SIH holds virtual Arab meeting to boost heritage capacity building

November 05, 2025 / 1:10 PM

Sharjah24: Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH) held the annual virtual meeting of the Board of Directors for the International Centre for Capacity Building in Intangible Cultural Heritage in Arab States. The gathering, part of the Institute’s role as a UNESCO Category 2 Centre, included representatives from Arab countries and regional experts in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

The meeting was chaired by His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, with participation from board members and representatives of regional heritage centres across the Arab world.

Discussions concentrated on activities and programmes carried out during the past year, as well as future strategies aimed at expanding training workshops, developing new initiatives, and improving coordination among national heritage institutions across the Arab states.

His Excellency Dr Al Musallam emphasised that the meeting reflects Sharjah’s commitment, under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to advancing joint Arab efforts in preserving intangible cultural heritage. He added that the Centre is working to expand its capacity-building programmes and sustain ongoing collaboration with Arab countries and UNESCO to support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the cultural sector.

Unified regional vision for heritage preservation

Participants included Aisha Rashid Al Hussan Al Shamsi, Director of the Category 2 Centre in Sharjah; Farida Abu Dan, representative of the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen; Nasser bin Salem Al Swaifi; Fatima Al Othman; Dr Nahla Imam; Prof. Dr Hani Hayajneh; Dr Ahmed Skounaty; Ibtisam Al Zaabi; Ahmed Ali Al Dhanhani; Salem Omar Salem; and Dr Imad bin Sula.

Progress and cooperation

Aisha Al Hussan Al Shamsi highlighted that the meeting served as an essential platform for evaluating the Centre’s progress, reviewing the main achievements of the year based on previous recommendations, and exploring opportunities to enhance regional cooperation and training initiatives. She affirmed that the Centre remains committed to implementing innovative projects that support Arab nations' priorities in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. Meanwhile, Farida Abu Dan commended the strong partnership between UNESCO and the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, emphasising that this collaboration bolsters collective Arab efforts to protect and conserve the region’s cultural legacy for future generations.