Facilitated by His Excellency Ahmed Abdulrahman Al Mahmoud, UAE Ambassador to the Portuguese Republic, and led by Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of HoW, the delegation was received by Maria do Céu Ramos, President of Évora European Capital of Culture 2027. The meeting brought together representatives from both sides to explore opportunities for long-term institutional collaboration as Évora prepares for its tenure as European Capital of Culture in 2027.

The visit builds on growing cultural cooperation between Sharjah and Portugal, following the visit of His Excellency Alberto Fernando Santos, Portugal's Secretary of State for Culture, to HoW earlier this year during Sharjah Heritage Days, when he also toured several cultural institutions and landmarks across the emirate. It also coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Portugal.

Strengthening UAE–Portugal cultural diplomacy

His Excellency Ahmed Abdulrahman Al Mahmoud, Ambassador of the UAE to the Portuguese Republic, highlighted the longstanding bilateral relations between the UAE and Portugal, particularly in the cultural sector, noting their role in strengthening friendship and dialogue between the two peoples.

He noted that cultural cooperation gained further momentum with the inauguration by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, of the first Centre for Arabic Studies in Portugal, alongside Portugal's participation as Guest of Honour at Sharjah Cultural Days 2026.

He added: "The celebration of Évora as the European Capital of Culture 2027 presents an important opportunity to strengthen cultural diplomacy between the two countries further. It comes amid shared cultural and historical momentum, which is also reflected this year as the UAE and Portugal mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations."

Expanding knowledge and heritage exchange

For her part, Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of HoW, said: "We are pleased to join Évora in celebrating its designation as the European Capital of Culture 2027, recognising its rich cultural heritage and enduring civilisational legacy. With a history spanning more than two millennia, the city has served as a crossroads of civilisations, from its Roman heritage and Andalusian Islamic influences to Portuguese culture, reinforcing its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site."

She added: "We look forward to building a strong partnership with Évora and expanding cooperation in culture, knowledge and heritage preservation. By working together, we can share expertise and develop initiatives that deepen cultural understanding and strengthen knowledge exchange between our communities, reflecting Sharjah's belief in culture as a driver of development and dialogue."

Advancing cultural collaboration

For her part, Maria do Céu Ramos said: "It was a privilege to welcome the HoW delegation to Évora at such an important stage in our journey towards becoming European Capital of Culture 2027. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas on the opportunities and responsibilities that accompany major cultural initiatives, while identifying areas of shared interest between our institutions.”

Ramos noted that the visit revealed potential to strengthen collaboration between Évora and Sharjah, building on longstanding cultural connections and a shared belief in the power of culture to foster understanding, learning and community engagement.

She added: “As we prepare for 2027, we look forward to developing our partnership with HoW and to creating initiatives inspired by the cultural and historical ties between our regions, further strengthening cultural diplomacy and institutional cooperation."

Celebrating shared cultural heritage

The visit included tours of Évora's key cultural and heritage landmarks, reflecting the city's rich historical legacy and contribution to Europe's cultural landscape. The delegation also visited the Évora Public Library, founded in 1805, where it explored rare manuscripts, historical documents, maps and archival collections, including drawings of Portuguese castles in Kalba and Khorfakkan that illustrate the longstanding historical links between Portugal and the region.

Cultural and academic ties between Sharjah and Portugal have continued to deepen through a series of landmark initiatives. These include the inauguration of the Centre for Arabic Studies at the University of Coimbra by the Ruler of Sharjah, the launch of the Joanina Digital Library in partnership with the university, and His Highness's scholarly contributions to documenting the history of the Portuguese presence in the region and Arab-Portuguese relations.