Media Center

New Publications and Book Signings at the Second Heritage Conference in Sharjah

03 Jul 2025

The Second Heritage Conference, organized by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage under the theme “Folk Heritage through the Eyes of Others”, featured a collection of new publications that add significant value to the library.

These publications shed light on the image of Arab heritage as seen by travelers and orientalists, opening new horizons for researchers in the fields of travel literature and comparative heritage studies.

Among the works launched at the conference are “Kirstgi’s Journey to the Gulf” and “Heritage Cities in the Arab World” by Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Musallam, President of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, as well as other titles such as “The Heritage of the UAE in Travel Literature” by Dr. Mouni Bounaama, “Antarah” by Alphonse de Lamartine translated by Dr. Shakir Nouri, “Arab World Countries in the Paintings of Orientalists” by Dr. Rabie Ahmed Sayed, and “The Lights of the East Shine in the Mirror of the West” by Dr. Osama Ladqani.

The book signing ceremony was attended by a number of researchers and conference participants, who expressed their interest in the new releases and praised the diversity of their subjects and the richness of their academic content. The audience engaged in discussions with the authors about their research experiences and the questions raised by these books regarding Arab heritage as reflected in the eyes of others, in an interactive atmosphere that highlighted the vitality of the cultural scene.

Documenting Folk Culture

Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Musallam stated that the signing of these new publications is an extension of the Institute’s efforts in documenting folk culture and reinforcing its presence in both academic and knowledge fields. He stressed that publishing is an essential part of the project to preserve heritage and present it with a contemporary vision.

He explained that these books represent the culmination of advanced research experiences prepared by a select group of authors specializing in travel, orientalism, and heritage studies. They contribute to deepening mutual understanding among peoples, highlight heritage from multiple perspectives, and reflect the diversity of interpretations of Arab culture as perceived by others. Presented in scholarly formats that emphasize accuracy and methodology, these works open new horizons for readers to better understand themselves and the place of their heritage within different cultural contexts.

Al-Musallam pointed out that the signing ceremony honors the content before the author, expressing a firm belief that the book remains the most important tool for preserving identity, documenting collective memory, and addressing the world through the language of knowledge and dialogue.