SHARJAH // Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, has been made a member of a prestigious and centuries-old scientific and educational group.
Dr Sheikh Sultan, who holds a bachelor’s in agricultural engineering as well as his PhD in history, was welcomed into the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon, an institution that dates back to 1779 and is dedicated to the advancement of science and learning.
The invitation was extended while the Ruler is visiting Lisbon, the capital of Portugal.
Manuel Pechirra, president of the Luso-Arab Cooperation Institute, said Sheikh Sultan was chosen as a member of the Academia das Ciências de Lisboa as a clear indication of the scientific and cultural status held by the ruler of Sharjah, reported state news agency Wam.
He was presented with the Academic Medal, given to those who contribute to efforts in the service of cultural exchange and cooperation.
Dr Sheikh Sultan was in Lisbon for the opening of the Sharjah Cultural Days exhibition, which aims to create a cultural dialogue between the UAE and other countries, particularly in the West.
At the launch on October 3, Dr Sheikh Sultan said Sharjah believed in the importance of cultural communication and building bridges of knowledge to promote understanding and tolerance among all cultures, reported Wam.
Citing the historic Arab-Portuguese relations, Dr Sheikh Sultan said the civilisations had been “parallel and sometimes intersected” and “contributed to the contemporary sciences and arts”.
Human civilisation is a wide and cultural fabric, he said, and the patterns interact with each other.
Dr Sheikh Sultan presented copies of his translated books to the Portuguese foreign minister, Rui Machete, at the launch, which was also attended by UAE Ambassador to Portugal, Saqr Nasser Al Raisi; Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, head of the Department of Culture and Information; Dr Omro Abdul Hamid, adviser to the Ruler of Sharjah for Higher Education; and other senior officials.
Portugal’s deputy prime minister, Paulo Portas, met Dr Sheikh Sultan on the sidelines of the exhibition, and discussed cooperation in cultural, technical and academic domains.
Mr Portas welcomed Dr Sheikh Sultan and his delegation, expressing thanks for choosing Lisbon to be one of the destinations for Sharjah Cultural Days.
He said the event helped to increase and consolidate cooperation between the countries, reported Wam.
Jorge Barreto Xavier, Portugal’s secretary of state for culture, accompanied Dr Sheikh Sultan on a visit to the National Archives in Lisbon, which house a large collection of manuscripts and original documents from as far back as the 16th century.
Dr Sheikh Sultan examined a collection of documents and manuscripts from 1515 that showed the history of the Arab region, especially the Julfar area, which now makes up part of modern day Ras Al Khaimah.
At the end of the tour, Dr Sheikh Sultan and his delegation were presented with a rare collection of maps of the world and the Arabian Gulf region from 1571.
The Ruler also visited the National Library of Portugal, the Antique Automobile Club of Portugal and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Museum.
