Italy's President honours Sheikha Bodour with highest Order of Merit

In the presence of Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the President of the Italian Republic conferred upon Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Book Culture, the Officer rank of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the country’s highest order of merit, in recognition of her longstanding efforts to strengthen cultural ties between Italy and the United Arab Emirates.

The distinction was awarded upon the recommendation of Lorenzo Fanara, Ambassador of Italy to the United Arab Emirates, who noted in his official communication that the honour reflects Her Highness’s valuable contribution to advancing relations with Italy.

Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi was formally invested with the insignia and diploma of the Order during an official ceremony held at Al Bait Al Westi in the UAE on July 13, where Lorenzo Fanara, Ambassador of Italy to the UAE, presented the honour on behalf of the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella.

After the ceremony, Her Highness accompanied Ambassador Fanara and the attending guests on a tour of Al Bait Al Westi, a historic home that has been restored and adaptively repurposed by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) as a cultural and events venue in the Heart of Sharjah.

The distinction was awarded upon the recommendation of Lorenzo Fanara.

Following the presentation of the decoration, Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi said: “Since I was a child, I have understood the power of books to build bridges between people through the books I read. I owe this [understanding] to my father, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who built Sharjah around his conviction that cultural dialogue opens a path to understanding, and that understanding gives peace a lasting foundation.

“To be recognised by Italy, a country whose culture, literature, and creative spirit have shaped the world for centuries, is a distinction I receive with deep gratitude and humility. I receive it as an encouragement to keep building on [our] shared work. To bring more Italian literature to Arab readers. To bring more Arab voices to Italian readers. And to give younger generations the chance to forge even stronger connections, and to build together a friendship that outlasts all of us," Bodour Al Qasimi added.

Her Highness also contributed to this cultural exchange through the Italian translation of her recent children's book, The House of Wisdom. The book offers young Italian readers aged nine and above a journey into the world of Arab and Islamic civilisations through a simple and engaging narrative, helping them discover the history and rich legacy of both.

The ceremony was held in the presence of Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi.

Lorenzo Fanara, Ambassador of Italy to the UAE, highlighted Her Highness' important role in strengthening cultural ties with Italy, and especially with Italian literature. Reflecting on the importance of culture for both countries, he also mentioned Her Highness' generous contribution to the reconstruction of the historic children’s bookshop "Giannino Stoppani" in Bologna.

After recalling the exceptional state of UAE-Italian relations, Ambassador Fanara acknowledged that “Our strong and deep bilateral relations would be shortsighted and, in a way, meaningless for our future generations if we had not invested so much in culture. Through books, university exchanges, exhibitions, and arts,” added Ambassador Fanara, “we share a significant commitment to going deep underground, unearthing our common history, and spreading knowledge and mutual understanding across our societies."

Established in 1951 by Luigi Einaudi, the second President of the Italian Republic, the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic is the country's highest-ranking national honour. It recognises individuals whose achievements have made exceptional contributions to the nation across fields including literature, the arts, education, public service, the economy, philanthropy and humanitarian action, as well as distinguished civilian and military service.

Her Highness's longstanding engagement with Italy reflects a sustained commitment to strengthening cultural ties through books, publishing and education. From her participation in the Bologna Children's Book Fair, one of the world's leading platforms for children's publishing, to Kalimat Foundation's Pledge a Library initiative, which has provided Arabic and bilingual Arabic-Italian books to libraries and schools supporting Arab immigrant and refugee children, her efforts have created meaningful opportunities for cultural exchange. Bringing together Emirati and Italian authors, publishers and young readers through storytelling and reading initiatives, these collaborations embody the shared belief of both nations in the power of books, heritage and education to foster mutual understanding.