- Launched Joanina Digital Library, developed in collaboration with the Emirate of Sharjah
- Signed copies of A Momentous Journey in Arabic, English, and Portuguese
- Donated the rare 1565 Barbosa Manuscript to the Joanina Library
Coimbra, Portugal, October 4 2025
On Friday, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah; in the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA); launched the Centre for Arabic Studies at Portugal’s prestigious University of Coimbra. This landmark initiative, the first of its kind in Portugal, is dedicated to teaching the Arabic language and culture, housed within one of Europe’s oldest and most renowned academic institutions.
His Highness also launched ‘Joanina Digital’, the digitised archive of the university’s Joanina Library, and gifted the original Barbosa Manuscript, dated 1565, to the library. His Highness also signed his book, ‘A Momentous Journey: The Complete Manuscript of The “Book of Duarte Barbosa” 1565’, which is available in Arabic and translated into English and Portuguese.
His Highness unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the official opening of the Centre for Arabic Studies, then toured the facility to view its offerings, which include resources and programmes supporting Arabic learning and promoting Arab culture. The Sharjah Ruler met with students and commended their dedication to studying the Arabic language, noting its cultural and artistic richness, as well as its role in preserving and connecting cultures.
The Centre was established with support from the emirate and reflects the vision of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to expand the presence of Arab culture on the global stage. It also aligns with Sharjah and the UAE’s efforts to build bridges of intellectual and cultural exchange between East and West.
Specialised Arabic language courses
The University of Coimbra, founded in 1290, provides a strong academic and cultural foundation to the Centre, and will serve as a platform for specialised Arabic language courses, including grammar and calligraphy. The newly established centre will also host events that connect Arab writers, poets, and artists with their European counterparts, in efforts to deepen mutual understanding and broaden the scope of intercultural exchange.
The Centre for Arabic Studies is the latest of Sharjah’s international initiatives to support Arab culture within global academic institutions, and will serve as a bridge between research institutions and the Arab world’s cultural and creative output.
In his address during the inauguration ceremony held at the Joanina Library, His Highness said: “This is not my first visit to this renowned and historic academic institution. I had the honour of receiving an honorary doctorate from your respected university seven years ago. My connection with Portuguese history began many years ago, when I worked on documenting the history of our region during a period when the Portuguese were part of it. One of the most significant journeys I undertook in that context was my search for the Barbosa manuscript. It had been missing for nearly a century before it was discovered and acquired by me in 2012.”
His Highness then detailed the manuscript’s provenance and its revelatory nature, adding: “This manuscript contains the writings of Portuguese officer Duarte Barbosa, who accompanied the leaders of the Portuguese occupation in the 16th century from the Bay of San Sebastian to the coasts of China, passing through our region in the Arabian Gulf. I traced the manuscript from one archive to another until I finally found a complete copy. I read it closely and found it painted a very different picture from what we have long been told about that historical period.”
Praising Barbosa’s impartiality, His Highness explained: “The first thing I noticed was the honesty and integrity in Barbosa’s account. His descriptions were truthful and detailed, offering a rare testimony of life in our region at that time and the nature of relationships between local communities and outsiders. Without intending to, Barbosa helped restore balance to a narrative that had long been skewed. He documented a period where genuine, courageous record-keeping was rare. He shed light on Portuguese history with honesty, while also doing justice to the Arab past by demonstrating how the people of our region preserved their humanity, welcomed others, and upheld the values of dignity and coexistence among cultures and religions despite facing occupation and hardship.”
The Sharjah Ruler continued: “He described the progress made by the region’s inhabitants in science, culture, urban development, trade, and social organisation, while also making clear that colonial forces from across the seas brought destruction and arrogance.”
On the motivation for writing A Momentous Journey, His Highness revealed: “When I decided to publish my book and translate it into Arabic, English, and Portuguese, I was not only seeking historical corroboration, but also aimed to do justice to our people and restore their story, as seen by someone who lived through those events. I believe that when knowledge is rooted in truth, it becomes a solid bridge for dialogue and a foundation for meaningful relationships. That is why I preserved Barbosa’s original language and tone, conveying his voice without embellishment. I found in him the spirit of a sincere researcher who bore witness to what he saw.”
Highlighting the legacy of this scholarly work, His Highness added: “I wanted this book to offer future generations a reliable document to support their cultural dialogue in a world where truth is often challenged by power. Today, I bring with me the original Barbosa manuscript and my book, A Momentous Journey, to return the narrative to its rightful place.”
Turning to the future of cultural exchange, the Sharjah Ruler then formally announced: “I am pleased to declare the opening of the Centre for Arabic Studies at the University of Coimbra. This marks the start of Arabic language teaching at this historic university and opens a window to Arabic literature, art, and creativity. The Centre reflects a sincere intention to give Arab culture space to contribute to global dialogue and offers non-Arabic speakers a valuable opportunity to understand Arab civilisation.”
His Highness also announced the launch of Joanina Digital, a project completed in partnership with the University of Coimbra, and expressed his hope that the collaboration will continue to strengthen the value of knowledge and preserve the shared heritage.
In his concluding remarks, the Sharjah Ruler stated: “As we stand here today, we stress that culture may not change geography, but it changes how we view it. It does not erase borders, but it can turn them into bridges. Culture does not rewrite history, but it changes how we read it.”
Strengthening ties between Portugal and Sharjah
For his part, Amílcar Falcão, Rector of the University of Coimbra, delivered a speech in which he recalled the university’s conferral of an honorary doctorate to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in 2018. He described the occasion as a key milestone in strengthening ties between Portugal and the Emirate of Sharjah. He noted the shared commitment shown by both sides to building a stable and lasting relationship, with culture providing a fertile ground for dialogue, cooperation, and future development. Falcão noted that during a previous visit to the Joanina Library, His Highness had expressed a desire to launch a joint project to digitise a selection of its most valuable books.
He emphasised that the University of Coimbra’s development of this project, in partnership with the Sharjah Book Authority, exemplifies the true value of international collaboration. This exceptional digitisation initiative has now reached an important moment with the launch of its inaugural section, the “Middle East Digital Collection,” which bears the name of the “Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Collection.” This collection stands as a rich resource for multidisciplinary research, providing organised access to historical records concerning the Portuguese presence in the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula. By translating one of the world’s most beautiful libraries into the digital sphere, the project facilitates a convergence of diverse intellectual and artistic traditions and harnesses advanced academic research to serve our shared human heritage.
Digitising over 30,000 precious manuscripts and books
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most prominent landmarks of the University of Coimbra, the Joanina Library is the focus of the ambitious ‘Joanina Digital’ project. Inaugurated by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, the launch event featured a film showcasing the initiative’s goal to digitise 30,000 of the library’s most precious manuscripts and books. This endeavor will grant the global academic community unprecedented access to these rare items via advanced digital platforms. The meticulous digitisation process has already yielded a significant benefit: the discovery and integration of previously unknown manuscripts into the library’s archives, profoundly enriching its esteemed collections.
During the event, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah signed copies of his trilingual book, “A Momentous Journey,” compiled in Arabic, English, and Portuguese. This work provides a scholarly examination of the Barbosa Manuscript, an important Portuguese document from the early 16th century. Authored by the officer Duarte Barbosa, who traveled with the Portuguese fleet from the Bay of San Sebastian to the Chinese coast, the manuscript presents meticulous accounts of the Arabian Peninsula, the Gulf, the Indian Ocean, and India. It also serves as an essential reference for understanding the period, detailing the region’s geography, commerce, social structures, and culture, thereby illuminating an era of navigation and Arab-Portuguese exchange.
The Sharjah Ruler presented the Joanina Library with the original 1565 manuscript, which served as the basis for A Momentous Journey. He noted that this particular copy is among the most complete and comprehensive surviving versions, lending it exceptional academic and historical value and making it a significant addition to the library’s holdings. The manuscript had been missing for nearly a century before it was discovered and acquired by His Highness in 2012. Despite his deep personal attachment to the document, having kept it in his room, studied it regularly, and even learned parts of the Portuguese language through reading it, he emphasised that it was essential for the manuscript to be returned to its rightful place at the University of Coimbra.
Professor José Pedro Paiva delivered a presentation on A Momentous Journey, describing the book as a work of significant scholarly merit, containing a rare collection of manuscripts that His Highness compiled out of a deep commitment to knowledge, culture and historical preservation. A second short film was also shown, highlighting the contents and academic importance of A Momentous Journey, focusing on its historical narrative and rigorous research.
His Highness then received a commemorative gift from Amílcar Falcão, Rector of the University of Coimbra, in recognition of His Highness’ support and cultural initiatives that have strengthened the relationship between Sharjah and the university in the fields of history and culture.
Following the ceremony, His Highness toured the Joanina Library, where he viewed a selection of its most significant rare manuscripts. This renowned collection spans a wide array of subjects, safeguarding a rich cultural and historical heritage and providing scholars with invaluable resources for academic research. His Highness received a detailed briefing on the library’s various sections and its ongoing meticulous preservation efforts. He was also updated on the collaborative work between the Sharjah Book Authority and the library within the digital project, an initiative dedicated to protecting this historical legacy for future generations.
His Highness was accompanied by H.E. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority; H.E. Ahmed Abdel Rahman Al Mahmoud, UAE Ambassador to Portugal; H.E. Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage; Dr. Sultan Al Amimi, Chairman of the Emirates Writers Union; H.E. Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; and senior Emirati and Portuguese officials.
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