Winners of the ICCROM-Sharjah Award for Good Practices
December 3, 2024, 12:26 pm

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Winners of the ICCROM-Sharjah Award for Good Practices in the Preservation and Protection of Cultural Heritage and the Arab Cultural Heritage Award for Young announced

Managing Libya’s Cultural Heritage receives the Grand Award

Five exemplary projects from Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE receive Honorary Award

Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, 28 November 2024 - Under the gracious patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who honoured the occasion with his esteemed presence, the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah organized a special ceremony to announce the winning projects of the 4th cycle of the ICCROM-Sharjah Award for Good Practices in the Preservation and Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Arab Region (2023-2024), and the 3rd cycle of the Arab Cultural Heritage Award for the Young, at the headquarters of the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah - Centre for International Organizations for Cultural Heritage (United Arab Emirates).

The Director-General of ICCROM, Ms. Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral, delivered her opening remarks, expressing heartfelt gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi for his continuous and steadfast support for the activities of the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah and his generous patronage of this prestigious award, which highlights exceptional projects working to preserve cultural heritage for the benefit of communities.

“The ICCROM Sharjah Award for Good Practices in Cultural Heritage Conservation is far more than a recognition; it is a testament to the transformative power of heritage preservation and a celebration of the heroes who champion this vital cause,” said ICCROM Director-General Gujral. “This Award honors not just technical expertise, but the deeper, intangible contributions that sustain the cultural identities and ways of life of our communities.”

Mr. Nasir Al Darmaki, Deputy Manager of the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah, welcomed His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and the guests at the ceremony, thanking His Highness for his steadfast support and vision, which have guided the centre’s initiatives since its inception in 2012. He also expressed gratitude to the centre's strategic partners, calling them vital to achieving its goals of protecting Arab cultural heritage and promoting access to its rich history.

"The centre aims primarily to improve the capabilities of heritage and cultural institutions to manage heritage and archaeological sites and museums sustainably," Al Darmaki stated, highlighting efforts such as training, consultations, policy development, and regional activities. He added, "Cultural heritage is the memory of nations and peoples... a witness to our shared history and unique identity," emphasizing that the awards celebrate efforts to preserve heritage and foster innovative, sustainable solutions.

Announcing the winners of the ICCROM-Sharjah Award for Good Practices

H.E. Marwa Al Aqroubi, the Executive Director of House of Wisdom in Sharjah and representative of the Jury Committee of the 4th cycle of the ICCROM-Sharjah Award for Good Practices in the Preservation and Protection of Cultural Heritage in the Arab Region announced the winners. According to the jury report, the Grand Award is presented to the project of Managing Libya’s Cultural Heritage - Restoring Ghadames: Creation of the Visitor Centre (MaLiCH Project), as a comprehensive initiative that manages cultural heritage in the Ghadames region, with a particular focus on community cooperation and capacity building. It addresses the challenges of restoration, rehabilitation, and practical and integrated management of traditional mud buildings to serve the local community.

In addition, an Honorary Award was presented to five projects, including the “Conservation of the Historic Al-Qaisariyya Bazaar in Gaza City” in Palestine. This project is a vital symbol of protecting an important historical site in Gaza despite the challenges facing the city. The project was able to combine restoration activities with economic and social life to contribute to sustainable development.

The second project is “A Legacy of a Lexicon: The Conservation, Documentation, and Management of the Ahmed Pasha Kamal Dictionary” at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt. It is a comprehensive project to preserve a rare historical dictionary, with a focus on physical and digital restoration to ensure sustainable access to this historical linguistic work and its preservation for future generations.

The third project is the “Traditional Building Apprenticeship: Building National Capacities for the Preservation of Urban Heritage in the Riyadh Region” in Saudi Arabia. It contributes to reviving and protecting traditional mud architecture techniques, preserving them for future generations, and ensuring the sustainability of this approach to preserving architectural heritage in the region.

The fourth project, “Sharjah Rock Art Documentation: From Traditional to Digital," focuses on preserving and documenting exceptional rock art in Sharjah and promoting a broader understanding of the region's history and its relationship to global cultural traditions through digital documentation.

The fifth project is “The Restoration of the Touqan House – the scholar Qadri and the poets Fadwa and Ibrahim Touqan” in Nablus, Palestine. According to the jury report, the project reflects an important part of the Palestinian and Arab cultural heritage. It constitutes a model for preserving the memory of the place and the tangible and intangible heritage of eminent figures who left an important legacy and an indelible impact on the region through their literary and poetic works.

Announcing the winners of the Arab Cultural Heritage Award for the Young

Mr. Hamid Khalfan Al Kindi, Vice Chairman of the Sharjah Youth Council and a member of the Jury Committee of the Arab Cultural Heritage Award for the Young, announced the award winners. In the drawing category, the first place was won jointly by student Saud Shahil Zamel Al Shahil and student Fahd Shahil Zamel Al Shahil, both from Saudi Arabia.

Student Maryam Younis Abdul Rahman Al-Fil from the United Arab Emirates won second place, and student Hala Dhafer Shaghil from Syria won third. The jury also awarded Abdul Rahman Hassan Al Asaad from Al Khansa Private School in Syria a special honorary award in the drawing category in appreciation of his exceptional artwork.

In the photography category, student Nadim Abdul Rahman Ali Qaed from Yemen won first place, student Ruba Ali Abdul Rahim Tawalbeh from Jordan took second place, and student Selina Fakhr El-Din from Lebanon took third place.

In the folkloric dance category, first place was won by the Al-Taqaddum School for Basic Education in Tripoli, Libya, for a dancing performance representing the Libyan tradition; and in second place was the Hajj Baha El-Din Al-Hariri School in Sidon in Lebanon for a folklore dance in Khan Al-Franj; while in third place was won jointly by the Mayasm Association for Culture and Arts in Gaza, Palestine, for a Palestinian Dabke at the site of the Monastery of Saint Hilarion, Tell Umm Amer; and the Wardiya Mixed Basic School in Jordan, for a Dabke from the ancient Jordanian heritage.

Finally, in the awareness film category, Al-Firdaws National School in Iraq jointly won first place for a short film titled Mosul Markets and Rawdat Al Fayhaa Secondary School in Lebanon for a short film titled Khan Al Khayyatin in Tripoli. The second place went to student Helen Muhammad Al Bilal from the Martyr Hikmat Nadim Mubarak School in Homs, Syria, for a short film titled “Remembrance Thursday.” Finally, the third place went to student Retaj Boufateh from Al Bashair Private School in Laghouat, in the Algerian Republic, for a short film titled “From the Fragrance of Heritage.”

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and the Director-General of ICCROM, Ms. Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral, and Mr. Nasser Al Darmaki, Deputy Manager of the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah, honoured all the winners of the two competitions and presented the prizes.

Honouring Professor Nasser Al Rabat

The ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah also honoured historian, architect, and Aga Khan Professor of Islamic Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, Professor Nasser Rabbat, in recognition of his exceptional scientific and research career, which has resulted in more than one hundred scientific articles and books on topics ranging from Mamluk architecture to ancient Syria, Cairo in the nineteenth century, to in-depth studies on Orientalism and other vital issues related to architecture and cities.

On this occasion, a book featuring his groundbreaking work from the past decade will be published to commemorate this achievement, the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah announced.

Representatives of international, national, and local organizations, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions attended the celebration. Experts from the cultural heritage field in the region, as well as media and correspondents of local and Arab news agencies and newspapers, also attended.

For more information, please contact:

Shireen Sahouri

Programme Officer, Outreach and Development

ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah

Tel: 00971 65552250

E-mail: [email protected]

M. Adham ALSAYED

Communication and Media Consultant

Tel: 0033 623814518

E-mail: [email protected]

About the ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah

The ICCROM Regional Centre in Sharjah is a cultural hub generously supported by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah and member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates. The office is a powerhouse of cultural heritage knowledge, specially created for widespread adoption in Arabic-speaking countries. Launched in 2012, ICCROM-Sharjah is dedicated to protecting cultural heritage in the Arab region and broadening access, appreciation, and understanding of its rich history.

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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.