One of the oldest libraries in the world, founded in 1609.

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, on Friday visited Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan, one of the oldest libraries in the world, founded in 1609.

His Highness was received, upon his arrival, by Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Book Authority; Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Emirates Airline's Divisional Senior Vice President (DSVP); Abdullah Ali Al Subousi, UAE Ambassador to the Italian Republic; Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of Sharjah Book Authority; Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH); Dr. Sultan Al Amimi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Writers Union; Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director-General of Sharjah Broadcast Authority (SBA); Issa Abbas, Director-General of the Sharjah Archaeology Authority (SAA); and a number of senior officials and editors-in-chief of Emirati newspapers.

Upon his arrival at the library, His Highness toured its sections, reviewing the rich contents in various sciences, cultural, scientific, historical and artistic fields. He was introduced to the most important manuscripts and collections of the library, which date back hundreds of years, and to the most prominent Italian thinkers and intellectuals who studied in the library, whose works are now included.

Sheikh Sultan was also briefed on a number of the most important Islamic and Arabic manuscripts that the library possesses, which are considered among the most important collections related to many fields, including one of the oldest copies of the Holy Quran written in Kufic and dating back to the second century AH, one of the old copies of the book of Sibawayh, a manuscript on medicine combining medicine and narration, and a manuscript of a book on Arab tales whose papers were collected and included in the book.

He learned about the results of the cooperation initiatives that brought together Sharjah and the Italian Ambrosiana Library, which His Highness had previously directed, and resulted in the digitisation of more than 2,500 rare Arabic manuscripts dating back more than 450 years and displaying them digitally for the first time in the world through Sharjah Public Library electronic platform, affiliated with Sharjah Book Authority.

Biblioteca Ambrosiana was founded in Milan, Italy, in 1609 by its bishop, Cardinal Federico Borromeo, to be an open library for researchers. It contains more than 15,000 manuscripts and 30,000 books. The library’s collection includes valuable historical works, including the Atlantic Codex, a collection of 12 manuscripts of Leonardo da Vinci’s drawings and notes, in addition to contents provided by a number of patrons, artists, academics, collectors, art experts and architects from all over the world.

The library’s collection of Arabic manuscripts is one of the best in the world and the most important in Italy. It includes manuscripts on various topics, including history, language, medicine and astronomy, in addition to manuscripts on the Prophet’s hadith and a collection of geographical maps.

WAM