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The celebration of International Tourist Guide Day serves as a prime opportunity to recognise the vital contributions of museum guides in promoting museum offerings, fostering cultural exchange, and strengthening global connections.
SMA remains dedicated to investing in its personnel to ensure they continue delivering enriching educational and cultural experiences that showcase the vast diversity and wealth of human civilisation while reinforcing Sharjah's status as a leading global beacon for knowledge and culture.
Under SMA’s umbrella, professional guides proficient in both Arabic and English play a crucial role in visitor’s experience and engagement, including specialists in sign language. As a pioneering initiative in the GCC, SMA has introduced sign language tours led by specialised guides from the hearing-impaired community, who have been trained through the "Distinguished Guide in Sign Language" programme.
SMA also places strong emphasis on attracting and training Emirati guides through dedicated courses that enhance their skills, recognising them as key drivers of the tourism sector. The authority continues to encourage more Emiratis to join this vital and dynamic field, reinforcing their presence in the industry.
The "Sharjah Museum Ambassadors" initiative is another key program designed to engage the youth of the age 15-18-year-olds, fostering a connection between the younger generation and the history, heritage and culture thought its museums and collections.
This initiative modernises the appeal of museums for young individuals, emphasising museum guidance to promote a deeper appreciation for museum culture. By honing communication, guidance, and visitor interaction skills, participants are effectively positioned as museum ambassadors, helping to bridge the gap between museums and the community.
Additionally, the "My Journey" program stands out as the first of its kind in the emirate, launched in collaboration with the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority to train Emirati tour guides. This program offers four specialised tracks delivered by the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, Mleiha Archaeological Centre, the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, and the Sharjah Museums Authority.
Designed to equip local talent with essential knowledge and skills, the initiative ensures that Emirati guides are well-prepared to contribute effectively to the tourism sector. Another notable program, "Discover History," developed in collaboration with the Sharjah Museums Authority, provides participants with specialised training focused on the historical significance of Sharjah’s museums, further enriching their expertise in the field.
In conjunction with the international occasion, SMA hosted a panel discussion at it’s Sharjah Archaeology Museum, titled “Green Tourism in the UAE,” aimed at reinforcing the cultural role of museums in promoting environmental awareness and strengthening ties with entities involved in history and tourism guidance.
The discussion highlighted the role of tour guides as ambassadors of culture and history, while showcasing the efforts of Sharjah’s museums in environmental education and sustainable tourism.
It featured a panel of experts with extensive knowledge and experience in the field. Dr Nidal Al-Zabon, Associate Professor at the University of Sharjah, explored the concept of green tourism and the pivotal role tour guides play in raising awareness about environmental preservation. He emphasised the increasing societal recognition of environmental sustainability and the significance of maintaining eco-tourism initiatives that turn nature reserves, parks, and mountainous regions into promising tourist destinations, contributing to local economic growth.
Mona Al-Hadidi, Director of the Islamic Garden, highlighted the Environmental and Protected Areas Authority’s (EPAA) efforts to promote green tourism across Sharjah. She underscored the importance of the emirate's diverse nature reserves, which safeguard wildlife and maintain ecological balance. Al-Hadidi detailed the Authority's ongoing initiatives to educate younger generations, particularly school students, through engaging workshops and educational programs led by environmental guides who impart the value of protecting natural habitats.
The panel also spotlighted the work of Sharjah Aquarium, with curator Rashid Al Shamsi presenting an overview of the institution's environmental achievements since its inauguration in 2008. He described various community-driven sustainability efforts, including volunteer-led marine clean-up campaigns organised in collaboration with local authorities. He highlighted the Aquarium's contributions to marine biodiversity by nurturing and releasing aquatic species such as fish, seahorses, and turtles back into their natural environments, emphasising the critical role these initiatives play in fostering eco-friendly tourism.
The event concluded with an educational workshop on marine environment preservation, offering participants hands-on insights into best practices for protecting marine ecosystems. Attendees learned about the importance of adopting sustainable habits in tourism activities to support the UAE's broader environmental goals.
The panel not only celebrated the contributions of tour guides but also reinforced the indispensable link between environmental stewardship and cultural heritage, positioning museums as key advocates for sustainable tourism in Sharjah and beyond.
Highlighting the educational resources available to guides, SMA’s publication " Directory of the Arab Tourist Guide" by Khaled Hussein Saleh includes six-chapter that offers a structured, accessible overview of tourism's significance in the modern era and the essential role of tour guides in introducing visitors to key sites using scientifically grounded methodologies adopted by experts worldwide. Targeting Arab tour guides across the region, the book simplifies the guiding process and provides practical insights to enhance their skills, whether in historical, cultural, or recreational settings.
Since its establishment, the Authority has prioritised the development of its museum guides through specialised in-person and virtual training courses, covering areas like museum and tourism guidance, communication skills, creative thinking, and public speaking.
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