Sharjah, Paris build bridges of knowledge and culture

The House of Wisdom (HoW) explored collaboration opportunities with the Arab World Institute in Paris in the fields of culture and knowledge.

The discussions focused on enhancing the Arab cultural and literary presence internationally through hosting specialised exhibitions and launching multilingual joint publishing projects that reflect the richness and diversity of Arab intellectual output.

The discussions took place during a visit to the institute’s headquarters in the French capital, bringing together Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of HoW and Jack Lang, President of Arab World Institute, in the presence of Dr. Shawqi Abdul Amir, Director of the Arab World Institute.

Both sides explored ways to expand the scope of cooperation and to develop joint cultural programmes that highlight the beauty and history of Arab culture, while opening new windows for dialogue with world cultures.

The meeting featured knowledge and expertise exchange on the potential for hosting roaming artistic and cultural exhibitions between Paris and Sharjah, as well as the development of multilingual intellectual, literary, and artistic publications to be presented to international audiences. It also included a review of both institutions’ experiences in curating events focused on building bridges of understanding and promoting cross-cultural exchange among nations.

Commenting on the visit, Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of the HoW, said: “Engaging with the Arab World Institute, a reputed institution with decades of experience in promoting Arab culture across Europe, reflects our shared belief in the transformative power of culture. The meeting provided a solid platform to explore joint initiatives and align our efforts in amplifying Arab intellectual and artistic contributions on the global stage.

"The Institute’s commitment to presenting Arab heritage in a modern, inclusive, and accessible way resonates strongly with our mission at the House of Wisdom.

She added: “At HoW, we view culture as a vital tool for building bridges, fostering understanding, and driving progress between nations and civilisations. Through meaningful partnerships, we aim to contribute to a more inclusive and informed global cultural narrative, while reinforcing Sharjah’s and the UAE’s status as leading centres of cultural innovation, knowledge exchange, and creative dialogue.”

On his part, Dr. Shawqi Abdul Amir, Director of the Arab World Institute, said: “The HoW shares our belief in the essential role of culture in fostering mutual understanding between peoples. This meeting reflected our commitment to establishing innovative partnerships that move beyond conventional event models and focus instead on projects with lasting civilisational and intellectual impact. We are confident this collaboration will provide new momentum for our initiatives and programmes.”

He added: “For many years, the Arab World Institute in Paris has worked to present a dynamic and contemporary portrayal of Arab culture to European audiences. At a time when the world urgently needs renewed narratives to reshape East-West relations, we see this partnership as an important step. We look forward to building a meaningful collaboration with HoW that will allow us to broaden the reach of our exhibitions and cultural activities beyond our headquarters.”

During the visit, Marwa Al Aqroubi toured the Arab World Institute, including its renowned library, one of the largest in Europe dedicated to Arab affairs. She reviewed its extensive collection of books, research publications, and periodicals. She explored the permanent and temporary exhibition spaces, which present elements of traditional and contemporary Arab life through interactive visual displays.

She also visited the exhibition “Rescued Treasures of Gaza: 5,000 Years of History” currently on display at the Institute until November 2.

Al Aqroubi expressed her appreciation for the exhibition’s professional curation and the effort to showcase Palestine’s rich historical legacy through rare archaeological artefacts. She further commended the exhibition’s human element, which conveys the story of a civilisation that has endured and continued to assert its presence despite significant challenges.