His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the Sharjah Arabic Language Academy, attended the closing ceremony of the Third Sharjah International Conference on Arabic Language Studies in Europe (SICALE) 2025, held under the theme "Contributions of Orientalists to the Arabic Language." The conference, organised by the Sharjah Arabic Language Academy, featured 24 researchers and academics from 19 European countries and took place at the Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre.
In his address, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah welcomed the conference participants, noting that he had followed the proceedings on the first day and witnessed the spirit of brotherhood and cooperation among those who love the Arabic language, regardless of their nationalities and languages. He affirmed his firm belief that the Arabic language remains alive in hearts and minds, extending from Europe to Asia and Africa.
The second day of the conference began with a speech by Dr Mohamed Safi Al Mosteghanemi, Secretary-General of Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, who expressed his great pleasure at this gathering. He addressed the participants who had come from all corners of the world to Sharjah, driven by their passion for the Arabic language, its study, and its teaching.
Dr Irina Lebedeva, professor at Moscow State University, delivered the conference's guest address, praising the Emirate of Sharjah as the capital of culture and books, and its contributions to those interested in and passionate about this field. She highlighted the conference's key themes and their positive impact on participants in their respective countries across Europe.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah then viewed a film showcasing the achievements of the Sharjah Arabic Language Academy and the Emirate's efforts in establishing the Academy and completing major linguistic projects, such as the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language. The film also highlighted the resources, personnel, and researchers provided, as well as the Academy's key initiatives and agreements with strategic partners, and its publications addressing language issues and related sciences.
Dr Sebastian Günther, professor at the University of Göttingen in Germany, presented a paper titled "Text Before Theory? Studying Classical Arabic Literature in European University Halls (and Beyond)." He noted that the conference was an opportunity for intellectual exchange that contributes to fostering understanding between Europe and the Arab world, and to supporting Arabic language education and the study of Islamic civilisation. He stated, "Classical Arabic literature, spanning from the pre-Islamic era to the Abbasid era and beyond to the 15th century CE, remains one of humanity's greatest cultural achievements. It speaks to the contemporary reader in a language that is still vibrant and alive. It is a literature that combines beauty, knowledge, and virtue, and expresses a civilisation that made rhetoric an art of thought and language a means of reflection and refinement."
The third edition of the conference aimes to highlight the origins of European languages and their relationship to Arabic, revealing the linguistic, social, and human heritage of nations, focusing on translation methodologies and methods of communication between civilisations, in addition to studying examples of European literature influenced by Arabic literature and its impact on the spread of Arabic. It also addressed the importance of utilising human resources and research skills to serve Arabic in Europe, while drawing attention to the Arabic and Islamic manuscripts hidden away in the archives of old European libraries.
Please click here to read His Highness' statement on this occasion.