Over the course of a century, Sharjah’s buildings have collected their own stories of the emirate’s history and development, according to author and arts patron Sultan Al Qassemi.
Speaking at the Thessaloniki Book Fair on Saturday, where Sharjah is the guest of honour, Al Qassemi discussed the 2021 book Building Sharjah, a co-edited compendium of the emirate's modern architecture.
An Arabic translation is also in the works.
Due to Sharjah’s strategic location for the British Empire prior to the UAE’s formation and its reputation as a regional hub for trade, Al Qassemi, who founded the Barjeel Arts Foundation, said the emirate set the tone for the multiculturalism that would become a hallmark for the entire country.
"The Emirate of Sharjah, it is a microcosm of the Arab world. It is a city that is very globalised even before globalisation became a theme. It is a city that accepted people from the west and east over more than one century," he said.
"Sharjah is a city that also saw the first airport being built on the coast before the UAE was founded and many of the first educational and cultural institutions was established there.”
Featuring 600 images, Building Sharjah traces that development by featuring a combination of the emirate's most famous buildings and hidden gems. These include the Sharjah Post Office, the Airport Mosque with its elaborate facade, the Sheba Hotel where traders and entrepreneurs often met, as well as The Central Souq and Al Qasimia Primary School for Boys.
