Sharjah Heritage Award takes centre stage in safeguarding living culture
Sharjah, February 9, 2026
Amid the cultural momentum of the 23rd edition of Sharjah Heritage Days, a specialised seminar brought renewed attention to the Sharjah Award for Cultural Heritage, positioning it as a key pillar in protecting heritage as both a living memory and a renewed identity.
Hosted by the Arab Heritage Center at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, the seminar explored the award’s role in preserving tangible and intangible heritage while encouraging serious academic research across the Arab world.
A long-term vision for heritage
Aisha Rashid Al Hissan Al Shamsi, Director of the Arab Heritage Center, said the seminar was an opportunity to celebrate Arab and local heritage and to reaffirm the award’s place within Sharjah’s broader cultural project. Launched by the Ruler of Sharjah, the award reflects a sustained vision that treats heritage not as nostalgia, but as an ongoing cultural responsibility.
Three pathways to protection
Al Shamsi outlined the award’s three main categories, designed to recognise diverse efforts in heritage preservation: the local and Arab heritage field; best practices in safeguarding tangible and intangible heritage; and Living Human Treasures, which honours individuals who carry and transmit cultural knowledge.
Award-winning research rooted in the field
One of the seminar’s highlights was a presentation by researcher Hamda Al Zarooni, who shared her award-winning study in the Best Research and Studies category. Her book, derived from a master’s thesis completed in 2022 and titled “Emirati Perfumes: Types and Uses”, documents traditional Emirati perfumery through detailed fieldwork.
Al Zarooni explained that her research examined 43 samples of traditional perfume-making practices, supported by survey forms reviewed by more than 26 researchers and academics, alongside visual documentation and appendices. She stressed that field collection differs from conventional academic research, yet remains essential to authentic heritage documentation.
Inspiring the next generation
Expressing pride in receiving the award, Al Zarooni described heritage research as challenging yet deeply rewarding. She said academic documentation is both a national service and a meaningful investment in Emirati heritage, particularly when it speaks to younger generations.
An open call to heritage bearers
The seminar concluded with an open invitation from Al Shamsi to institutions, associations and individuals worldwide to apply for the award. Pointing to winning examples from several Arab countries, she emphasised that the Sharjah Award for Cultural Heritage is dedicated to heritage practitioners, craftsmen and project owners whose work deserves recognition and support.