House of Wisdom explores ties with Qatari institutions

Strengthening its role as a driver of regional cultural initiatives, a House of Wisdom (HoW) delegation, headed by Executive Director Marwa Al Aqroubi, visited Qatar to explore collaborative opportunities and knowledge exchange with leading local institutions. These included the Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar National Library, as well as M7, Qatar’s centre for innovation and entrepreneurship in design, fashion, and technology.

The visit focused on developing joint cultural programmes and sharing best practices in managing museums, libraries, and community-based projects. This effort aligns with Sharjah’s vision of embracing pioneering experiences and promoting openness at local, regional, and international levels.

Commenting on the visit, Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of HoW, stressed that culture is a strategic pillar for building connections between nations and shaping pathways to sustainable development. “This visit to Qatar reinforces our commitment to fostering Arab collaboration in the fields of knowledge and the arts. We are focused on developing initiatives that transform cultural dialogue into a driving force for progress. These partnerships are long-term investments in human and creative capital, and they play a vital role in positioning our region as a vital contributor to the global cultural landscape,” she stated.

Museum of Islamic Art

As part of the visit, the HoW delegation toured the Museum of Islamic Art, a preeminent global cultural institution. Its extensive collection, which spans 13 centuries, features rare manuscripts, ceramics, textiles, jewellery, and other masterpieces from across the Islamic world. The museum presents a powerful narrative of Islamic art as both a timeless aesthetic and a unifying civilisational force.

Qatar National Library

Another key institution on the itinerary was the Qatar National Library, a prominent centre of knowledge that plays a vital role in preserving Qatari and Arab heritage while supporting academic research and lifelong learning. Home to more than one million books and an extensive collection of digital resources and manuscripts, the library serves as an open, inclusive space that empowers the community through access to knowledge in an age shaped by digitisation and global connectivity.

Artistic dialogue inspired by Arab literary heritage

The delegation also visited the 'Fables in Fashion' exhibition, organised by the Qatar Reads initiative under Qatar National Library. Showcasing the work of more than 30 artists from Qatar and around the world, the exhibition features contemporary pieces inspired by Maqamat Al-Hariri, blending narrative and visual art to deliver an immersive cultural experience.

These visits are considered significant for their role in facilitating the exchange of global best practices and building partnerships with world-renowned cultural institutions. Such engagements also serve to strengthen HoW's standing as a premier cultural hub in Sharjah and the UAE, while also establishing a forward-looking model for future libraries.

Recently, The House of Wisdom (HoW) took part in the 89th World Library and Information Congress in Kazakhstan, furthering its mission to promote knowledge exchange and strengthen intercultural dialogue.

Organised by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the congress was held in Astana from August 18 to 22 under the theme “Connecting Knowledge, Building the Future”, bringing together more than 3,500 experts and professionals from 120 countries.

On the sidelines of the event, the HoW delegation visited the National Archive and National Museum of Kazakhstan, exploring areas of collaboration in heritage preservation and knowledge documentation.

The visits aimed to deepen cultural ties between Sharjah and Astana while reaffirming the essential role of libraries and archives in supporting academic research and safeguarding collective memory.

HoW also took part in the “Arab Librarians Session”, hosted by IFLA’s Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa. Discussions focused on the role of community knowledge in empowering individuals and fostering socially resilient, knowledge-driven societies.

Speaking during the session, Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of HoW, introduced the Wisdom Vault project, a flagship initiative anchored in the rare and invaluable collection of the late Professor Richard Ettinghausen.

The archive, which includes more than 12,000 rare books and publications on Arab and Islamic art and architecture in over ten languages, was gifted to HoW by His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.