His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has congratulated the people and leadership of the Arab Republic of Egypt to re-open the building of the Egyptian Dar al-Kutub in Bab Al Khalq, Cairo, Egypt, after being renovated due to the distortion caused by a terrorist act that took place in January 2014.

During the inauguration ceremony, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah has congratulated the intellectuals for reopening this important cultural historical monument which is a source of cultural inspiration.

Commenting on the event, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah prayed to Allah the Almighty to bless Egypt and its wise leadership, wishing the brotherly country further prosperity.

His Highness explained that the Arab body was struck from all sides until the blow reached the heart of that body. However, the heart remained beating, and that heart is Egypt. Egypt grew stronger and was able to find safety and confront various hostile currents. Its confrontation with those currents was not only through weapons but also through thought, strengthening religious discourse, clarifying matters for sons and daughters, and educating them, distinguishing the good from the bad. The place we are celebrating the opening of today is one of the beacons of enlightenment and the building of sound thought that Egypt embraces.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah recounted his connection to the Egyptian National Library in Bab El Khalq, where his first visit to the library was in 1966 when he was a student at Cairo University. He described the darkness that surrounded the place, the small boxes carrying the identification cards of the books it housed, as well as the appearance of the reading halls and bookshelves.

His Highness even led us in his narration to describe the street overlooking the library building and how, when he felt tired from searching in the library, he would take a break at the Al-Kamal Club café located in the Awqaf building. There, he met the café owner who refused to accept any payment from His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for his requests when he learned that he was not Egyptian and that he came to this area to seek knowledge and learning. This place was one of several locations that planted the love of Egypt in His Highness's heart.