logo
Issue 333 of Al Rafid Magazine released

Issue 333 of Al Rafid Magazine released

Sharjah 2431-05-2025

Honoring Sharjah's Cultural Leadership
A major highlight of this issue is the honoring of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who received the
"Arab Cultural Merit Medal"
from ALECSO during a ceremony in Tunisia. The award recognizes His Highness's five decades of contributions to Arab and Islamic culture, including initiatives like the
"Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language,"
the establishment of cultural centers in Europe and Africa, and his ongoing support for theatrical and artistic institutions.
Sharjah-Oman cultural ties
Under the theme
"A Window to Reflect on a Shared Historical Heritage,"
the issue also features the participation of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, at the opening of the
"Masterpieces of Islamic Arts"
exhibition at the National Museum of Oman. This event reflects the deep historical relationship between the UAE and Oman.
Innovation and excellence in governance
The issue highlights His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed's launch of the
"Institutional Excellence Award,"
which aims to foster innovation across both public and private sectors. It also covers his recognition of leading initiatives in governance and smart services.
Sheikha Bodour's role in cultural advancement
Special focus is given to the efforts of
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi
, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, in advancing the emirate's cultural influence. The issue features:
Her inauguration of the
fourth International Distributors Conference
, attended by 750 professionals from 94 countries
Her patronage of the
"Chapters of Islamic Art"
exhibition
Her launch of the
"Africa and the Arabian Peninsula"
symposium in partnership with global organisations
Scientific and academic achievements
The issue also showcases Sharjah's expanding contributions to science and education, including:
The launch of the
Al Qasimi Astronomical Observatory
, a new hub for space research
The
University of Sharjah's collaborations
with the Diplomatic Academy and Ministry of Climate Change
American University of Sharjah students
winning international architectural awards
The
Spring Life Skills Forum
, which supports youth creativity and innovation
Sharjah: A global cultural vision
Through its diverse content,
Al Rafid
Issue 333 reaffirms Sharjah's vision as a hub for creativity, committed to preserving cultural heritage while embracing modernity. It reflects the lasting influence of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in shaping the future of Arab culture and fostering global cultural dialogue.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Historic Sharjah site is candidate for Unesco World Heritage status
Historic Sharjah site is candidate for Unesco World Heritage status

The National

timea day ago

  • The National

Historic Sharjah site is candidate for Unesco World Heritage status

A site in Sharjah where evidence of human habitation dating back more than 210,000 years has been found is a candidate for Unesco World Heritage status. Faya, an ancient archaeological site of huge significance in the Arabian Peninsula, is among 30 sites being considered by the UN's cultural body. Unesco's World Heritage committee will now make a decision at its 47th session to be held from July 7 to 16 in Paris. The Sharjah site is what is known as a palaeolandscape, providing insights into how early humans lived, migrated, and adapted to environments. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi is the official ambassador of the emirate's Unesco World Heritage nomination file. 'Faya offers one of the oldest and most complete records of early human presence in Arabia, dating back over 210,000 years - a living archive that deepens our understanding of who we are, where we came from, and how we have learnt to survive,' said Sheika Bodour, in remarks carried by state news agency Wam last month. 'The Faya palaeolandscape's nomination for Unesco World Heritage status highlights the importance of preserving these ancient sites, not only for their historical value but for their potential to educate future generations. As ambassador, I see this nomination as an opportunity to elevate Faya as a shared inheritance for all people around the world." Research pays off The Faya Range, a chain of limestone outcrops known in Arabic as jebels, can be considered a natural barrier between the Rub Al Khali desert to its west and the Dhaid-Madam plain to its east. The area is rich in resources such as flint and freshwater springs, which made human settlements there. There is evidence of human tools, life and burials. Scientists say the environment and people's way of living changed over thousands of years in the area. 'Over 30 years of meticulous research and collaboration led by our national mission and experts with international experts have revealed 18 distinct archaeological layers from the Stone Age, bringing to light an intricate history of human evolution, adaptation and survival right here in Sharjah,' said Eisa Yousif, director of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, in remarks also carried by Wam. 'As we advance Faya's Unesco World Heritage nomination, it is important to emphasise that our collaborative efforts have made this a global project; one that connects the past with the present more strongly, adding to the rich global corpus of archaeological discoveries. This property, therefore, holds immense value for the world - not just Sharjah and the UAE," he added. Faya was added to Unesco's tentative list in 2023. The UAE has developed a comprehensive management plan for the Faya Palaeolandscape, which will guide its conservation, research, and visitor engagement from 2024 to 2030, Wam said. This plan aligns with Unesco's World Heritage standards, ensuring that the site is preserved while also allowing for continued exploration and education. The UAE has currently one site on the heritage list. The cultural sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas) were collectively added in 2011. Unesco's meeting, meanwhile, will also see it examine the extension of two sites already on the list and will review of the state of conservation of 248 sites already inscribed. To date, it has inscribed 1,223 cultural and natural sites in 168 countries on the World Heritage list.

Arab AI Researchers Initiative Opens New Frontiers in Academic Innovation
Arab AI Researchers Initiative Opens New Frontiers in Academic Innovation

Arabian Post

timea day ago

  • Arabian Post

Arab AI Researchers Initiative Opens New Frontiers in Academic Innovation

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai The University of Dubai and the Artificial Intelligence Journalism for Research and Forecasting have unveiled the Arab AI Researchers initiative, marking the first pan‑Arab programme dedicated to training academics in artificial intelligence for research and teaching. The launch aligns with efforts to implement the Arab Index for Artificial Intelligence in Universities, announced in May 2024, and formalised at the 5th Artificial Intelligence Journalism World Forum in Sharjah earlier this year. President of the University of Dubai, Dr Eesa Al Bastaki, explained that AAIR responds to a growing call for universities in Arab states to embed AI into scholarly work and curricula. He noted that the programme reflects the aim of the AIU, which benchmarks integration across six domains: curriculum design, faculty capabilities, smart laboratory infrastructure, student proficiency, research output, and global partnerships. ADVERTISEMENT Dr Saeed Al Dhaheri, Director of the Centre for Futures Studies and President of the AIU, emphasised the initiative's breadth. 'AAIR offers specialised training to integrate AI across all academic tiers,' he said, underscoring the programme's ambition to reach a wide academic audience across the Arab world. That ambition gains momentum in tandem with AIJRF's global training portfolio of more than 120 courses and over 20 active AI initiatives, which includes the annual AIJWF and the GAIJI index. Under the leadership of AIJRF's CEO Dr Mohamed Abdulzaher, AAIR will offer a free, accredited training programme conducted thrice yearly. Each session will involve four days of intensive instruction—totalising 15 practical hours—for approximately 150 participants. Graduates, upon submission of a project, will receive certification jointly from AIJRF, the University of Dubai and cooperating institutions. Dr Abdulzaher emphasised the programme's dual focus: practical AI tool use in research and instruction that covers emerging pedagogical approaches such as smart classrooms, automated assignments and AI‑generated project frameworks, underpinned by ethical guidelines. Experts highlight the significance of AAIR against a backdrop of evolving demand for localised AI capacity in the region's higher education sector. Gulf News records that the Arab Index for AIU initially pioneered this area by evaluating Arab universities on their strategic integration of AI into humanities and theoretical sciences, spanning institutions from Morocco to Qatar. This quantitative benchmarking now finds practical implementation through AAIR. The initiative affords multiple strategic gains. It aims to develop an Arab‑centred community of practice in AI, offer Arabic‑language curricular resources, and foster collaborations among universities, research centres and technology providers. Policy experts suggest that by nurturing such ecosystems, the region can more accurately reflect its socio‑cultural context in AI tools and methodologies. AAIR also responds to economic and educational drivers. UAE government-backed surveys estimate the Arab educational sector will expand rapidly alongside digital acceleration, yet critical gaps remain in Arabic‑language AI content and smart infrastructure. By empowering faculty and students alike, AAIR seeks to deepen the region's AI talent pool and sustainability. Formative metrics indicate uptake: AIJRF announced an AAIR target of training 500 academics during the first phase, with enrollment details shared via LinkedIn and public briefings. Dr Abdulzaher credits the partnership between University of Dubai, AIJRF, and other institutional collaborators for enabling broad access to the programme. Still, the initiative faces challenges inherent to regional adoption. Previous AI integration efforts highlight logistical barriers—such as uneven access to AI‑equipped labs, variable levels of faculty digital literacy, and limited Arabic AI datasets. AAIR's focus on standardisation and community‑based learning aims to alleviate such bottlenecks. Industry observers are tracking AAIR's impact on research and higher education closely. Stakeholders expect ripple effects, including: greater academic publication in AI‑focused journals; the emergence of Arab‑context AI pedagogies; enhanced employability of STEM graduates with real‑world AI experience; and institutional impetus to invest in smart infrastructure. The AAIR launch also complements AIJWF's wider initiatives, including the Human Talents vs Gen‑AI Challenge introduced at the 5th edition in April at American University of Sharjah. Collectively, these initiatives contribute to a regional strategy to navigate the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions, with emphasis on generative AI and its socio‑economic consequences.

Historic Sharjah site in running for Unesco World Heritage status
Historic Sharjah site in running for Unesco World Heritage status

The National

time2 days ago

  • The National

Historic Sharjah site in running for Unesco World Heritage status

A historic site in Sharjah where evidence of human presence dating back more than 210,000 years has been found is in the running for Unesco World Heritage status. Faya, an ancient archaeological site of huge significance in the Arabian Peninsula, is among 30 new sites being considered by the UN's cultural body. Unesco's World Heritage committee will now make a decision at its 47th session to be held from July 7 to 16 in Paris. The Sharjah site is what is known as a palaeolandscape, providing crucial insights into how early humans lived, migrated, and adapted to different environments. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi is the official ambassador of the emirate's Unesco Heritage nomination file. 'Faya offers one of the oldest and most complete records of early human presence in Arabia, dating back over 210,000 years - a living archive that deepens our understanding of who we are, where we came from, and how we have learnt to survive,' said Sheika Bodour, in remarks carried by state news agency Wam last month. 'The Faya palaeolandscape's nomination for Unesco world heritage status highlights the importance of preserving these ancient sites, not only for their historical value but for their potential to educate future generations. As ambassador, I see this nomination as an opportunity to elevate Faya as a shared inheritance for all people around the world." Research pays off The Faya Range, a chain of limestone outcrops known in Arabic as jebels, can be considered a natural barrier between the Rub Al Khali desert to its west and the Dhaid-Madam plain to its east. The area is rich in resources such as flint and freshwater springs, which made human habitation possible. Different caves and dwellings provide physical evidence of human tools, life and burials. Scientists say the environment and people's way of living changed over thousands of years in the area. 'Over 30 years of meticulous research and collaboration led by our national mission and experts with international experts have revealed 18 distinct archaeological layers from the Stone Age, bringing to light an intricate history of human evolution, adaptation and survival right here in Sharjah,' said Eisa Yousif, director of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority, in remarks also carried by Wam. 'As we advance Faya's Unesco world heritage nomination, it is important to emphasise that our collaborative efforts have made this a global project; one that connects the past with the present more strongly, adding to the rich global corpus of archaeological discoveries. This property, therefore, holds immense value for the world - not just Sharjah and the UAE," he added. Faya was added to Unesco's tentative list in 2023. The UAE has developed a comprehensive management plan for the Faya Palaeolandscape, which will guide its conservation, research, and visitor engagement from 2024 to 2030, Wam said. This plan aligns with Unesco's world heritage standards, ensuring that the site is preserved while also allowing for continued exploration and education. The UAE has currently one site on the heritage list. The cultural sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud and Oases Areas) were collectively added in 2011. Unesco's meeting, meanwhile, will also see it examine the extension of two sites already on the list and will review of the state of conservation of 248 sites already inscribed. To date, it has inscribed 1,223 cultural and natural sites in 168 countries on the world heritage list.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store