The Sharjah Press Club (SPC), a subsidiary of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), has announced the tenth edition of the Sharjah Ramadan Majlis, taking place from April 19 to May 3 at four different locations across the Emirate, including Al Majaz Amphitheatre, Sharjah, Khorfakkan Amphitheatre, Holy Quran Academy, Sharjah, and Kalba Sports Club.
The Sharjah Ramadan Majlis’ sessions, to be held after Taraweeh prayers, will cover a wide range of contemporary topics including religious, cultural, sports, arts and social media communication issues, with the participation of HE Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Youth, Sheikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, along with leading experts and specialists from across the UAE and the region.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council, underscored the importance of the Ramadan Majlis’s role in celebrating and preserving the Emirati heritage and traditions and tackling critical issues that matter and cover a wide spectrum of human experience. He said: “The tenth edition of Sharjah Ramadan Majlis is being held in an exceptional circumstances due to the Covid-19 crisis that has imposed social distancing on everyone. However, it will not undercut the importance of humanitarian dialogue and the exchange of constructive views that serve societies and contribute to supporting their development.”
The Chairman of Sharjah Media Council stressed that the Sharjah Ramadan Majlis, which is based on the objectives and goals that are inspired by and are consistent with the vision and guidelines of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
The Sharjah Ramadan Majlis through its past editions has been able to consolidate its position as a strategic platform of dialogue that contributes to enhancing the community awareness and strengthens social cohesion and brotherly bonds as well as building cultural bridges among people of the world through positive communication, he added.
Safety highest priority
On this occasion, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi emphasised the organisers’ keenness and priority to maintain the safety of all participants and attendees of the Ramadan Majlis, stressing that all precautionary and preventive measures are being taken in the various venues of the Ramadan Majlis sessions in accordance with the health and safety guidelines prescribed by the Sharjah government to protect everyone from the Covid-19.
Five Strategic Sessions
The first session of the Ramadan Majlis will be held on Monday, April 19 at Holy Quran Academy in Sharjah, titled “Reasons for Happiness in the World and the Hereafter.” Dr Ali Jumaa, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars of Cairo’s Al Azhar Al-Sharif, Chairman of the Religious Committee of the Egyptian Parliament, and the former Grand Mufti of Egypt will speak on the issue. The session will be hosted by journalist Muhammad Al Suwaidi and will address the impact of praising and being eternally grateful to Allah, leading to Allah’s blessings and one’s contentment with one’s destiny.
The second session of Ramadan Majlis on social media communication will take place at Al Majaz Amphitheatre in Sharjah on Wednesday, April 21. Titled “The Pursuit of Fame… Material Gain or Talent?,” the session will tackle various facets of fame in social media communication and the responsibilities of the users of these platforms. Sami Al Riyami, Editor-in-Chief of Emarat Al Youm newspaper and Talal Al-Buhairi, social media activist, will share their views. The session will be moderated by Muhammad Al Kaabi.
Future of UAE Football
The third session, "Local Football ... Reality and Opportunities", which will take place at the Ittihad Kalba Sport Club, on Monday, April 26th, will shed light on the state and the challenges of Emirati football and the opportunities that are available in the sport especially in the post Coronavirus phase. Former international players of UAE national team, Youssef Al Sahlawi, Second Vice President of the Emirates Football Association and Chairman of the Teams and Technical Affairs Committee, and Abdul Rahman Al Haddad, Coach of the Sharjah under 21 football team, will headline the session which will be moderated by Tariq Al Hammadi.
Role of Culture in Youth Awareness
The fourth Ramadan session will host HE Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Youth and Sheikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, on Wednesday, April 28 at the Khorfakkan Amphitheatre. The two eminent Arab women leaders will address the impact of culture in promoting the youth awareness and the role of cultural institutions in building thought and the importance of preserving identity in light of the information revolution. The session will be moderated by Sheikha Al Mutairi.
Arts Session
Sharjah Ramadan Majlis will conclude its tenth edition with the Arts session titled "Comic Art between Laughter and Idea", which will be hosted at the Khorfakkan Amphitheatre on Monday, May 3, with the participation of the Saudi artist Asaad Al Zahrani and the Egyptian artist Shaima Saif who will be discussing the role of art in addressing societal issues and the comic art and its importance. The session will be moderated by Khaled Al Hammadi.
On the sidelines of the sessions, the Ramadan Majlis will also feature a number of interactive competitions for the public offering attractive prizes worth more than Dh100,000.
The Sharjah Press Club is an initiative of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau and is dedicated to serving the media and communication professionals by conducting training courses, networking events and orientation programmes throughout the year besides engaging regional and international media education and training organisations and other stakeholders.