This international honour stands as a profound global recognition—an ode to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the "Sultan of Culture"—and a symbolic medal adorning the chest of Arabic culture. It celebrates a visionary who refused to let words vanish or history erode, instead embodying the essence of civilization through enlightened leadership.
In a majestic and deeply moving moment, where the spirit of culture met the spirit of loyalty, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) paid tribute to His Highness, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the Arabic language and the preservation of human heritage through pioneering scientific and institutional endeavours.
This tribute was not ceremonial flattery nor a mere diplomatic gesture—it was a resounding global acknowledgment of His Highness’s monumental achievements, chief among them the establishment of one of the most significant cultural undertakings in the modern Arab world: the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language. Often described as the “linguistic memory of the nation,” this dictionary traces the etymology of Arabic words to their earliest roots and meticulously documents their semantic evolution over more than two millennia. It is the result of a vast collaborative effort involving hundreds of linguists from across the Arab world.
Until now, Arabic had long lacked a historical dictionary comparable to those of major global languages like English and French. That void was filled when Sharjah, guided by the vision of Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi, took on this noble mission—rooted in the belief that language is not merely a means of communication, but a vessel of identity and a mirror reflecting the grandeur of civilization.
What has been achieved is far more than the compilation of a dictionary—it is the revival of a nation's soul, a narrative inscribed in letters, and a history woven through words. The Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language—spanning 127 volumes—is not merely a linguistic project; it is a monumental act of cultural reclamation, a reassertion of identity in an age of fragmentation, and a reorganization of the collective memory of Arab civilization from antiquity to the present day. Through its meticulous documentation of vocabulary and the semantic and temporal evolution of the Arabic language across millennia, it gives voice to a heritage that refuses to be forgotten.
This unparalleled scientific and cultural endeavour, spearheaded by Sharjah through the Union of Arabic Language Academies, stands as a beacon in the Arab world. It is supported not only by the official patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, but by his personal commitment—as a scholar, historian, and linguist—engaged in every stage of its conception and realization. His Highness’s presence was not symbolic; he read, contributed, guided, and championed the project with an intellectual passion and scholarly precision that few leaders embody.
What makes His Highness truly remarkable is that his cultural vision was never confined to the Emirates or the Gulf. His reach extended across continents, affirming that culture transcends geography. From Africa to Asia, the Balkans to the farthest islands, he supported the creation of public libraries and cultural centres in more than 22 countries—driven by the belief that the book is the finest ambassador between nations, and that the eradication of cognitive illiteracy is the surest path to lasting peace.
And because history is not only preserved in words but also rediscovered through archives and manuscripts, His Highness turned his attention to yet another noble pursuit: the safeguarding of historical memory. Through visionary initiatives and generous contributions, he championed the acquisition of rare and invaluable documents from European archives—maps, manuscripts, and texts that shed light on Arab heritage—and ensured their digitization, making them freely accessible to scholars and seekers of knowledge across the globe.
And since history is not written in ink alone, but preserved through its enduring impact, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi’s initiative to digitize the UNESCO archives stands as a powerful extension of his far-reaching vision—one that seeks to rescue the treasures of humanity from the confines of forgotten drawers and locked cabinets. In a landmark global agreement, the Sharjah Book Authority undertook the digitization of UNESCO’s vast archives, with funding exceeding six million dollars. This initiative opened the gates of knowledge to the world, offering access to millions of documents, maps, manuscripts, photographs, and audio recordings—fragments of humanity’s collective memory safeguarded from the erosion of time. This is not merely preservation—it is resistance against oblivion. It is the revival of cultural inheritance and the reaffirmation that heritage, when guarded with wisdom, can enlighten generations to come.
Between the lines of the Historical Dictionary and the digitized files of UNESCO, the "Sultan of Culture," Al Qasimi, emerges as a ruler who elevates thought to its rightful stature and positions Sharjah as a luminous cultural capital for the Arab world.
He is the historian’s heart, the thinker’s eye, and the guardian’s hand. A singular figure whose leadership model redefines greatness—not in concrete and towers, but in people, in intellect, and in preserved identity. For Sheikh Sultan, to build a human being is more sacred than any monument; to protect a word is to protect dignity; and to cultivate culture from the soul is to gift the world with respect, remembrance, and reverence from nations near and far.
His efforts are quiet but mighty. And they affirm this truth: that silent deeds, born from sincere intentions and lifted by visionary purpose, are ultimately recorded—not just in books—but in the memory of the world.
This international recognition is, without doubt, a tribute to the “Sultan of Culture.” But more than that, it is an honour bestowed upon the Arabic language itself, upon the Arab reader, and upon Arab civilization as a whole. It is a medal pinned to the chest of a culture that refuses to let the word fall or history fade. It is a salute to a generation of pioneers—and to the spirit of civilization when embodied in the person of a leader.
Sheikh Sultan never sought glory, but truth. He did not accept the silence of forgotten history; instead, he gave it voice and light. And so, when UNESCO honours him, it inscribes this message to the world: that in Sharjah, there lives a man the size of a nation.
In conclusion, I echo the timeless words of the "Prince of Thought," Khalid Al-Faisal, about the Sultan of Culture: “For every matter from God, there is a Sultan, And the Sultan of culture is Al Qasimi.. And for every hope in life, there is a glimmer, And the glimmer of hopes shines.”
By Dr. Muhammad Al-Masoudi, Al-Riyadh Newspaper