The Italian President awards Bodour Al Qasimi the Order of Merit of the Republic with the rank of Officer in recognition of her role in strengthening cultural relations between the UAE and Italy.

Sharjah, July 15 / WAM / In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, and on behalf of His Excellency Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Book Culture at UNESCO, was awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic with the rank of “Officer”, the highest order of merit in Italy, in recognition of her extended contributions to strengthening cultural relations between the two republics. Italy and the UAE, and its role in employing books, education, culture and international dialogue to build bridges of communication and understanding between peoples.

Her Highness was granted the medal based on the nomination of Lorenzo Vanara, Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the country, who confirmed in his official message that this honor reflects the prominent role played by Her Highness in consolidating cultural cooperation relations between the two countries.

Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi received the medal and the certificate of honor during an official ceremony held at the Central House in the UAE on July 13, where Her Highness presented the medal to His Excellency Lorenzo Vanara, on behalf of His Excellency the President of the Italian Republic.

Following the ceremony, their Highnesses, accompanied by the Italian Ambassador, toured the Central House, one of the heritage houses that the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) restored, revived and used as a cultural destination to host events in the heart of Sharjah.

Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi said: I learned since my childhood that books not only transmit knowledge, but also build bridges between people, bring cultures closer together, and give people the opportunity to get to know each other away from stereotypes. I owe this conviction to my father, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who established the Sharjah Cultural Project on the firm belief that dialogue between cultures is the shortest path to understanding, and that Understanding is the foundation on which peace is built.

Her Highness added that receiving this honor from Italy, a country whose culture, literature and creative spirit have contributed to shaping human civilization over centuries, is an honor that I cherish and accept with all gratitude and appreciation. I see this honor as an incentive to continue building on what we have achieved together, and to enhance cultural dialogue between the Arab and Italian worlds, by delivering more Italian literature to the Arab reader, providing a wider space for Arabic literature to the Italian reader, and giving new generations the opportunity to build stronger human and cultural ties, and a friendship that extends into the future.

Her Highness also contributed to strengthening this cultural dialogue between the two civilizations through the issuance of the Italian translation of her latest work in children’s literature, “The House of Wisdom,” which takes Italian children and adolescents over the age of nine years on a simplified and interesting journey to learn about the Arab and Islamic civilizations, and their historical and cultural legacies.

His Excellency Ambassador Lorenzo Vanara stressed that this honor embodies the prominent role played by Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi in consolidating cultural relations between the UAE and Italy, especially through her continued support for Italian literature and enhancing its presence in the region.

He pointed to Her Highness’s generous contribution to the rehabilitation of the historic children’s library “Gianino Stoppani” in the Italian city of Bologna, which is considered one of the most prominent cultural monuments specialized in children’s literature.

His Excellency added that the Emirati-Italian relations today witness an exceptional level of depth and cooperation, stressing that the strength of these relations will not be complete without investing in culture as a bridge that connects peoples and generations.

He said: Through books, academic exchange programs, exhibitions, and the arts, together we continue to discover our common human history, enhance mutual knowledge, and consolidate understanding between our two societies.

The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, which was established by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi, in 1951, is the country’s highest national decoration, and is awarded to figures who have made exceptional contributions to the service of Italy in the fields of literature, arts, education, public service, economics, humanitarian and charitable work, in addition to distinguished civil and military achievements.

This honor comes as a culmination of a long process of cultural cooperation between Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi and Italy, which was based on supporting publishing, education, and promoting cultural dialogue. From her ongoing participation in the Bologna International Children’s Book Fair, one of the most prominent global platforms specialized in publishing children’s books, to the “Adopt a Library” initiative launched by the Kalimat Foundation, which contributed to providing libraries and schools serving Arab immigrant and refugee children with books in the Arabic language and bilingual books (Arabic and Italian), Her Highness worked to provide real spaces for cultural exchange between the two countries.

These initiatives also brought together writers, publishers and readers from the Emirates and Italy through reading and storytelling, embodying the two countries’ shared belief in the role of books, heritage and education in promoting understanding between peoples.

This medal honors more than two decades of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi’s leadership in efforts that made books, education, and culture effective tools for international cooperation. Through her initiatives in higher education, the publishing industry, promoting reading, and humanitarian work, Her Highness established her belief that true dialogue between countries begins first by enhancing understanding between peoples.

In her capacity as President of the American University of Sharjah and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Book Authority, Her Highness led continuous efforts to enhance education, knowledge production and cultural exchange as interconnected pillars of sustainable development, and contributed to consolidating Sharjah’s position as one of the most prominent global centers for publishing and literary dialogue, through platforms that bring together writers, publishers, academics and cultural institutions from around the world.

She also made history as the first Arab woman to be elected president of the International Publishers Association since its founding in 1896. During her presidency, she led a global dialogue on freedom of publishing, fair access to knowledge, and promoting inclusivity within the publishing system, which established the role of the publishing industry as a bridge for international understanding.

Through her founding and management of Kalimat Publishing Group, Her Highness contributed to shaping new features of children’s literature in the UAE and the Arab region, stressing the pivotal role that high-quality Arabic books play in building new generations of readers.

She also led the establishment of a number of institutions that have today become an essential part of the cultural structure in the region, including the Emirati Publishers Association, the UAE Council on Books for Young People, and the “Culture Without Borders” Foundation, in addition to the global PublisHer platform, which supports women working in the publishing sector and enhances their opportunities to reach leadership positions in the creative industries.

Her leadership of the Sharjah World Book Capital 2019 program showed how books can strengthen the cohesion of societies and deepen dialogue between cultures, as the emirate transformed, over the course of a whole year, into a global forum for literature, education and creativity. The program also contributed to laying the foundations for the establishment of the House of Wisdom, a cultural edifice and a modern library that has become a global platform for the exchange of knowledge, innovation and lifelong learning.

In addition to her achievements in the fields of publishing and education, Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi led many initiatives that expanded access to books and education for less fortunate groups around the world.

Her Highness, through her role in the International Publishers Association (IPA), contributed to supporting the goals of the Marrakesh Treaty and enhancing access to books for people with visual disabilities. She also supported the efforts of the UAE and the Emirate of Sharjah in rehabilitating public libraries in Beirut following the Beirut Port explosion in 2020.

Through the Kalimat Foundation and many international initiatives, Her Highness continued to defend the right of disadvantaged children to read, and to believe in knowledge as a gateway to opportunity, dignity, and social progress.

This honor, in addition to celebrating the contributions of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, embodies the depth of the growing cultural partnership between the Italian Republic and the United Arab Emirates, based on a shared belief that dialogue, creativity and learning are among the strongest bridges that connect peoples.

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