Sharjah 24: Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, witnessed, on Wednesday, the opening of the activities of the 22nd edition of the Sharjah International Narrator Forum (SINF), under the theme "Tales of the Seas", held at the Expo Centre Sharjah, and lasts for three days from September 21 to 23, with wide regional and international participation.

The opening ceremony began with verses from the Holy Quran, followed by a visual presentation that embodied the idea of the theme for the current edition of the SINF, which brings together sea stories and its prosperous history in the Emirati popular memory, and in various Arab countries.



The Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, during the opening performances, followed a segment presented by a group of artists, accompanied by a visual presentation on the screen.

After that, His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH), gave a speech in which he stressed the unlimited support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for the local Emirati and Arab culture.



His Excellency extended thanks and appreciation to the Crown Prince of Sharjah for the attending opening ceremony and honouring the selected personalities.

Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah honoured several personalities: the guest of honour, Emirati artist Ibrahim Juma Al Haj, and the family of the late Kuwaiti poet Muhammad Al-Fayez Al-Ali. He also acknowledged a selection of prominent narrators and creative personalities in popular storytelling, including Rashid Mohammed Al Shehsi Al Zaabi, Nasser Bushbas, Hathbur bin Kaddas Al Rumaithi, and Humaid bin Khalifa bin Salem bin Theban.

After the opening ceremony, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi toured the forum, while being briefed on the accompanying exhibition, which focused on the personality of the Emirati navigator and astronomer Ahmed bin Majid. He also visited a number of the various pavilions participating in the forum.



The current edition is launched with the participation of more than 160 heritage experts and researchers, storytellers and media professionals from 46 countries, to take part in many cultural and intellectual programmes, training workshops, and public events.



Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman bin Salem Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Ruler’s Office, Sheikh Salem bin Mohammed bin Salem Al Qasimi, Director of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, and Khalid Jasim Al Midfa Chairman of Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, attended the opening ceremony. In addition to a number of officials in local government departments, artists from various Arab countries, those interested in heritage and media professionals.