Sharjah Establishes Harun Al-Rashid International Award to Celebrate Science, Literature and the Arts
The new international award aims to recognise outstanding intellectual and creative achievements while preserving cultural heritage and strengthening dialogue between civilisations.
Sharjah, UAE – November 5, 2026
In a significant step towards promoting knowledge, creativity and cultural heritage, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has announced the establishment of the Harun Al-Rashid International Award for Sciences, Literature, Arts and Notable Figures.
Established through an Emiri Decree issued on November 4, 2026, the prestigious new initiative reflects Sharjah's longstanding commitment to supporting intellectual excellence, encouraging scientific advancement and celebrating the contributions of individuals who have shaped human civilisation.
The award will operate as an independent institution based in Sharjah, with its own legal identity and financial and administrative autonomy.
Recognising Excellence Across Four Fields
The Harun Al-Rashid International Award will honour distinguished achievements in four principal categories: sciences, literature, arts and studies of notable figures.
The sciences category will recognise pioneering discoveries, original research and innovative contributions to theoretical and applied sciences.
The literature category will celebrate literary creativity, criticism, scholarly editing and linguistic research, acknowledging the importance of the written word in preserving cultural identity and enriching intellectual life.
In the arts, the award will recognise exceptional achievements across visual, performing and other artistic disciplines, particularly works combining originality, aesthetic excellence and humanitarian values.
A distinctive feature of the initiative is its fourth category, dedicated to the study of notable historical and cultural figures. This field will recognise scholarly research, biographical studies, historical documentation and efforts to preserve the legacies of influential personalities from Arab and non-Arab cultures.
By including biographical and historical research alongside science, literature and the arts, the award acknowledges the essential role of cultural memory in understanding humanity's intellectual development.
Honouring the Legacy of Harun Al-Rashid
The award takes its name from Harun Al-Rashid (763–809), the celebrated Abbasid caliph whose reign is associated with one of the most influential periods of intellectual and cultural development in the Islamic world.
During the Abbasid era, Baghdad emerged as a major centre of scholarship, literature and cultural exchange. Scientific inquiry, translation, philosophy, medicine and the arts flourished within a vibrant intellectual environment that helped transmit knowledge across linguistic and cultural boundaries.
By invoking Harun Al-Rashid's legacy, the new award symbolically connects the achievements of the past with the intellectual aspirations of the present.
The choice of name also reflects the broader ambition of celebrating knowledge as a shared human inheritance, transcending geographical, linguistic and cultural divisions.
Building Bridges Between Civilisations
Beyond recognising individual accomplishments, the award aims to encourage intercultural understanding and intellectual cooperation.
One of its central objectives is to support studies exploring the historical interactions between civilisations and highlighting the contributions of influential figures to global scientific and cultural development.
The initiative also seeks to inspire emerging researchers, writers and artists while promoting innovation and scholarly excellence.
Of particular importance is its commitment to preserving scientific and cultural memory. Through the recognition of historical research and biographical scholarship, the award provides an opportunity to bring overlooked personalities, forgotten achievements and lesser-known intellectual traditions into greater public awareness.
This approach is especially relevant in an increasingly interconnected world, where cultural heritage plays an important role in fostering dialogue, mutual respect and a deeper understanding of shared history.
A New Chapter in Sharjah's Cultural Vision
The establishment of the award coincided with the opening of the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair on November 4, 2026.
During the event, Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi also presented the Comprehensive Arabic Encyclopedia of Science, Literature, Arts and Notable Figures, unveiling its first 143 volumes.
The ambitious encyclopaedic project, involving more than 1,500 specialists worldwide, further demonstrates Sharjah's dedication to documenting, preserving and disseminating knowledge.
The new award is expected to honour four distinguished scholars, researchers and creative figures annually.
A Board of Trustees chaired by the Ruler of Sharjah will oversee the award's strategic direction, evaluation procedures, judging committees and selection of recipients. Board members will serve renewable four-year terms.
Detailed participation requirements, financial prizes and evaluation procedures will be determined by the board.
Investing in Knowledge and Cultural Memory
The creation of the Harun Al-Rashid International Award represents more than the introduction of another cultural distinction. It reinforces the idea that intellectual achievement, artistic expression and historical scholarship are fundamental to the progress of society.
By recognising contributions across different disciplines and encouraging research into the lives of important historical personalities, Sharjah is creating a platform through which scientific innovation and cultural heritage can be celebrated together.
At a time when preserving intellectual traditions and fostering intercultural dialogue are increasingly important, the initiative offers a meaningful reminder that knowledge belongs to humanity as a whole.
Through this new international award, Sharjah continues to strengthen its position as a global centre for literature, scholarship and cultural exchange, honouring the achievements of the past while encouraging future generations to contribute to the advancement of human knowledge.
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