Th Arab Forum for Cultural Heritage begins in Sharjah 
May 30, 2023, 7:06 pm

Th Arab Forum for Cultural Heritage begins in Sharjah 

The forum discusses the concept of built environment (omran) and explores the role of communities in building cultural heritage resilience

29 May 2023 - Sharjah (United Arab Emirates): Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, the 4th Arab Forum for Cultural Heritage (2023) launched its activities, today, in Sharjah, UAE.

The three-day forum, organized by the Regional Office for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ICCROM-Sharjah), in cooperation with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, will be held from 29 May to 1 June 2023 at ICCROM-Sharjah.

His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah; Dr John Robbins, Chairperson of the Council of ICCROM; and a number of regional and international experts interested in the field of preservation of cultural heritage in the Arab region attended the opening ceremony. Also in attendance were several representatives of diplomatic missions in the United Arab Emirates, media professionals, and activists in the fields of built environment, culture and cultural heritage in the region.

The 4th Arab Forum for Cultural Heritage sheds light on communities' accumulated knowledge in sustaining cultural heritage in the Arab region, and explores ways to activate this role in crisis preparedness, response and recovery; supports efficient risk management practices; and promotes community-centred approaches to achieve adequate humanitarian response and a sustainable future for the region’s cultural and historical heritage. The forum will also serve as a platform for interdisciplinary conversations to increase the resilience of cultural heritage and its recovery as a result of conflicts and climate change.

Dr Zaki Aslan, Director of ICCROM-Sharjah, stressed the timely importance of this forum. “There is no doubt that the theme of the forum, which was decided this year after extensive discussion with our local, regional and international partners, is extremely in line with the current needs, directions and priorities of regional countries that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The forum is also aligned with the vision and mission of ICCROM-Sharjah expressed through our many projects and activities implemented since the establishment of this office under the patronage of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in 2012.”

Dr Aslan pointed out that this year's forum coincides with the ten-year anniversary of ICCROM-Sharjah. "More than ten years after its establishment, ICCROM-Sharjah has become a reference institution for the protection and promotion of cultural heritage in the Arab region. This has been achieved through regional activities that meet the needs and priorities of our Member States, and building bridges of communication and collaboration among them,” Dr Aslan added.

Dr John Robbins remarked, “We are here this week to probe the intersection of three important concepts in cultural heritage. One concept is very old — omran or, loosely translated, the built environment — and two concepts that are contemporary — resiliency and community-based care for cultural heritage.” He continued, “The concept of the built environment as cultural heritage has ancient roots in our religious, social and artistic values. The concepts of resiliency and community-based are very much of our own time, and this conference highlights the urgency of addressing the intersection of these three topics.”

The Director General of ALECSO, Dr Mohamed Ould Amar, echoed Dr Robbins, saying, “The topic of the forum reflects the importance of the results reached by research and related studies. It addresses one of the oldest concepts that humanity has known in organizing the forms of life and stability, the built environment (omran). It focuses on the theories, ideas and approaches around it, on top of which is the one that this forum addresses: the culture of the built environment (omran) and heritage resilience.”

Dr Abdulaziz Almusallam, Chair of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, spoke about the close link between the topic of the forum and the Emirate of Sharjah's efforts to preserve and revive historical buildings and heritage sites through protection and restoration works that affected the emirate's landmarks, heritage houses, popular markets, mosques and schools. "This forum comes as an embodiment of Sharjah's vision in this regard, and in line with its directions in preserving urban heritage and reviving spatial memory, which contribute to providing urgent preservation of heritage monuments and buildings on the verge of collapse," he stated.

Dr Dena Assaf, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the United Arab Emirates, expres

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.