Sharjah 24 - WAM: Sheikh Mohammed bin Nahyan Al Nahyan inaugurated the Centre for Studies of Historical Inscriptions and Calligraphies at Fayoum University in Egypt, as part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Emirati- Egyptian relations.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Sheikh Nahyan bin Theyab bin Saif Al Nahyan; Sheikh Dr. Ammar bin Nasser Al Mualla, Attaché of Education and Technology Sciences of Egypt; Dr. Yasser Magdy Hatata, President of Fayoum University; Dr. Arafa Sabri, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research; Dr. Mohamed Kamal, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Archeology at the University; Dr. Atef Mansour Mohamed Ramadan, Former Dean of the Faculty of Archeology and Founder and First Director of the Centre; Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Srouji, Vice Dean for Graduate Studies and Research Affairs, and several faculty members, scholars and students.

In his speech at the event, Dr. Hatata thanked Sheikh Mohammed bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, stressing that the centre’s inauguration is the outcome of the cooperation between Fayoum University and the UAE.

He also thanked Sheikha Alyazia bint Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Extraordinary Ambassador for Culture for the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (ALECSO) for 2021-2022, for helping establish the centre.

For his part, Dr. Sabri stressed that the new centre is the outcome of the Technology and Digitisation in Preserving Documenting and Conserving Antiquities Conference held in May 2022.

He also lauded the cooperation and coordination between Fayoum University and the UAE, noting that the Faculty of Archaeology publishes two related academic journals and will issue an additional one to highlight the new centre’s work.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kamal said that the centre is a prominent academic establishment specialising in studying inscriptions and calligraphy and their connections with history.

Dr. Ramadan said the centre is planning to hold academic conferences and meetings, as well as training courses for those interested in historical manuscripts and inscriptions.

During the event, Dr. Hatata honoured Sheikh Mohammed bin Nahyan Al Nahyan and awarded him the Fayoum University Shield while Dr. Ramadan awarded the centre’s shield to Sheikha Alyazia.

The centre is the first in Egypt and the region to specialise in historical inscriptions and calligraphy. It aims to preserve Arab and Islamic heritage and promote the Islamic values of tolerance, through maintaining traditions and culture.

The centre also aims to become a distinguished regional and international centre of the history and study of inscriptions, calligraphy and documentation.

The establishment of the centre was announced during the third international conference of the Faculty of Archaeology, which was held under the theme, “Technology and Digitisation in Preserving, Documenting and Conserving Antiquities,” at Fayoum University in May 2022.

The “Arab Inscriptions Portal” was inaugurated under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, as a specialist e-library containing over 150 inscriptions.