Egyptian Minister of Culture Commends the Cultural and Knowledge Role of “Sharjah Heritage” During His Visit to the Cairo International Book Fair
Sharjah, 23 January 2026
His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Fouad Hano, Minister of Culture of Egypt, expressed his appreciation for the pioneering role played by the Emirate of Sharjah in supporting culture and spreading knowledge, and for its status as an advanced civilizational model in safeguarding Arab cultural heritage and presenting it globally. He also commended the role of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage in preserving, safeguarding, and documenting heritage using specialized scientific methodologies. This came during his visit to the Institute’s pavilion participating in the Cairo International Book Fair.
Praising Sharjah’s Role in Safeguarding Heritage
During the visit, His Excellency reviewed the pavilion’s rich and diverse selection of heritage titles, including books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, magazines, bulletins, and specialized publications that reflect the richness of Arab cultural heritage. He affirmed that the cultural efforts undertaken by the Emirate of Sharjah are in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, aimed at preserving heritage and protecting it from loss and extinction. He also praised the Sharjah Institute for Heritage for its distinguished experience and outstanding efforts in heritage publishing, and for its role in opening broader horizons for documenting the heritage of peoples and the civilizations of nations.
More Than One Thousand Publications
The Sharjah Institute for Heritage pavilion features more than one thousand diverse publications covering a wide range of heritage-related topics. These publications contribute to enhancing awareness of various heritage elements and reflect the Institute’s vision of disseminating and documenting heritage knowledge in accordance with rigorous scientific methodologies.
A Rich and Diverse Cultural Program
The cultural program accompanying the Institute’s participation includes a number of panel discussions featuring a select group of specialists in the fields of heritage and culture. Among these sessions are: “Shared Cultural Elements between Emirati and Egyptian Heritage,” “The Heritage Book: Presence and Absence,” “Egyptian Heritage in the Publications of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage,” in addition to a session titled “Specialized Institutional Publishing: Reality and Prospects.”
Heritage Readings
The program also includes Heritage Readings in cooperation with the Book Club, featuring discussions of Mustafa Jad’s book “Thesaurus of Cultural Heritage in the Arab World,” Khaled Abu El-Leil’s “The Folk Tale,” and “Folk Songs of Upper Egypt” by Sayed Fares.
Signings of New Publications
The program further includes the signing of a number of newly released publications, including: “The Folk Tale” (Volumes I & II) by Khaled Abu El-Leil; “Editing Manuscripts of Folk Heritage” by Hisham Abdelaziz; “Literature in the Bellies of Camels” by Abdulgader Turaif; “Wooden Puppets” by Amina Abdullah Salem; “Guardians of Folk Art in Egypt” by Adel Al-Sanhouri; “The Identity of Egypt Through the Ages” by Abdelaziz Salah Salem; and “Arts of Ruse in Folk Literature” by Dr. Mohamed Abu El-Ela.