The eloquence of words falls short in capturing the strong presence of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, on the global cultural stage. Once again, H.H. stands committed to his cultural project, carrying with him our message, our story, our civilization, and our intellectual sophistication.

This time, His Highness graces Milan, radiating as always with the spirit of intellectual, cultural, and human engagement. An embodiment of Arab identity and values, he steadfastly upholds his noble humanitarian vision. Confident in his Arab and Islamic civilizational heritage, he is driven by a profound belief in his commitment to openness toward nations, cultures, and beliefs across this vast world.

Clear and accurate answers about the Arab personality, presented by His Highness during the opening of the "Arab Cultural Institute", written in a clear language, and delivered in the form of civilized and humanitarian messages, which expressed our values, originality and vision of culture as intellectual, literary and social advancement for individuals and peoples.

Because he is haunted by the love of the country, its soil and its people, he takes every occasion as an opportunity to tell about our people, our historical context, our rich heritage, our moral duty, and our human values, so he talks about the Arabic language that came out of the Arabian Peninsula, his research on its original words, and his convictions of the importance of preserving culture, whether Arab, Italian, or Latin.

And as the "Sultan of Knowledge," a title rich with symbolism and grandeur, His Highness declared emphatically during the opening ceremony of the Institute: "There must be no tampering with culture, and we must safeguard our languages, beliefs, and cultures." This proclamation echoes the core principles of his cultural project, which asserts that humanity's true strength must be demonstrated now, not later. He advocates for the expansion of pathways of brotherhood and dialogue between East and West, with the vision of building a better future for generations to come, establishing common ground for a shared tomorrow.

We regard Sultan Al Qasimi as a figure of immense national stature and a profound humanitarian symbol, drawing upon a rich legacy of civilization, history, and human progress. His deep and contemporary vision, along with his esteemed experience, commands respect from the civilized world. We admire his insightful openness to global interaction, coupled with a strong commitment to fostering mutual respect and collaborative creativity. His distinguished civilizational project, founded on principles of thought, knowledge, moderation, and respect for diversity, seeks to counteract hatred and exclusion. It establishes the foundations for dialogue and cultural engagement across various narratives and expressions.

We admire his credibility, his continuous and tireless efforts to introduce the Arab cultural act to the world, and his ingenuity and determination adoption of ambitious visions to enable this act, study and research through renewed efforts, which represented a lever for our civilization, literature and arts, and a link between our heritage and our present, and between the heritage and civilization of the other.

Thank you, Sultan Al Qasimi, for embodying a leading Emirati model of civilization in the region. Your dedication to building knowledge societies and investing in literature and the written word is deeply appreciated. Thank you for revitalizing history, language, and art as drivers of development and catalysts for renaissance.

We are grateful for your enduring brilliance and your role in advancing our humanitarian project on the global stage. Your efforts shine a spotlight on Sharjah and the UAE, showcasing them as a vibrant cultural metropolis deserving of global recognition for their experiences, initiatives, and visions. Your leadership in the cultural and knowledge movement both in the region and worldwide is truly inspiring.

Source: Al-Ittihad Newspaper – Dr. Hamad Al-Kaabi