4th Arab Forum for Cultural Heritage concluded with a set of recommendations 
June 5, 2023, 4:21 pm

4th Arab Forum for Cultural Heritage concluded with a set of recommendations 

04 June 2023 - Sharjah (United Arab Emirates): Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, the 4th Arab Forum for Cultural Heritage (2023) concluded its activities in Sharjah, UAE.

The three-day forum, organized by the Regional Office for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ICCROM-Sharjah), in cooperation with the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, was held at ICCROM-Sharjah under the title “Culture of Built Environment (Omran) and Resilience of Heritage.”

The forum included many interventions, presentations, and discussion sessions, in which a number of regional and international experts, stakeholders, and those interested in the field of the built environment and the preservation of cultural heritage in the Arab region and the world participated. The interventions focused on five main themes: the notion of built environments (Omran); the importance of the culture of built heritage in enhancing communities’ role in sustaining cultural heritage; cultural preparedness as a tool for the resilience of heritage; community-based adaptation and culture-based resilience; and integrating sociocultural dimensions into cultural heritage policies to achieve cohesion, inclusiveness, and equality while sustaining and preserving historic environments.

Dr Weber Ndoro, Director of ICCROM, said at the end of the third day of the forum that one of the important and exciting things he witnessed is the exchange of ideas and experiences through presentations and discussion sessions. "We hope that this debate and discussion between the participants will continue in the future, and I call on this occasion to all participants, as well as ICCROM-Sharjah, to continue this communication and constructive debate." He also stressed the importance to evaluate the projects and interventions to ensure that they are done properly and accurately. He called to follow up on projects in a systematic and continuous way. "We cannot predict the future, but we can enable it," he added.

On the first day, all sessions focused on the first and second themes, while the presentations and discussions focused on the second day on the third and fourth themes. The discussions focused on the third day on the fifth and final theme. On the fourth and final day, the forum concluded with a session dedicated to presenting and discussing a set of results and recommendations suggested by the participants after three days of communication and constructive discussions. The participants agreed that these recommendations should be included in a special platform to be established in order to carry out further discussion and research in order to reach the final recommendations with the support of previously available sources and materials.

Among the initial recommendations for governments and member states are to establish a robust local and national coordination mechanism for disaster resilience; prepare risk assessments based on holistic, participatory processes to use them as a basis for planning and development of the historic built environment and long-term goals; carry out risk-informed territorial planning, development and develop tools based on risk assessments, taking in consideration vulnerable populations; build institutional capacities related to resilience of built heritage to acquire the adequate knowledge to execute their roles and increase the resilience of historic areas; develop strategies for post-disaster recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction ensuring that they are aligned with long-term planning and provide an improved built environment and increased resilience for the affected living community; and many others.

Other recommendations and tools suggested to be adopted and developed by built heritage experts and concerned professionals include the establishment of an inventory and a baseline of the current level of disaster resilience concerning cultural heritage (crisis mapping of the built environment in the Arab region); identify funding opportunities for cultural heritage preservation; create or promote knowledge-sharing activities between cities, and involving the private sector in planning and implementation; create opportunities to build capacities within professionals, decision-makers, and civil society, emphasizing professional and continuing education; enable dialogue and consensus among all parties responsible for cultural heritage protection, disaster risk reduction, and related areas; engage communities (particularly minorities and vulnerable population groups) in the decision-making process related to cultural heritage protection and disaster resilience; and many others.

Dr Zaki Aslan, Director of ICCROM-Sharjah, concluded the forum by emphasizing the importance of these recommendations and the need to discuss, follow up and implement them further in coordination with local, regional, and international partners. He stressed the importance of the culture of the built environment (Omran) in preserving cultural heritage and enhancing its resilience to face the challenges of the current period. "This forum is considered a significant opportunity to engage a wide range of regional and international experts and experiences. At this stage, we must take advantage of this opportunity and continue the meeting and discussion to reach the final results and recommendations that would unify our efforts to address the challenges facing the cultural heritage in the Arab region”, Dr. Aslan said.

At the end of the forum, Dr John Robbins, Chairperson of the Council of ICCROM, and Dr Weber Ndoro honored Dr Aslan, in recognition of the efforts he made over the course of 20 years in the service of cultural heritage in the region. In turn, Dr Aslan expressed his gratitude for this honor and thanked the Chairperson and Director of ICCROM as well as all colleagues working at the institution who accompanied him during this period and contributed to achieving this success. "In the journey of life learning, this job taught me that you can be kind but also strong, empathetic but also determined, and optimistic but also pragmatic", Dr Aslan concluded.

On the sidelines of the forum, the 4th cycle of the ICCROM-Sharjah Award for Good Practices in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management in the Arab Region (2023-2024), and the 3rd cycle of the Arab Cultural Heritage Award for the Young are announced. Participants are invited to submit their projects starting from 30 June 2023. The winning projects will be announced in the fall of next year 2024.

For more information, please contact: 

Mohamad Adham Alsayed 

Media and Communication Consultant 

Tel: 0033-623814518 

e-mail: [email protected] 

Shireen Sahouri 

Project Associate – Heritage Advocacy and Development 

ICCROM Sharjah  

Tel: 00971-65552250   

e-mail: [email protected] 

About ICCROM-Sharjah 

ICCROM-Sharjah is a regional conservation centre founded by ICCROM and the Government of the Emirate of Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, where it has been based since its inception in 2012. ICCROM-Sharjah is a continuation of ICCROM’s ATHAR programme, launched in 2004, which is dedicated to protecting cultural heritage in the Arab region and broadening access, appreciation and understanding of its rich history.  

Th Arab Forum for Cultural Heritage begins in Sharjah  Is China a Paper Tiger?

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.