Sharjah Funds UNESCO Project to Digitise and Preserve World Heritage

Photo : Sharjah Govt Media Bureau

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah and member of the Supreme Council, was present at an important event in Paris at UNESCO’s headquarters. There, a special agreement was signed to digitise UNESCO’s huge global archive. This means converting old documents, books, photos, and recordings into digital files that can be saved and accessed easily on computers. This project, worth 6 million US dollars, is funded by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA).

The signing ceremony included Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, who leads the Sharjah Book Authority, and Jennifer Linkins, a senior official at UNESCO. This agreement is meant to protect valuable records that tell the story of human culture and history. It will help preserve these important materials and make sure people can always access them digitally. The project will last five years and will cover many types of content, including books, manuscripts, audio recordings, and documentary films.

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During his visit, His Highness toured the UNESCO Library and Archives. He saw many important documents and manuscripts and learned about the vital role this library plays in supporting UNESCO’s work. The visit also showed him how these cultural records help UNESCO’s staff carry out their mission.

He also reviewed some old and fragile documents that are at risk of damage. This made it clear how important it is to digitise these materials quickly before they deteriorate further. Protecting these archives means keeping our cultural, intellectual, and historical heritage safe.

UNESCO’s archive is one of the world’s largest and most valuable collections. It holds more than 2.5 million pages of documents that record UNESCO’s work since 1945, as well as 165,000 rare photos and thousands of hours of videos and audio recordings. These materials show important moments in history, like international meetings, agreements, and efforts to protect world heritage.

In the past, only about 5% of this huge archive has been digitised because of a lack of resources and challenges in managing such a large collection. That leaves around 95% still in physical form, which is at risk of damage from age and handling. This is why it’s so urgent to speed up the digitisation process to save this priceless knowledge and culture.

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi said this project shows Sharjah’s strong commitment to preserving human heritage. She said preserving knowledge is very important for the progress and development of all people. She explained that the UNESCO archive is one of the most valuable collections in the world for culture, education, and history. It’s a responsibility for all countries to protect it and keep it available for future generations.

She also said Sharjah believes that everyone should have fair access to knowledge. Protecting this knowledge helps creativity and growth in society. This project will open new chances for countries to work together to respect history and help future generations learn from the past.

This agreement highlights Sharjah’s ongoing efforts to support education, culture, and humanitarian causes, guided by the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. It also shows how Sharjah is becoming an important global center for protecting human heritage and promoting culture, especially representing Arab countries in international organizations like UNESCO.