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The forum comes as part of the vision of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, who has consistently supported the recognition of literary figures who have contributed to the advancement of contemporary Arab culture. This marks the fourth time the forum has been held in Tunisia, following previous editions that celebrated a select group of distinguished Tunisian writers.
The ceremony was hosted at the iconic Al-Najma Al-Zahra Palace in Sidi Bou Said, with the attendance of His Excellency Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Head of the Sharjah Department of Culture; Her Excellency Dr. Iman Al Salami, UAE Ambassador to Tunisia; Mohamed Ibrahim Al Qusair, Director of Cultural Affairs; Dr. Tawfiq Qarira, Director General of the Tunisian Institute of Translation, representing the Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, Amineh Al Sarrafi; and a number of cultural figures, writers, and the families of the honourees.
The ceremony began with a presentation highlighting the role of Sharjah in supporting Arab creatives, followed by an overview of the careers and literary achievements of the four honourees, showcasing their significant contributions to the world of literature over many years of dedicated work in the cultural field.
The event was managed by Tunisian critic Hatem Al Traboulsi, who welcomed the attendees and pointed out Sharjah’s vital role in supporting Arab culture. He emphasised that the Sharjah Cultural Recognition Forum has firmly established itself in Tunisia as one of the prominent annual events celebrating creativity and excellence.
In his speech, Abdullah Al Owais focused on the importance of renewing the fraternal and cultural ties with Tunisia, stating: “The joy and happiness are renewed with the continuation of our brotherly meetings, strengthening the bonds of love. This is embodied in the deep relations between the UAE and Tunisia, guided by wise leadership that believes in the importance of continuous Arab communication across all fields.”
Al Owais also highlighted the significance of cultural collaboration, saying: “Today, we are together representing a model for these principles through the Sharjah Cultural Recognition Forum, which aims to honour Arab cultural figures who have enriched contemporary Arab culture with their creativity across various fields of literature. It is indeed a happy occasion to continue this cultural collaboration between the Sharjah Department of Culture and the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs.”
Al Owais further remarked that the Sharjah Cultural Recognition Forum is the third such event in Tunisia in recent months. He added, “We have gathered here in the historic Al-Najma Al-Zahra Palace for the Sharjah Forum for Narration last September, followed by the Kairouan Arab Poetry Festival in the House of Wisdom in Carthage. Today, we continue these cultural exchanges in this welcoming country, in a ceremony honouring Tunisia’s writers. This marks the fourth time the Sharjah Cultural Recognition Forum has been held in Tunisia, in recognition of a new group of distinguished literary figures who have contributed significantly to the Arab literary landscape.”
The Head of the Department of Culture conveyed the congratulations of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to the honourees, stating: "It is my honour to convey to the honourees the congratulations of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, in recognition of their sincere efforts and contributions. I also have the privilege of conveying His Highness's warm regards and best wishes for your continued success and prosperity."
On behalf of the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Dr. Tawfiq Qarira gave a speech, starting by saying: "Welcome to Tunisia, a country that opens its arms to its brothers in the UAE. We highly appreciate the role of Sharjah in nurturing Tunisian cultural movements, and this Tunisian-UAE celebration stands as evidence of the strength of our cooperation. We also salute the continued support provided by Sharjah, under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, to Tunisian and Arab intellectuals."
Qarira highlighted the remarkable experiences of the honourees of this edition, touching upon many of their creative works and describing them as major cultural landmarks in Tunisia. He reiterated the Ministry's gratitude to Sharjah for its dedication to celebrating Tunisia’s cultural figures, which represent a key page in the broader book of Arab culture, each of us contributing to writing its bright pages.
The four honourees unanimously agreed that Sharjah, through its noble cultural endeavours, has become a leader in the cultural field and a beacon for creators and a harbour for creativity. They expressed their happiness, considering the recognition as a crowning achievement of their creative contributions.
Fatima Al Akhdar Maqtouf said: "I cannot hide my deep emotional reaction to this kind gesture. I cannot express enough how overjoyed I am by this honour, which has been bestowed not only upon me but also on my beloved country, Tunisia. This recognition is a beautiful reflection of my efforts, bringing me immense joy. I begin by offering my heartfelt thanks to the initiator of this noble and groundbreaking gesture, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah."
Maqtouf mentioned that her work is based on a comprehensive intellectual project she has dedicated herself to for decades with silence and passion. Her sole focus has been to benefit the younger generation through her writing and translation, and she expressed her gratitude to all those who have supported her journey from the very beginning.
Mohamed Shbeil, the son of the late Dr Abdelaziz Chebil, spoke on behalf of the family, saying: "It is an honour for my mother, sister, and me to attend this honouring ceremony, which my father was pleased with before his passing. Sadly, time hurried his departure, may God rest his soul."
He added: "We are delighted to express our deepest gratitude to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, whose grace has touched all those engaged in thought, creativity, and art. His noble initiatives will be immortalised in history."
In his speech, Bashir Al Qahwaji stated that the common bond we share today is the Arabic language, our home that we must elevate. He expressed his gratitude to Sharjah, which he considers a beacon for creators and a harbour for creativity, emphasising that this recognition holds great symbolic and literary significance for him. On a material level, he mentioned that, at his age, this recognition provides important support, enabling him to work harder and live more comfortably. He thanked His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and all those who have had faith in his work.
Mohamed Ali Al Yousfi pointed out that Sharjah has achieved a qualitative leap in Arab culture thanks to its unique vision in this vital humanitarian sector, a vision rooted in the wide-ranging perspective of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, who understands the importance of culture and the arts as a bridge connecting people worldwide.
The Tunisian novelist and translator expressed his happiness at being honoured after a long journey in the world of creativity, emphasising that recognition motivates creators to continue producing and introducing new ideas.
At the end of the ceremony, Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais and Mohamed Al Qusair, accompanied by Dr. Tawfiq Qarira and Dr. Iman Al Salami, presented certificates of appreciation to the four honourees. The certificates were signed by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, in recognition of their creative efforts.
Dr. Fatima Al Akhdar Maqtouf, born in 1948, is a researcher, editor, and translator. She studied Arabic and French literature. Among her many critical works are: "The Virtue of Al-Shabi Delving into the World of Density", "The Characteristics of Style in the Literature of Al-Mas'udi", "Shadhr Al-Kalam: Readings in Tunisian Literary Works", and "Introduction to the Complete Works of French Arabist Lucien Leclerc." Her translation work includes notable texts such as "Simple Life" by Souad Fallouh, "The Translation of the French Society of the History of Medicine and Pharmacy", "The Novel of the Nakedness by Hafidha Ghara Biban", and "The Novel of the Light's Song by Mahmoud Tarshouna."
The late Dr Abdelaziz Chebil was a writer and academic. He worked as a distinguished professor at the University of Tunisia and headed the Master's, Ph.D., and University Accreditation Committees at the Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences in Sousse. His works include: "The Art of the Novel in the Works of Ghada Al-Samman", "The Narrative Structure in 'The Message of the Followers and Storms' by Ibn Shaheed Al-Andalusi", "Theory of Literary Genres in Arabic Prose Heritage: The Dialectics of Presence and Absence", and "Readings in Arabic Prose Heritage."
Mohamed Ali Al Yousfi, born in 1950, is a writer, novelist, and translator. His works include novels such as "The Sun of the Roof Tiles", "The Kingdom of Al-Akhidr", and "The Thresholds of Heaven". He has also translated works like "Praises of Light: Selections from Greek Poetry", "Paths of the Wind: Selections from Contemporary World Poetry", "The Story of a Drowned Sailor" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and "Autumn of the Patriarch" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Bashir Al Qahwaji, born in 1951, studied playwriting at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in Tunisia. He worked in the visual arts and wrote texts about them. His works include the plays "Abu Al-Qasim Al-Shabi", "The Barbarian Warrior", a poetry collection titled "Ode to the Noble Queen", and children's books such as "The Lord of the Sun."
The Star of Zahra Palace (also known as the Baron D'Erlanger Palace) is one of the most prominent architectural heritage landmarks in Tunisia. It blends authentic Tunisian architecture with Andalusian architectural and decorative elements. Built between 1912 and 1922 by Baron D'Erlanger, the palace sits in a vast garden atop a hill overlooking the Gulf of Tunis in the historic city of Sidi Bou Said. The palace now houses the Centre for Arab and Mediterranean Music.
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