Sharjah and Alexandria unite to digitise Arab heritage
Two venerable institutions chart a course to preserve and share the cultural memory of the Arab world through technology and scholarly collaboration
In Alexandria, where millennia of learning have shaped the intellectual life of the Arab world, the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina have forged a partnership to ensure that the region’s cultural riches remain accessible to scholars and seekers for generations to come.
Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, led a delegation to meet with Professor Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, to explore three pillars of cooperation. The discussions centred on completing and developing an electronic portal for the Thesaurus of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Arab World; strengthening joint publishing programmes; and enhancing the development of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage’s library systems.
The partnership reflects a deeper commitment to harnessing modern technology in service of preservation. Both institutions recognised that the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s expertise in knowledge management, digitisation, archiving and contemporary technological systems could amplify efforts to safeguard heritage resources and democratise access to them across the digital landscape.
Dr Al Musallam spoke of the institute’s dedication to expanding partnerships across Egyptian scientific and academic institutions, emphasising how such collaboration strengthens the broader Arab commitment to documenting and disseminating cultural knowledge. He underscored the significance of drawing on the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s scientific and technological acumen to develop systems that keep pace with rapid digital transformation whilst remaining true to rigorous scholarly standards.
The Thesaurus portal will serve as a vital resource for researchers and specialists, organising and presenting heritage-related terminology and concepts according to specialised methodological frameworks. This systematic approach ensures that intangible cultural heritage is not merely preserved but made comprehensible and usable to the academic community and beyond.
Professor Ahmed Zayed welcomed the delegation and acknowledged the potential of their shared vision, expressing confidence that the agreed programmes would accelerate the preservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage whilst advancing the institutions’ mutual research objectives.
The Sharjah Institute for Heritage brings considerable scholarly resources to this partnership, its publishing portfolio encompassing more than 1,300 titles addressing diverse facets of cultural heritage. Its work in digitisation, documentation and publishing has established a foundation upon which these new initiatives will build, extending the reach of Arab cultural knowledge to researchers, academics and interested audiences worldwide.
Joint scientific programmes and knowledge-based activities are expected to unfold in phases beginning in 2027, with both institutions committed to accelerating progress on the Thesaurus portal. This collaboration embodies a philosophy central to both organisations: that heritage knowledge must be preserved with scholarly rigour, made accessible through modern means, and transmitted thoughtfully to ensure its vitality and relevance in an evolving world.
Source: WAM