Sharjah International Narrator Forum Celebrates Friendship in Emirati and Arab Heritage
The 26th edition of the prestigious Sharjah International Narrator Forum opened with scholarly discussions exploring how friendship has shaped cultural identity, oral traditions and social values across the Emirates and the wider Arab world.
The Sharjah International Narrator Forum (SINF 2026) commenced with its inaugural day on 24th September, welcoming a distinguished gathering of heritage enthusiasts, cultural scholars and accomplished narrators from across the UAE and international sphere. The 26th edition of this esteemed cultural institution centred its inaugural proceedings around friendship—examining its profound influence, enduring legacy and manifestation within Emirati and Arab heritage traditions.
The forum’s intellectual framework encompassed a comprehensive scholarly programme complemented by interactive discussion sessions. These forums contemplated friendship as a fundamental human and social virtue, tracing its deep roots within oral narratives, traditional tales, proverbs and folk memory. Participants examined the virtues accompanying friendship—loyalty, affection, mutual cooperation and steadfast commitment—as cornerstones of heritage expression.
Opening the scholarly agenda, the session “Friendship: Value and Values,” chaired by Aisha Ghabesh, brought together Mohammed Yassin, Dr Fahd Hussein, Ibrahim Sanad and Dr Mohammed Yousef to explore friendship’s conceptual dimensions. The discussion characterised friendship as a relationship fundamentally grounded in trust, reciprocal loyalty and genuine mutual support. Panellists investigated friendship’s multifaceted significance—its social, psychological and cultural dimensions—whilst considering how communities perceive this bond and preserve its memory through successive generations via the narratives of accomplished storytellers.
The subsequent session, “Friendship in Arab Heritage (1),” convened under Mohammed Hamdan’s direction, featured Dr Ahmed Al-Naqbi, Mohammed Al-Baloushi, Maryam Al-Zarouni and Dr Issa Al-Hammadi examining illustrative examples from Arab heritage. Participants analysed tales, narratives and proverbial wisdom addressing friendship, with particular attention to portrayals of loyalty, steadfast companionship and the preservation of human bonds across varied circumstances. The discussion illuminated friendship’s presence within folktales and oral literature, underscoring its significance within Arab consciousness and its instrumental role in establishing social relationships and reinforcing cooperation.
The inaugural day’s scholarly programme concluded with “Friendship in Emirati Heritage,” chaired by Dr Khalid Al-Shehhi. This session featured presentations from Dr Rashid Al-Mazrouei, Dr Salem Al-Tunaiji, Khalid Al-Hindasi and Mohammed Al-Habsi, who presented papers illuminating friendship’s depiction within Emirati cultural traditions. Their contributions examined friendship’s importance in the lives of preceding generations—encompassing both terrestrial and maritime communities—alongside associated customs, traditions and narratives. The presentations emphasised the authentic values underpinning Emirati friendship, showcasing the remarkable support and solidarity demonstrated by the UAE’s people during celebrations and tribulations alike, and affirming friendship as an emblem of social harmony and national unity.
Complementing the scholarly sessions, the forum’s inaugural day incorporated practical training workshops combining theoretical knowledge with experiential learning. These interactive workshops highlighted heritage’s cultural significance and storytelling’s role in community life, affording participants direct engagement with presenters and exposure to diverse methodologies for interpreting heritage and uncovering narratives—all furthering the forum’s mission of transmitting heritage knowledge to emerging generations.
Source: WAM