Jawaher Al Qasimi and Sultan bin Ahmed unveil inaugural Sharjah Human Development Forum

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah (UOS), together with Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Family and Community Council, led the launch of the first Sharjah Human Development Forum at Al Razi Hall, UOS. This gathering, built around the theme “Humanity and Heritage in Palestine,” welcomed a host of esteemed guests, such as Hoor bint Sultan Al Qasimi alongside senior officials. The agenda set clear emphasis: to position individuals and community interests at the heart of development initiatives.

The event’s opening featured the UAE national anthem, followed by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi’s keynote. His address underscored the university’s responsibility to preserve Palestinian heritage by boosting academic programmes and research efforts. He emphasised the significance of drawing educational institutions into humanitarian initiatives, declaring their power to “generate the knowledge that transforms values into programmes and research into practical solutions”.

Sheikha Jawaher then addressed the assembly, saying, “I am pleased to be with you today at this great academic institution, the University of Sharjah, established by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, as a home for knowledge and ideas.”

Sheikha Jawaher directed attention to the focus on Arab youth, remarking, “You are witnessing a world changing at an unprecedented pace... Amid all this rapid change, one question remains constant: Why do we invest in people? Because Arab youth are the seed of ideas. Because the Arab world is the source of civilisation. When we invest in Arab youth, we invest in the homeland and in civilisation itself.”

Further, she spoke directly to the forum’s central topic, affirming, “We chose the theme ‘Humanity and Heritage in Palestine’ to strongly affirm our commitment to the Palestinian people who continue to face efforts to erase their identity and heritage. True belonging is not merely a tie to geography; it is a commitment to values, thought, and roots that stretch across time.”

Sheikha Jawaher announced the introduction of the Jawaher Al Qasimi Chair in Palestinian Studies at UOS as well as the Palestine Legacy Fund. She confirmed these projects aim to “protect both the tangible and intangible heritage of Palestine through UOS, in partnership with Palestinian and international institutions that share this purpose.”

She concluded: “Palestine has never been absent from the heart of the UAE, its leaders, and its people – and it never will be. What we announce today builds on a long journey of solidarity led by the UAE, which we continue through our social institutions under the umbrella of the Sharjah Family and Community Council. It is a commitment we made over four decades ago – to let humanity guide every project we undertake. With your presence here in Sharjah today, I consider you partners in our humanitarian mission – because one human being must always stand with another, wherever they may be.”