The Cultural Option - Achievements of Dr. Sheikh Sultan Al Qasimi's Project

The book was originally a doctoral thesis I submitted to Beirut Arab University. In it, I analyzed the achievements of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and their impact on the development of culture in the UAE (1972-2009). The author stated that her analysis focused on four clear axes in His Highness's project. The first is the internal cultural achievements represented by these major projects spanning successive decades, the most important of which is the Sharjah International Book Fair, which this year concluded its thirty-second year as one of the most important exhibitions in the region. It has succeeded in establishing reading traditions in the UAE, contributing to the spread of a knowledge-based culture, and facilitating access to sources of knowledge for Emirati and Gulf readers. Also noteworthy are the Sharjah Theatrical Days, which drive the theatrical movement in the UAE and are the largest annual theater event in the country, bringing together various Emirati theater troupes and attracting critics and experts from all over the Arab world. The Days have always been the framework in which new talents emerge, in addition to schools, universities, art exhibitions, and other ongoing activities throughout the year. The second axis is building individuals on a cultural and civilized basis, and striving, through institutions of science, education, culture, and media, to instill in individuals a firm culture where human and spiritual values take precedence over material wealth, because these values are what endure, and upon them human relationships can be built. As for the third axis of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah's cultural project that the researcher focused on, it is establishing foundations for understanding, coexistence, and peace between Arab-Islamic civilization and other civilizations. This is evident in his establishment of cultural relations with various countries around the world, with leaders and intellectuals, and in the activities undertaken by Sharjah around the world, such as the UNESCO Award presented by Sharjah, and Sharjah Cultural Days. As for the fourth axis, it is His Highness's literary and historical writings that delve into the history of the region and seek to clarify human and cultural values for the reader, where His Highness's historical research and literary plays constitute a call for knowledge and peace, and present a magnificent image of Arab-Islamic civilization and its people.