Heritage, identity and AI challenges
The first session, Heritage and identity between governance and the challenge of artificial intelligence – institutional dialogue, featured Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, researcher Fahd Ali Al Maamari and researcher Hamad Salim Al Humaire, moderated by journalist Sheikha Al Mutairi. Speakers highlighted the beginnings of institutional work in the UAE, the research value of AI without replacing human expertise, the need for organisational sustainability and the national library’s role—through the “Marwayat” programme—in documenting and globalising oral history.
Shared heritage between the UAE and Qatar
The second session, Heritage in one language… the UAE and Qatar, brought together Dr Rashid Al Mazrouei from the UAE and Mohammed Al Baloushi from Qatar, moderated by Dr Moneera Bounama. The discussion examined similarities in folk arts, games, stories and architectural heritage, stressing scientific documentation and cultural cooperation to strengthen a shared Gulf identity.
Libraries as guardians of heritage
The third session, History of libraries… repositories of heritage, featured Al Maamari, Dr Najib Ben Khaira and Dr Masoud Idris, also moderated by Dr Bounama. It covered the evolution of libraries across civilisations, their role in preserving knowledge heritage and Sharjah’s leading experience in supporting books and cultural projects.
Together, the three sessions offered an integrated vision of the future of heritage in the UAE, affirming the alignment of cultural institutions with modern technology to safeguard cultural identity in a rapidly changing world.
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