Italy Awards Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi Top Merit Honor For Strengthening UAE Cultural Ties

The President of the Italian Republic has awarded the UAE's 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.Italy’s highest honorThis ranking was awarded to recognize her efforts to strengthen cultural relations between Italy and the UAE through education, publishing, and international dialogue.The award, Italy’s highest order of merit, was presented during a ceremony held at Al Bait Al Westi in Sharjah on July 13 in the presence of Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, the deputy ruler of Sharjah.Italian Ambassador to the UAE Lorenzo Fanara presented the insignia and diploma on behalf of the President of the Italian Republic. The honor was awarded following his recommendation in recognition of Sheikha Bodour’s contribution to advancing cultural ties between the two countries.Established in 1951 by Italy’s second President, Luigi Einaudi, the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic recognizes people who have made contributions across literature, arts, education, public service, philanthropy, humanitarian work and economic development.Sheikha Bodour also accompanied Ambassador Fanara and guests on a tour of Al Bait Al Westi, a historic home restored and repurposed by Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) as a cultural and events venue in the Heart of Sharjah.Cultural exchangeSheikha Bodour said the recognition reflected the importance of books and culture in connecting societies. She said the honor from Italy, a country known for its cultural and literary heritage, was an encouragement to continue expanding cultural exchange between the two nations.“Through books, we share a commitment to bring more Italian literature to Arab readers, more Arab voices to Italian readers, and give younger generations the chance to build stronger connections,” she said.As part of this exchange, Sheikha Bodour’s children’s book The House of Wisdom was translated into Italian, introducing young readers to the history and legacy of Arab and Islamic civilization.UAE-Italy cultural tiesAmbassador Fanara highlighted Sheikha Bodour’s role in strengthening links between Italy and the UAE, particularly through literature and publishing. He also recognized her contribution to rebuilding the historic children’s bookshop Giannino Stoppani in Bologna.“Our strong and deep bilateral relations would be short-sighted and, in a way, meaningless for our future generations if we had not invested so much in culture,” Fanara said, highlighting cooperation through books, university exchanges, exhibitions and arts.The UAE and Italy have expanded cooperation across cultural and educational fields, with books and knowledge-sharing becoming a key part of bilateral relations.Key backgroundAs President of the American University of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, Sheikha Bodour has promoted education, publishing, and cultural exchange as tools for international cooperation.She was also the first Arab woman elected President of the International Publishers Association (IPA) since its establishment in 1896. During her tenure, she led global discussions on freedom to publish, access to knowledge, and greater inclusion within the publishing sector.Through Kalimat Group, the UAE-based publishing house she founded, Sheikha Bodour has helped develop Arabic children’s publishing and expand access to quality literature across the region. She has also supported reading programs for underserved communities and promoted access to books for children worldwide.Her leadership of Sharjah’s UNESCO World Book Capital program in 2019 further strengthened the emirate’s global role in publishing and literary exchange.