SHARJAH: H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the Supreme President of the Arabic Language Academy, received a delegation of students studying the Arabic language at Austrian universities at the Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi Centre.
The Ruler of Sharjah warmly welcomed the guests to Sharjah, a city with a rich history connected to the Arabic language.
Sheikh Sultan highlighted that the Centre hosts intellectuals, writers, and specialists who engage in discussions on various cultural, scientific, and historical topics. It is a place where love, sincerity, and religion converge, and the Arabic language plays an integral role in these discussions to yield valuable insights that enhance people’s understanding of the language.
During his speech, Mudar Abdulrahman Al Khoja, the Secretary-General of the Hammer-Purgstall Foundation, expressed his gratitude for the warm reception he received.
He also commended the efforts of H.H. Ruler of Sharjah, for his attention
to the Arabic language and for establishing various Arab and Islamic colleges and academies. These efforts have made Sharjah a beacon of knowledge and science that dazzles everyone who visits it.
Al Khoja introduced the delegation, which consisted of 15 students from 5 universities across Austria who belong to different faculties such as Arabic studies, Islamic sciences, law, and translation. Al Khoja mentioned that the students expressed their admiration for the knowledge and language skills available in Sharjah, provided in Arabic which helps strengthen the language skills of its learners.
During the meeting, Dr. Sheikh Sultan was briefed by the Secretary-General and his delegation on the efforts made by Austrian universities to teach the Arabic language and its historical origins, tracing back to the founders of the universities. Austria has over 700 teachers who educate more than 100,000 students on the teachings of Islam and the Arabic language.
The students will be attending an intensive course in th
e Arabic language and literature provided by the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah. The course aims to improve their proficiency in the language and its branches. Additionally, the academy will organise trips to institutions related to the Arabic language and the Holy Qur’an in Sharjah, providing opportunities to get an insight into the language’s history. The academy offers a variety of services to help teach and promote the Arabic language and its culture.
At the end of the meeting, the delegation expressed their gratitude to the Ruler of Sharjah, for his unwavering support towards the students in Europe who are keen to learn the Arabic language.
They also thanked him for opening the gates of Sharjah and its specialised institutions to these students, enabling them to become the finest ambassadors for Sharjah and showcase its scientific status and commitment to knowledge worldwide.
Upon receiving special publications and souvenirs, His Highness took group photos with the delegation.
The reception was a
ttended, in addition to H.H. the Ruler of Sharjah, by Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Khaled Butti Al Hajri, Director General of the University City in Sharjah; Dr. Mohammed Safi Al Mosteghanemi, Secretary General of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah; Ümit Vural as President of the Islamic Religious Community in Austria. Hammer Hammer-Purgstall, Chairman of the Hammer-Purgstall Foundation, and several deans and students of faculties at Austrian universities.
Source: Emirates News Agency