Projects from 12 Arab countries compete for the ICCROM-Sharjah Award 2023-2024
Record participation in the award highlights growing awareness of the importance of cultural heritage in the region, a positive indicator for the future of efforts to protect Arab identity
September 28, 2024, 11:52 pm

Projects from 12 Arab countries compete for the ICCROM-Sharjah Award 2023-2024

مشاريع من 12 دولة عربية تتنافس على جائزة إيكروم-الشارقة 2023-2024 \ تعبيرية \ متداولة

The ICCROM Regional Office in Sharjah has announced the shortlist of projects nominated for the fourth cycle of the ICCROM-Sharjah Award for Good Practices in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Protection in the Arab Region (2023-2024).

The list includes 18 outstanding projects from 12 Arab countries: United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Lebanon, Libya, Egypt, and Yemen.

Mr. Nasser Al-Darmaki, Deputy Director of the ICCROM Regional Office in Sharjah, stated: "The current cycle of the ICCROM-Sharjah Award for Good Practices has achieved a remarkable presence and was distinguished by the participation of a large number of projects, reaching a record number not achieved in previous cycles."

He added: "In this cycle, the award received 51 projects from various parts of the Arab region. Undoubtedly, this great response confirms the increasing awareness and commitment to the necessity of preserving cultural heritage in the region on one hand, and the importance of highlighting the efforts made within this framework on the other."

The nominated projects are notably diverse, including digital documentation initiatives such as the "Documentation of Rock Art in Sharjah" project from the UAE, and the "Digital Documentation as a Decision-Making Tool in Heritage Conservation" project from Bahrain.

The list also includes traditional restoration projects such as "Restoration of Dar Toukan" in Palestine, and the "Restoration and Reinforcement Project of the Omari Mosque in Daraa City" in Syria.

Projects combining heritage preservation and sustainable development are also prominent on the list, such as the "Hospitable Town of Al-Eizariya" project in Palestine, and the "Conservation and Adaptive Reuse of Traditional Structures and Open Spaces in Misfat Al-Abriyeen" project in Oman.

Notably, the award includes projects from countries experiencing difficult circumstances, such as the "Rescue Project for the Folklore Museum in Sana'a" in Yemen, and the "Cultural Heritage Management in Libya" project, emphasizing the importance of heritage preservation even in times of crisis.

The list also includes unique projects such as "Preservation of Cinematic Cultural Heritage" from Lebanon, and "Legacy of a Lexicon: Management, Conservation, and Documentation of Ahmed Pasha Kamal's Dictionary" from Egypt, highlighting the diversity of cultural heritage forms in the Arab region.

The winners of the fourth cycle of the award will be announced at a special ceremony held in Sharjah in late November of this year. A grand prize for good practices in cultural heritage conservation and protection will be awarded, along with two appreciation awards in the fields of community engagement and conservation and innovation.

This biennial award, granted under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, serves as a platform to highlight exceptional efforts in cultural heritage preservation in the Arab region. It aims to encourage innovation and excellence in this vital field and to promote awareness of the importance of heritage preservation as an essential part of the region's cultural identity.

It's worth noting that the ICCROM Regional Office in Sharjah, established in 2012, is an important source of knowledge related to cultural heritage in the Arab region. The center works to expand access to, appreciation of, and understanding of the region's rich history, contributing to efforts to preserve Arab cultural heritage for future generations.

Levant - Follow up

Inside Israel's operation: Step-by-step breakdown of how Nasrallah was eliminated The Muslim Brotherhood: Between Condemning "Aggression" and Celebrating "Nasrallah's Demise".. Stark Contradictions Expose the Depth of Opportunism

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”