The Sharjah Institute of Heritage is participating in the events of the Istanbul International Heritage Exhibition and Conference 2026, which specializes in the fields of restoration, archaeology, museums, and library technologies. The event kicked off yesterday at the Yeni Kapı Eurasia Exhibition and Events Center in the Turkish city of Istanbul and will continue until April 4th, with the wide participation of cultural institutions, experts, and specialists in heritage preservation from different countries of the world. Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Mualla, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute of Heritage, confirmed in his speech during the opening session that cultural heritage represents a civilizational bridge that enhances dialogue between peoples, pointing to Sharjah's pioneering experience in preserving tangible and intangible heritage and reviving historical cities. He explained that Sharjah's interest in heritage began in the 1980s with the vision, directives, and supervision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who adopted a comprehensive vision that early on realized that heritage is not limited to historical buildings and sites, but also includes living memory, cultural practices, and inherited traditions that reflect a complete cultural identity. The opening program included an official tour during which the attendees viewed the participating pavilions, including the pavilion of the Sharjah Institute of Heritage, which showcased its most prominent initiatives and programs in the fields of research, training, and documentation. Dr. Al-Mualla also participated in the conference's scientific program, where he presented a session on the first day in which he reviewed Sharjah's experience in heritage protection, addressing the most prominent restoration projects and the revival of historical sites, as well as efforts for documentation and scientific publication, highlighting projects for reviving the old city of Sharjah with its houses, forts, and markets, in addition to reviving heritage villages in Khor Fakkan, Al-Luluah, and Al-Zubarah, and developing the Al Dhaid Oasis and reactivating traditional irrigation systems such as aflaj. He noted that preserving heritage is linked to its scientific documentation and publication, pointing to Sharjah's role in issuing specialized books and journals that enhance knowledge and turn experiences into scientific references. He stated that the selection of the Sharjah Institute of Heritage by UNESCO as an International Center of Category II for building capacities in the field of intangible heritage preservation is an indication of the global position that Sharjah has achieved. On the other hand, the Sharjah Institute of Heritage will organize tomorrow, Friday, within its current participation, a session titled "Restoration Projects in the Emirate of Sharjah", presented by Engineer Sultan Al-Hammadi, which sheds light on the role of the Sharjah Institute of Heritage in restoring heritage landmarks such as forts, castles, walls, historical houses, old markets, and districts, by paying balanced attention to tangible and intangible heritage, experimenting with suitable materials for the environment, attracting best international practices, and integrating students and the local community into the restoration process. The participation of the Sharjah Institute of Heritage in the event comes within the framework of enhancing Sharjah's global presence and exchanging expertise with international institutions concerned with protecting human heritage.
