Sharjah is Capital of Arab Press

Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi - Official Portrait

The United Arab Media Council, a pan-Arab body, has chosen Sharjah as the Capital of Arab Press for the year 2016. The decision was based on a number of benchmarks, including a vibrant media environment in the emirate, the establishment of the Sharjah Media City (SMC) Free Zone and the promotion of cultural and intellectual content of media material, and above all, the strategic support of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for many of the media initiatives and creative projects in the emirate.
The previous capitals were Manama (2012), Riyadh (2013) and Jerusalem (2014-15).
Welcoming the announcement, Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Corporation and Sharjah Media Centre, said: "This is the fourth international title for Sharjah in 40 years, after Unesco's Cultural Capital of the Arab World Award in 1998, OIC's Capital of Islamic Culture Award for 2014 and the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2015 Award."
He also announced the launch of celebrations next month marking the emirate's proud inheritance. Shaikh Sultan bin Ahmed emphasised that the freedom the media enjoys in Sharjah and the legal safeguards and investment opportunities offered to private sector stakeholders in print and electronic media in the emirate are part of the criteria that earned the emirate the coveted honour.
Haitham Youssef, secretary-general of the UAMC, said the remarkable growth that Sharjah has registered in the media sector, especially what has been achieved by the Sharjah Media Corporation and Sharjah Media Centre under the guidance of His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, had helped the emirate earn the honour.
He said he would be honoured to pass on the baton of Sharjah the Capital of Arab Press 2016 from Jerusalem, to Dr Shaikh Sultan on March 20 on the sidelines of the International Government Communication Forum in the emirate, organised annually by the Sharjah Media Centre. Youssef also revealed the motto of Sharjah the Capital of the Arab Press for 2016, which is "My culture is the essence of my profession - Media is the foundation of Society."
The UAMC is an independent, non-profit body that seeks to build bonds of cooperation and coordination between Arab media professionals.
Sharjah's proud media legacy
Sharjah boasts a long and proud history of vibrant media. It was in Sharjah that Ibrahim Mohammed Al Midfa launched the first newspaper in 1927. Titled Oman, it was handwritten.
In 1961, the first stencilled newspaper Al Diyar was published. In 1970, Al Khaleej, today the largest Arabic daily in the UAE and the region, was launched by brothers Taryam Omran and Abdullah.
Sout Al Sahel, Sharjah Radio, was launched in 1972. Again it was in Sharjah that the first television network was launched in 1989.
Today, Sharjah boasts a rich media environment and is home to a number of electronic and print media outlets including Sharjah TV, Al Sharqiya from Kalba, Sharjah Sports and Al Quran al Kareem Radio.
New TV channel
As part of the declaration of Sharjah as the Capital of Arab Press, the Sharjah government has established a new TV channel in Al Dhaid, for residents of central areas including Malaiha, Al Batayeh and Al Madam.
Shaikh Ahmed bin Sultan, said the channel will cover programmes that highlights bedouin culture and heritage as well as the development progress in the area in term of infrastructure, education.
The new channel has employed 20 people from the areas, with the number expected to increase soon. The channel will be effective from Monday when it will start broadcasting on a trial basis.
afkarali@khakeejtimes,com