“Today, I cannot fully express my happiness to be present here, as we offer a grand welcome to Sharjah World Book Capital 2019 celebrations. I stand before you and I am almost certain that I am visualising our great forefathers – scientists and thinkers, filling libraries of the world with knowledge… shinning a light on the path of humanity, and leaving us a human legacy that we are proud of, and hold dearly", His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, said as he delivered a moving speech on Tuesday evening at the Al Majaz Amphitheatre in Sharjah, at the official ceremony to inaugurate Sharjah’s yearlong journey to promote books and culture as the UNESCO World Book Capital 2019.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah added: “It is a great honour to follow in their footsteps. To embrace books and knowledge as a tool to build, not destroy… a tool to nurture love, brotherhood and tolerance.”

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah highlighted that the emirate’s everlasting relationship with the book has attained a new meaning as it becomes the bearer of this new title, saying, “This [title] will encourage us to continue supporting initiatives aimed at spreading knowledge and building civilisations, thus making Sharjah cradle of the Arab and Islamic cultural and intellectual renaissance .

“There is so much more to accomplish. The production of knowledge never stops, and the development of life continues. Rest assured that Sharjah is prepared to continuing on this journey, and God willing, our devoted sons and daughters will continue our march to make Sharjah a true beacon of science and knowledge – a destination for everyone thirsty for culture, for thought and the sciences.”