The ruler of Sharjah inaugurates the Centre for Arab Studies at the University of Coimbra, Portugal
The Joanina Digital Library, developed in collaboration with the Emirate of Sharjah, is inaugurated
- Specialised Arabic language courses
- Strengthening ties between Portugal and Sharjah
- Digitisation of more than 30,000 manuscripts and books
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, in the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), inaugurated the Centre for Arab Studies at the prestigious University of Coimbra in Portugal. This historic initiative, the first of its kind in Portugal, is dedicated to teaching Arabic language and culture and is based at one of Europe's oldest and most renowned academic institutions.
His Highness also inaugurated ‘Joanina Digital’, the digitised archive of the university's Joanina Library, and donated Barbosa's original manuscript, dated 1565, to the library. His Highness also signed his book, ‘A Transcendental Journey: The Complete Manuscript of Duarte Barbosa's Book of 1565,’ which is available in Arabic and translated into English and Portuguese.
His Highness unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the official opening of the Centre for Arab Studies and then toured the facilities to see what it has to offer, including resources and programmes to support Arabic language learning and promote Arab culture.
The Ruler of Sharjah met with students and praised their dedication to studying the Arabic language, highlighting its cultural and artistic richness, as well as its role in preserving and connecting cultures.
The Centre was established with the support of the Emirate and reflects the vision of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah to expand the presence of Arab culture on the world stage. It is also in line with the efforts of Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates to build bridges of intellectual and cultural exchange between East and West.
Specialised Arabic language courses
The University of Coimbra, founded in 1290, provides a strong academic and cultural foundation for the Centre and will serve as a platform for specialised Arabic language courses, including grammar and calligraphy. The newly created centre will also host events that connect Arab writers, poets and artists with their European counterparts, in an effort to deepen mutual understanding and broaden the scope of intercultural exchange.
The Centre for Arab Studies is the latest of Sharjah's international initiatives to support Arab culture in global academic institutions, and will serve as a bridge between research institutions and cultural and creative production in the Arab world.
In his speech during the inauguration ceremony held at the Joanina Library, His Highness said: "This is not my first visit to this renowned and historic academic institution. Seven years ago, I had the honour of receiving an honorary doctorate from its respected university. My connection with the history of Portugal began many years ago, when I worked on documenting the history of our region during a period when the Portuguese were part of it. One of the most significant journeys I made in that context was my search for the Barbosa manuscript. It was lost for almost a century before I discovered and acquired it in 2012."
His Highness then detailed the provenance of the manuscript and its revelatory nature, adding: "This manuscript contains the writings of the Portuguese officer Duarte Barbosa, who accompanied the leaders of the Portuguese occupation in the 16th century from the Bay of San Sebastián to the coasts of China, passing through our region in the Arabian Gulf. I traced the manuscript from one archive to another until I finally found a complete copy. I read it carefully and discovered that it offered a very different picture from what we had long been told about that historical period.‘
Praising Barbosa's impartiality, His Highness explained: ’The first thing that struck me was the honesty and integrity of Barbosa's account. His descriptions were truthful and detailed, offering a rare testimony to life in our region at that time and the nature of relations between local communities and outsiders. Without intending to, Barbosa helped to restore balance to a narrative that had long been skewed. He documented a period in which authentic and courageous accounts were rare. He shed light on Portuguese history with honesty, while doing justice to the Arab past by demonstrating how the peoples of our region preserved their humanity, welcomed others and upheld the values of dignity and coexistence between cultures and religions despite facing occupation and hardship."
The ruler of Sharjah continued: ‘He described the advances made by the region's inhabitants in science, culture, urban development, trade and social organisation, while making it clear that the colonial forces from across the sea brought with them destruction and arrogance.’
On his motivation for writing A Momentous Journey, His Highness revealed: "When I decided to publish my book and translate it into Arabic, English and Portuguese, I was not only seeking historical corroboration, but also intended to do justice to our people and restore their history, as seen by someone who lived through those events. I believe that when knowledge is based on truth, it becomes a solid bridge for dialogue and the foundation for meaningful relationships. That is why I preserved Barbosa's original language and tone, conveying his voice without embellishment. I found in him the spirit of a sincere researcher who bore witness to what he saw."
Highlighting the legacy of this academic work, His Highness added: ‘I wanted this book to offer future generations a reliable document to support their cultural dialogue in a world where truth is often challenged by power. Today, I bring with me Barbosa's original manuscript and my book, A Momentous Journey, to return the narrative to its rightful place.’
Turning to the future of cultural exchange, the ruler of Sharjah formally announced: "I am pleased to declare the opening of the Centre for Arab Studies at the University of Coimbra. This marks the beginning of Arabic language teaching at this historic university and opens a window onto Arab literature, art and creativity. The Centre reflects a sincere intention to give Arab culture a space to contribute to global dialogue and offers non-Arabic speakers a valuable opportunity to understand Arab civilisation.‘
His Highness also announced the launch of ’Joanina Digital," a project carried out in collaboration with the University of Coimbra, and expressed his hope that the collaboration will continue to strengthen the value of knowledge and preserve shared heritage.
In his closing remarks, the ruler of Sharjah stated: ‘Today, here, we emphasise that culture may not change geography, but it changes the way we see it. It does not erase borders, but it can turn them into bridges. Culture does not rewrite history, but it changes the way we read it.’
Strengthening ties between Portugal and Sharjah
For his part, Amílcar Falcão, Rector of the University of Coimbra, gave a speech in which he recalled the university's award of an honorary doctorate to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in 2018. He described the occasion as a key milestone in strengthening ties between Portugal and the Emirate of Sharjah. He highlighted the shared commitment of both parties to building a stable and lasting relationship, with culture as fertile ground for dialogue, cooperation and future development. Falcão noted that, during a previous visit to the Joanina Library, His Highness had expressed his desire to launch a joint project to digitise a selection of its most valuable books.
He emphasised that the development of this project by the University of Coimbra, in collaboration with the Sharjah Book Authority, exemplifies the true value of international collaboration. This exceptional digitisation initiative has now reached an important milestone with the launch of its inaugural section, the ‘Middle East Digital Collection’, named the ‘Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Collection’. This collection is a rich resource for multidisciplinary research, providing organised access to historical records relating to the Portuguese presence in the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula. By bringing one of the world's most beautiful libraries into the digital realm, the project facilitates the convergence of diverse intellectual and artistic traditions and harnesses advanced academic research to serve our common human heritage.
Digitisation of more than 30,000 manuscripts and books
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most outstanding landmarks of the University of Coimbra, the Joanina Library is at the heart of the ambitious ‘Joanina Digital’ project. Inaugurated by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, the launch event featured a film showcasing the initiative's goal of digitising 30,000 of the library's most valuable manuscripts and books. This initiative will provide the global academic community with unprecedented access to these unique objects through advanced digital platforms. The meticulous digitisation process has already yielded a very positive result: the discovery and integration of previously unknown manuscripts into the library's archives, greatly enriching its prestigious collections.
During the event, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah signed copies of his trilingual book, ‘A Momentous Journey’, compiled in Arabic, English and Portuguese. This work offers an academic examination of the Barbosa Manuscript, an important Portuguese document from the early 16th century. Written by the officer Duarte Barbosa, who travelled with the Portuguese fleet from the Bay of San Sebastián to the Chinese coast, the manuscript presents detailed accounts of the Arabian Peninsula, the Gulf, the Indian Ocean and India. It also serves as an essential reference for understanding the period, as it details the geography, trade, social structures and culture of the region, thus illuminating an era of Arab-Portuguese navigation and exchange.
The ruler of Sharjah gifted the original 1565 manuscript to the Joanina Library, which served as the basis for A Momentous Journey. He noted that this particular copy is one of the most complete and comprehensive versions in existence, giving it exceptional academic and historical value and making it an important acquisition for the library's collection. The manuscript had been lost for almost a century before being discovered and acquired by His Highness in 2012. Despite his deep personal attachment to the document, which he had kept in his room, studied regularly and even learned parts of Portuguese through reading, His Highness stressed that it was essential for the manuscript to be returned to its rightful place at the University of Coimbra.
Professor José Pedro Paiva gave a presentation on A Momentous Journey, describing the book as a work of great academic merit, containing a rare collection of manuscripts that His Highness compiled thanks to his deep commitment to knowledge, culture and historical preservation. A second short film was also screened, highlighting the content and academic importance of A Momentous Journey, focusing on its historical narrative and rigorous research.
His Highness then received a commemorative gift from Amílcar Falcão, Rector of the University of Coimbra, in recognition of His Highness's support and cultural initiatives, which have strengthened the relationship between Sharjah and the university in the fields of history and culture.
Following the ceremony, His Highness visited the Joanina Library, where he was able to view a selection of its most significant rare manuscripts. This renowned collection covers a wide range of subjects, safeguards a rich cultural and historical heritage, and provides scholars with invaluable resources for academic research. His Highness received detailed information about the library's various sections and its meticulous conservation efforts. He was also briefed on the collaboration between the Sharjah Book Authority and the library on the digital project, an initiative dedicated to protecting this historical legacy for future generations.
His Highness was accompanied by His Excellency Mr Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Director General of the Sharjah Book Authority; His Excellency Mr Ahmed Abdel Rahman Al Mahmoud, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Portugal; His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, President of the Sharjah Heritage Institute; Dr Sultan Al Amimi, President of the Emirates Writers Union; His Excellency Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; and senior Emirati and Portuguese officials.