenting a group of Emirati heritage performances, noting communication with the Polish National Heritage Institute to organize a visit by some craftswomen from the Emirates to Polish craft centers.

He pointed out that the institute is preparing a plan that focuses on building bridges of cooperation with a number of Polish institutions concerned with cultural heritage to exchange experiences, especially since the Polish side expressed a desire for cooperation, especially in applying for the Sharjah International Award for Cultural Heritage and cooperation in the field of manuscripts and documents.

Polish academic and translator Dr. Barbara Michalak, Head of the Arabic Language Department at the Polish University of Jagiellonia, expressed her happiness at the presence of the Emirate of Sharjah as a guest of honor at the Warsaw International Book Fair 2026, noting that she visited the Sharjah Arabic Language Academy accompanied by a number of university students to teach them the Arabic language in an Arab environment and to benefit from the enormous potential of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language, which provides researchers and students with an accurate picture of the life of Arabic and the transformations of its words over the centuries.

She said that she worked with Al Qasimi Publications to translate 11 of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah’s plays from Arabic to Polish.

For his part, Dr. Sultan Al Amimi, President of the Emirates Writers and Writers Union, said that the Union seeks, through participation in the Sharjah Pavilion, to transfer Emirati literary works to other languages, and displays literary works that include poetry, stories, and novels translated into Polish, stressing that hosting the Emirate of Sharjah as a guest of honor at the Warsaw International Book Fair constitutes an important window to reach non-Arabic speakers to transfer Emirati culture and Emirati literature to broader fields.

He pointed out that the Union will participate in a number of activities within the cultural program of the exhibition, including sessions for Emirati writers and creators, poetry evenings, and discussions on common literary issues with Polish writers.

In turn, Mohammed Al Qasir, Director of the Cultural Affairs Department at the Sharjah Department of Culture and head of the department’s delegation participating in the exhibition, said that the presence of the Emirate of Sharjah as a guest of honor at the Warsaw International Book Fair is a clear indication of the great cultural standing that characterizes the emirate in Arab and international literary forums, as a result of the efforts of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and the follow-up of Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, President of the Sharjah Book Authority.

He pointed out that the department’s participation in the exhibition is represented by the Arabic calligraphy exhibition, which includes a group of paintings decorated with Islamic motifs by a number of Arab and international artists, in addition to a number of the department’s various publications in poetry, literature, stories, novels, children’s books, and the department’s magazines. He pointed out that a calligraphy workshop was organized to highlight the aesthetics of Arabic calligraphy to the visitors of the exhibition and inform them of the types of calligraphy and pens used in writing it.

Rashid Al-Kous, Executive Director of the Emirates Publishers Association, said that the association’s pavilion at the exhibition includes 6 publishers displaying their most prominent publications and seeking to sign contracts for buying and selling copyrights with the publishers present at the exhibition.

Fahd Al-Maamari, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Library and Information Association, explained that the association is presenting its joint project with American libraries to translate specialized and academic books in library sciences, which began work last year and will continue for four years and aims to translate 100 books. So far, 6 books have been translated from Arabic to English and made available to readers, in addition to cooperation with the Ministry of Education and a number of universities in the country, to provide these books in their libraries.

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