Bayt Al Hikma discusses cooperation and partnership with the Portuguese Ministry of Culture, as Sharjah welcomed His Excellency Alberto Fernando Santos, the Portuguese Minister of State for Cultural Affairs, on an official visit aimed at enhancing cultural collaboration between Sharjah and Portugal. The visit facilitates the establishment of partnerships in various cultural and intellectual fields, highlighting the importance of Bayt Al Hikma as a beacon of knowledge and cultural exchange.
Significant Visit to Strengthen Cultural Cooperation
Bayt Al Hikma in Sharjah received His Excellency Alberto Fernando Santos, the Minister of State for Cultural Affairs of Portugal, in an official visit aimed at enhancing the prospects of cultural and intellectual cooperation between Sharjah and Portuguese cultural institutions. He was accompanied by Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Head of the Government Relations Department, where they discussed partnership opportunities in the fields of literature, knowledge, research, and cultural exchange.
Marwa Al Aqroubi, the Executive Director of Bayt Al Hikma, welcomed the minister and his accompanying delegation. The minister was briefed on the facilities of Bayt Al Hikma, including knowledge spaces, cultural and educational programs, as well as digital initiatives and services aimed at students, researchers, and various community segments.
Culture for Building Strategic Partnerships
Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi emphasized that Sharjah operates from a solid strategic vision in building effective international partnerships, based on culture and knowledge as a soft power that generates sustainable developmental opportunities. He stated, “Sharjah believes that global communication is a civilizational message that is translated into reality through continuous work paths with the world’s cities, cultures, and institutions.”
Al Qasimi pointed out that the visit of the Portuguese delegation reflects the depth of intersection between the Sharjah cultural project and Portuguese institutions, which helps expand cooperation efforts that serve mutual interests and enhance civilizational dialogue.
Cultural Values and Their Impact
His Excellency Alberto Fernando Santos praised Bayt Al Hikma, affirming that it represents a knowledge and civilizational value that adds to Sharjah’s efforts and its leading cultural role. He clarified that Bayt Al Hikma in Sharjah is an exceptional model that combines beautiful design with modern technologies in an inspiring space that enhances learning and knowledge.
Marwa Al Aqroubi also confirmed that the cultural relations between Sharjah and Portugal extend over three decades, encompassing long-term research and knowledge partnerships. She added that Portugal is gaining increasing attention in Sharjah, reflecting harmony with the Sharjah cultural project.
Honoring and Foundations of Cultural Exchange
At the conclusion of the visit, Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi presented the minister with a copy of the book “The Portuguese in the Gulf,” which documented the exhibition “The Portuguese in the Gulf (1507–1650).” The book, published in Arabic, Portuguese, and English, features a selected collection from the University of Coimbra’s Portuguese holdings.
The book embodies a documentation of artifacts that reflect the Portuguese presence in the Gulf region during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, including trade and arts. The collaboration between Bayt Al Hikma and the Portuguese side represents a living example of the importance of knowledge and cultural exchange in strengthening ties between nations.