(SIH) and Bibliotheca Alexandrina: A Knowledge Partnership to Advance the Digitisation and Publication of Arab Heritage

As part of its efforts to strengthen scientific and academic partnerships and advance mechanisms for preserving, safeguarding and providing access to cultural heritage, the Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH), represented by a delegation headed by H.E. Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, President of the Institute, held a series of meetings with several scientific and academic institutions in the Arab Republic of Egypt, foremost among them the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

The meetings explored prospects for joint cooperation, the exchange of expertise and knowledge, and the development of collaborative initiatives in cultural heritage documentation and digitisation, publishing, and library development.

Three Key Areas of Cooperation

During the visit to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, H.E. Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam met with Professor Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Library, in the presence of Dr Mohamed Suleiman, Deputy Director; Dr Ahmed Samir, Head of the Information and Communications Technology Sector; Dr Amin Suleiman, Director of the Centre for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage; and Dr Mostafa Gad, heritage expert.

The meeting addressed three key areas of cooperation: completing and developing the online portal for the Thesaurus of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Arab World; strengthening joint publishing programmes; and developing the libraries of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage by drawing on the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s expertise in knowledge management, digitisation, archiving, and the use of modern technologies to preserve and provide access to knowledge resources.

Partnerships that Advance Knowledge

H.E. Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam emphasised the Institute’s commitment to expanding its partnerships with Egyptian scientific and academic institutions, fostering the exchange of expertise and strengthening Arab cooperation in safeguarding, documenting and disseminating cultural heritage.

He highlighted the importance of cooperation with the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and benefiting from its scientific and technological experience in developing heritage preservation and access systems, while keeping pace with the rapid digital transformation taking place in knowledge management.

Dr Al Musallam also commended the Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s scientific and intellectual contributions to documenting and preserving cultural heritage. He noted that cooperation between the two institutions would open new horizons for developing specialised initiatives and projects that serve researchers and experts, strengthen the presence of Arab heritage in the digital sphere, and broaden access to its knowledge resources and content.

Future Projects and Programmes

Dr Al Musallam explained that the meeting resulted in an understanding on a range of joint scientific programmes and knowledge-based activities, which are expected to be implemented in phases starting in 2027. The two sides also agreed to accelerate work on completing the online portal for the Thesaurus of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Arab World, making its content accessible to researchers and specialists and helping organise, document and disseminate heritage terminology and concepts in accordance with specialised scientific and methodological standards.

He added that the Institute continues to develop its scientific and knowledge initiatives, drawing on a publishing portfolio of more than 1,300 titles covering various fields of cultural heritage, alongside its ongoing efforts in digitisation, documentation and publishing. These initiatives aim to expand access to heritage knowledge for researchers, experts, academics and interested audiences, while strengthening its presence in the cultural and scientific landscape.

Integrating Institutional Expertise

For his part, Professor Ahmed Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, welcomed the Sharjah Institute for Heritage delegation and commended the existing cooperation between the two institutions, highlighting the opportunities it offers for exchanging expertise and developing joint scientific and knowledge projects.

He expressed his aspiration to accelerate the implementation of the agreed programmes and plans, contributing to efforts to preserve and safeguard cultural heritage and achieve the two institutions’ shared knowledge and research objectives.

New Horizons for Arab Cooperation

The visit forms part of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage’s broader strategy to establish effective partnerships with Arab cultural and scientific institutions, advance heritage documentation and preservation tools, and promote the integration of scientific expertise with modern technologies. These efforts support scientific research, safeguard the Arab world’s cultural memory, and ensure the sustainability of heritage knowledge and its transmission to future generations.

The Institute’s delegation also included Khalid Al Matroushi, Director of Government Communication; Dr Munni Bu Naamah, Director of the Content and Publishing Department; and Khadija Al Balushi, Head of the Libraries Section.