Sharjah24: This title will motivate us, and encourage the upcoming generation to trace our steps which are built on giving the book its due importance, and will stimulate us to support all useful initiatives that aim to build an edifice of knowledge and civilisation in order to mark Sharjah as a cradle of Arab and Islamic cultural renaissance.

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, said, at the ceremony of receiving the flag of Sharjah World Book Capital, 2019. 

Sharjah's win of World Book Capital title 2019 is unique and a culmination of long years of strenuous culture and knowledge building efforts, love of the book substantiated by the launch of unprecedented initiatives launched by the various government that undertook publishing and distributing books and encouraging the young and old to take it as a friend. 

Celebrating Sharjah’s win of World Book Capital, which has not only added a new feather in the crown of the emirate’s rich record of achievement, is not surprising, as Sharjah’s relation with the book has long ago been established. 

This dear title-as His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah described it is not what Sharjah seeks and desires to achieve, but rather a new beginning of a great march the emirate looks forward to achieving towards education and development. 

Sharjah Ruler affirmed that Sharjah has all due potentials and capabilities, as well as the grave desire to serve the book. For His Highness, the wise and prudent leader, establishing the love of the book is a long well drawn programme and a sustainable plan that do not only target Sharjah but the wider world, considering the book as a symbol for science and advancement.  

His Highness Ruler of Sharjah stated that this global achievement is added to the array of various existing ones. These initiatives constitute a new great chapter that includes limitless thoughts and considerable efforts, which open a wide door before all members of the society to be involved in knowledge-based initiatives so that people’s interaction with the book is guaranteed by all, each in his and her own way. 

Building on what was stated above, Sharjah’s path towards Arab and Islamic worlds, and then the whole world becomes clear in its endeavor towards cultural renaissance and leadership taking pride in what it has achieved and contributed to raising the pillars of its vast cultural project whose title is the book so that it becomes the cradle of modern renaissance.