Paris, May 21, 2025
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, was honoured with a special recognition from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in celebration of the completion of the “Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language”, and its official inclusion into UNESCO’s library.
This came during a formal ceremony held at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris, under the theme “Arabic Language: A Bridge Between Heritage and Knowledge.” The event was attended by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, as well as Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority.
At the event, His Highness was received by Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO; H.E. Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani, UAE Ambassador to France; Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah’s Department of Culture; Jamal Salim Al Turaifi, President of Al Qasimia University; Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority; Ambassador Ali Alhaj Al Ali, Permanent Delegate of the UAE to UNESCO; Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director-General of Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Tariq Saeed Allay, Director-General of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau; as well as ambassadors and permanent delegates of Arab countries to UNESCO.
During the ceremony, His Highness delivered a speech in which he said: “It is an honour to stand before you today in this esteemed cultural forum, at UNESCO, an organisation we hold in great regard for its noble mission, and whose fruitful partnership we greatly value. Today, we celebrate a leading scientific and cultural achievement: the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language. What lends this moment further symbolism and depth is that it coincides with the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, a day designated by UNESCO to promote mutual understanding and human rapprochement.”
Emphasising the cultural importance of language, His Highness said: “There is no doubt that languages are the primary vessel of culture and the most genuine expression of a people’s identity. As we celebrate the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language, we are, in essence, honouring one of the elements of this great human diversity, which the Arabic language represents with all its civilisational weight, scientific and humanistic radiance.”
Speaking on the corpus’s significance in documenting the development of Arabic vocabulary, His Highness continued: “The Arabic language has, for centuries, remained a vibrant, living language that has carried the heritage of a nation and embraced countless sciences and branches of knowledge. It is the language of the Holy Quran, the medium of expression for philosophers and scholars, and the tool for the creativity of poets and thinkers. Even today, it continues to fulfil its role in the realm of knowledge. Despite all this, it lacked a scientific project that traces the evolution of its vocabulary and meanings across the ages, as with other languages. Thus, the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language began as a dream, evolved into a project, and became an accomplishment thanks to collaborative efforts, expertise, and an unwavering will.”
His Highness elaborated on the collaborative nature of the project: “Sharjah, through its Arabic Language Academy, and in partnership with the Union of Arab Scientific and Linguistic Academies in Cairo as well as linguistic academies and institutions across the Arab world, supervised the completion of this corpus, which spans 127 volumes; as you see printed before you. The corpus is available in both printed and electronic formats. I extend my greetings to the hundreds of researchers and proofreaders from various Arab countries whose great efforts were key to this achievement.”
Affirming the right of all languages to exist and flourish, His Highness said: “As we restore the history of the Arabic language and highlight its developmental features, we simultaneously affirm to the world that every language has the right to exist, evolve, and be celebrated. Cultural justice demands that humanity not be reduced to one language nor civilisations summarised in a single model. Just as biodiversity ensures the continuity of life, cultural and linguistic diversity guarantees the continuity and renewal of human creativity.”
Expressing gratitude, His Highness added: “Our celebration of this work in the halls of UNESCO is a clear message that culture knows no borders, and that sincere Arab efforts, when carried out collectively, are met with global appreciation and recognition. From this podium, I express my profound gratitude to UNESCO and its member states for their deep belief in the value of the Arabic language and their constructive partnership with us on numerous initiatives. Foremost among these is the Sharjah–UNESCO Prize for Arab Culture, which we consider a symbol of cultural convergence between Sharjah and this international organisation and its member countries.”
Concluding his address, His Highness said: “Let us continue together, dear friends, to join hands, to strengthen cultural dialogue between us, to preserve our shared human heritage, and to work together to ensure every culture’s voice is heard, every language respected, and every people proud of their identity and culture.”
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, welcomed His Highness and expressed her pleasure at the visit of the Sharjah delegation. She noted the emirate’s status as a global capital of knowledge and culture, and its engagement across various areas, aligned with UNESCO’s mission. She also highlighted UNESCO’s selection of Sharjah as World Book Capital in 2019, underscoring the emirate’s commitment to books, cultural heritage, knowledge, and cultural diversity.
Azoulay praised Sharjah’s vision under the leadership of His Highness, which integrates culture and knowledge across all policies and organises numerous events, festivals, and exhibitions spanning diverse fields of culture, arts, and history. She emphasised that these cultural initiatives, including the Sharjah–UNESCO Prize for Arab Culture, support intercultural dialogue and exemplify the strong relationship between Sharjah and UNESCO for over 25 years.
She also lauded Sharjah’s initiative in signing an agreement to digitise UNESCO’s archives, describing it as a significant contribution to preserving the organisation’s vast collection of books, documents, and other historical materials dating back over 80 years.
Azoulay expressed her pride in the completion of the corpus, a project supervised by His Highness and realised through the efforts of hundreds of researchers and proofreaders from 20 linguistic institutions across the Arab world. The Guinness World Records also recognised the monumental project as the largest historical corpus with 127 volumes, which has now been officially added to the UNESCO Library, providing a valuable resource for educators, researchers, students, and anyone interested in the Arabic language.
Acknowledging the richness and value of the Arabic language, its scholars, and its literary figures, stating that Arabic is a language capable of adapting and evolving, spoken by millions worldwide; she highlighted her experience with the word “peace” (Salam), noting its triliteral root S-L-M, which carries a similar meaning across many languages.
At the end of the ceremony, His Highness signed a copy of the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language and presented it to UNESCO, symbolising the enduring partnership between Sharjah and the organisation.
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Attached Photos:
1-10. His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, was honoured with a special recognition from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in celebration of the completion of the “Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language”, and its official inclusion into UNESCO’s library.