Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre marks ‘March of Giving’ Award
The Award Story project aims to shed light on a monthly basis on one of the distinctive pieces from the collection of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah
Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre, as part of the Award Story series for the month of April, has decided to celebrate the ‘March of Giving” Award presented to His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, by Prince Khalid Al Faisal, Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah, and President of the Arab Thought Foundation, during the 10th Arab Creativity Award ceremony held in Abu Dhabi, on December 13, 2016.
The Award Story project aims to shed light on a monthly basis on one of the distinctive pieces from the collection of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah.
The award ceremony was witnessed by Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, former Lebanese President Amin Jameel, and a large number of leading intellectuals, literary and cultural figures and media representatives.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah was honoured with the March of Giving Award, in recognition of his brilliant academic career, his wise leadership of the economic and social development process in the Emirate, his eminent nationalist stances, his embrace of pioneering educational projects, his generous support for creativity and innovation, and his valuable contribution to preserving heritage, promoting dialogue of cultures and civilizations, and launching qualitative initiatives.
He has established the infrastructure and facilities that have enabled the Emirate of Sharjah to become an oasis of thought and a prominent cultural centre.
A report last year says the Sharjah-based Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre, as part of its ‘Story of the Award’ series, is celebrating this month a hidden treasure that reflects the rich cultural, civilisational and humanitarian value of one of the gems in the collection of His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
On June 10, 2003, the Sharjah Ruler had been bestowed the rare honour of being presented with the key to the fabled Alhambra Palace by the Spanish City of Granada, renowned for its glorious Arab and Islamic past. By choosing the ‘Key to the Alhambra’ as the story of the month of November 2023, the Centre is keen to shed light on the historical and cultural achievements of HH the Ruler of Sharjah that have let an impact on the development of scientific and cultural relations between Sharjah and the city of Granada in southern Spain.
The Centre stressed that when José Torres Otado, Mayor of Granada, presented the bronze copy of the key to the Alhambra Palace to the Ruler of Sharjah, it was a celebration of a champion of science and culture and the upholder of the banner of Arab and Islamic civilization, for his pioneering efforts for the good of mankind and humanity in a city that witnessed in 2003 a huge celebration over the construction of the Grand Mosque in Granada in the historic Albayazin neighbourhood whose expenses were paid for by HH the Ruler of Sharjah. It is the first mosque built ater the end of Muslim rule from Andalusia more than five centuries ago.
Sharjah’s Sultan Al Qasimi Centre highlights the priceless value of one of the gems in Sheikh Sultan’s collection.
The mosque also includes an Islamic cultural centre containing a library that can accommodate more than 10,000 books in Arabic, Spanish, English, Turkish and Urdu. The mosque is famous externally for its traditional style of Spanish architecture, while internally it is decorated with delicate Islamic motifs and alabaster.
The Sharjah Ruler further added to the joy of Granada’s residents by ordering the restoration of historical buildings in the city, which represented a bridge of cultural communication and intellectual dialogue between Europe, which was living in the Dark Ages at the time, and the Arabs in the Age of Enlightenment, reviving the glories of the Arab and Islamic civilisations.
He also opened prospects for exchanging expertise, experiences and cooperation for the good of mankind. He linked the common heritage that binds Arabs and Spaniards to the fields of culture, art, science, and humanity.