Sharjah’s Ruler Welcomes International Scholars to Celebrate Archives, Manuscripts and Cross-Cultural Knowledge

H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi receives a delegation of archiving and documentation experts from Portugal and India, reaffirming Sharjah's role as a global centre for intellectual exchange and historical scholarship.

The morning light fell across the corridors of intellectual discourse as H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, welcomed a distinguished group of scholars and archiving specialists from Portugal and India. The delegation, which included directors and professors from Portugal’s National Archives and the University of Coimbra, as well as the Archives Department of Goa, arrived to engage in conversations that sit at the heart of Sharjah’s cultural mission: the preservation and celebration of knowledge across borders and centuries.

H.H. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, attended the meeting, which centred on the enduring importance of archiving and documentation in advancing human understanding. The Ruler reflected on Sharjah’s unwavering commitment to cultivating cultural and intellectual exchange with academic and scientific institutions worldwide, noting that such partnerships nurture expertise and foster the kind of rigorous scholarship that enriches entire fields of study.

The discussion turned to the role the Sharjah International Book Fair plays as an annual gathering of minds and nations. The Ruler emphasised how the fair operates not merely as a commercial platform but as a vital cultural space that brings the world to Sharjah, supports the publishing industry, and gives voice to the emirate’s deep passion for literature, learning and the written word. As we reported in the Ruler’s recent convening of the Emirates Writers Union’s leadership to champion literary excellence and emerging talent, this commitment to nurturing creative voices remains central to Sharjah’s identity.

The conversation grew richer when the Ruler highlighted Sharjah’s fruitful partnerships with documentation and archiving institutions worldwide. These collaborations have yielded pioneering intellectual projects in manuscript verification, authorship and writing, enriching libraries across the Arab world and beyond with rare publications that illuminate forgotten chapters of history. The delegates discussed how such cooperation between research centres strengthens the foundations of historical knowledge, enabling scholars to access authenticated primary sources and conduct rigorous analysis grounded in chronological rigour and scholarly precision.

Dr Albano Figueiredo, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Coimbra, spoke on behalf of the visiting delegation, expressing profound gratitude for the warm reception and for Sharjah’s sustained scientific collaboration. He reflected on the Ruler’s visionary commitment to fostering communication with academic institutions globally, noting how this approach has established Sharjah as a beacon of learning and knowledge. Figueiredo praised the University of Coimbra’s Centre for Arabic Studies, which operates under the Ruler’s generous patronage, and outlined its expanding initiatives in Arabic language study, from lectures and conferences to film screenings and poetry readings that bring Arab culture to audiences in Portugal.

The morning concluded with a tour of the Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre, where the delegation explored the institution’s treasures: rare manuscripts, historical documents, geographical maps and photographs that chart the region’s narrative across centuries. The Ruler shared the remarkable story of a Portuguese officer’s manuscript, Duarte Barbosa’s complete work, which had vanished from libraries for nearly a century. He acquired it in 2012, undertaking meticulous verification and scholarly annotation before publishing it in 2017 as A Journey of Great Importance, made available in Arabic, English and Portuguese through Al Qasimi Publications. This personal scholarship exemplifies the Ruler’s dedication to closing historical gaps and providing the world’s researchers with authenticated archives that illuminate the Portuguese presence across the globe. The delegation examined rare Portuguese documents from original archives, each one verified and contextualised through expert analysis that connects disparate historical accounts into a coherent, scholarly whole.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

Though centred in Sharjah, this exchange of scholars and expertise reflects a broader commitment across the UAE to position the emirates as a hub for serious intellectual work and cultural preservation. The partnership between Sharjah’s institutions and universities like Coimbra demonstrates how the UAE cultivates relationships with leading centres of learning worldwide, strengthening the nation’s standing in the global academic community and drawing international expertise to Emirati soil.

For Abu Dhabi and the wider region, such initiatives underscore the importance of archival work and historical scholarship in understanding the past and shaping informed futures. The Ruler’s emphasis on rigorous documentation and verification, particularly regarding regional history, serves as a model for how knowledge institutions can work together across borders to preserve heritage and advance understanding for generations to come.

Source: WAM