Sharjah Ruler Honoured by UNESCO for Completion of ‘Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language’

Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, was honoured with a special recognition from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in celebration of the completion of the “Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language”, and its official inclusion into UNESCO’s library.

This came during a formal ceremony held at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris, under the theme “Arabic Language: A Bridge Between Heritage and Knowledge.” The event was attended by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, as well as Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority.

At the event, His Highness was received by Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO; Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, UAE Ambassador to France; Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah’s Department of Culture; Jamal Salim Al Turaifi, President of Al Qasimia University; Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority; Ambassador Ali Alhaj Al Ali, Permanent Delegate of the UAE to UNESCO; Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director-General of Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Tariq Saeed Allay, Director-General of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau; as well as ambassadors and permanent delegates of Arab countries to UNESCO.

During the ceremony, His Highness delivered a speech in which he said: “It is an honour to stand before you today in this esteemed cultural forum, at UNESCO, an organisation we hold in great regard for its noble mission, and whose fruitful partnership we greatly value. Today, we celebrate a leading scientific and cultural achievement: the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language. What lends this moment further symbolism and depth is that it coincides with the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, a day designated by UNESCO to promote mutual understanding and human rapprochement.”

Emphasising the cultural importance of language, His Highness said: “There is no doubt that languages are the primary vessel of culture and the most genuine expression of a people’s identity. As we celebrate the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language, we are, in essence, honouring one of the elements of this great human diversity, which the Arabic language represents with all its civilisational weight, scientific and humanistic radiance.”

Speaking on the corpus’s significance in documenting the development of Arabic vocabulary, His Highness continued: “The Arabic language has, for centuries, remained a vibrant, living language that has carried the heritage of a nation and embraced countless sciences and branches of knowledge. It is the language of the Holy Quran, the medium of expression for philosophers and scholars, and the tool for the creativity of poets and thinkers. Even today, it continues to fulfil its role in the realm of knowledge. Despite all this, it lacked a scientific project that traces the evolution of its vocabulary and meanings across the ages, as with other languages. Thus, the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language began as a dream, evolved into a project, and became an accomplishment thanks to collaborative efforts, expertise, and an unwavering will.”