At Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2026: (SIH) Revives Memory and Builds Bridges Between Heritage and Knowledge
The pavilion of the Sharjah Heritage Institute at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2026 is bringing heritage to life as a dynamic space for dialogue and knowledge through a rich cultural programme featuring intellectual sessions and book signings. The programme revisits significant chapters of Emirati and Arab memory, reaffirming the role of books in preserving heritage and presenting it to future generations in a contemporary form.
The programme reflects the Institute’s strong intellectual presence at one of the region’s leading cultural events, exploring themes related to Emirati heritage, popular memory, literature, and the lives and legacies of prominent cultural figures. It also features publications documenting diverse aspects of heritage, offering readers and researchers new avenues for exploration and study.
Heritage… From Memory to Awareness
The pavilion opened its cultural programme with a session titled “Emirati Heritage Between Social Awareness and Institutional Responsibility,” featuring H.E. Abu Bakr Al Kindi, Director of the Institute. The session explored the place of heritage in collective consciousness and underscored the importance of integrating institutional and community efforts to safeguard and document it, while strengthening younger generations’ connection to Emirati cultural heritage.
Al Kindi said the Institute’s participation in the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair provides an important platform for engaging with readers, researchers and heritage enthusiasts, while showcasing the Institute’s efforts in documentation, publishing and the preservation of cultural memory.
He noted that the accompanying programme reflects the Institute’s commitment to presenting heritage within a contemporary knowledge framework and providing researchers and writers with platforms to share their experiences and publications. This, he said, contributes to enriching dialogue around heritage and bringing heritage knowledge closer to the wider public.
Al Falasi… Fifty Years of Absence
Revisiting one of the voices that have shaped Emirati poetic and cultural memory, the pavilion hosted a session titled “Poet Ahmed bin Salim Al Falasi… Fifty Years of Absence,” featuring Dr Fatima Al Maamari and Mohammed Nour Al Din.
The session explored the poet’s life and literary legacy, highlighting key milestones in his career and his place in the Emirati cultural landscape. It also shed light on an important chapter of literary memory that contributed to shaping the local cultural scene.
Women… An Enduring Presence in Heritage
The session “The Image of Women in Emirati Popular Heritage… Between Yesterday and Today” highlighted the enduring presence of women in traditional stories, practices and popular expressions. It traced representations of women in popular memory and explored the transformations that have shaped their image from the past to the present.
Books Bringing Stories and Lives Back to Life
Book signings further enriched the pavilion’s cultural programme, with the signing of “On Adeni Proverbs” by Dr Shehab Ghanem, and “Tales of Yadwah, the Witty Woman, and the Three Princesses” by writer Hind Al Muslim, in the presence of writers, researchers and visitors to the fair.
The pavilion also hosted the signing of “Ali Abdullah Khalifa… A Life Recounted” by writer Mohammed Nour Al Din. The book revisits the life of Bahraini poet and writer Ali Abdullah Khalifa, documenting key aspects of his literary journey, career and contributions to the cultural scene.
A Knowledge-Rich Presence Through the Closing Days
The Sharjah Heritage Institute’s pavilion will continue its cultural programme through the closing days of the fair, featuring further dialogue sessions and book signings with the participation of a distinguished group of researchers and writers.
The participation reaffirms the Sharjah Heritage Institute’s role as a platform for heritage knowledge, bringing together books, researchers and the public, while transforming publications, studies and stories into lasting bridges between memory and the present, and between heritage and new generations.