Sharjah Ruler Develops Comprehensive Arabic-Latin Dictionary

Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, is leading a project to develop a comprehensive Arabic-Latin dictionary, which will be presented in multiple volumes. This endeavor aims to highlight the deep literary connections and shared linguistic heritage between the Arabic and Latin languages. The first five volumes of the dictionary are set to reveal profound links that have existed between the two languages over centuries, shedding light on their intertwined histories.

In parallel with the dictionary project, work is progressing on the Historical Corpus of the Arabic Language. This initiative, launched by The Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah in 2017, aims to document the evolution of the Arabic language from the pre-Islamic period to modern times. Spanning 125 volumes, the corpus includes early Arabic translations of Latin dictionaries, dating back to the late 19th century. To date, 67 volumes have been published by Al Qasimi Publications, with contributions from 500 scholars, editors, and proofreaders.

The Ruler of Sharjah’s efforts are part of a broader cultural vision to celebrate and revitalize the Arabic language. His initiatives aim to safeguard cultural heritage from distortion or tampering, not only within the Arabic language but also in other languages such as Italian and Latin.

As part of this vision, Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi recently inaugurated the Arabic Cultural Institute at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan. The institute offers Arabic language classes and supports Italian publishers in translating key Arabic texts into Italian. During his visit to Milan, Sheikh Dr. Sultan also reviewed historical texts at the Ambrosiana Library, one of Europe’s earliest public libraries, which was established in 1609.