SHARJAH, UAE- Preserving Arabic, strengthening ties between generations and drawing on the experience of older members of society are essential to protecting Emirati cultural identity amid the growing influence of digital globalisation, speakers at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) said.
Saleh Al Marashdeh
This came during a panel discussion titled “Cultural Identity in the Age of Digital Globalisation,” which brought together Dr. Saleh Al-Marashdeh and Dr. Saif Al Jabri, an academic, Islamic thinker, family counsellor and author, to discuss the challenges facing cultural identity in an increasingly connected world.
Al-Marashdeh described cultural identity as a shared system of religious beliefs, values, language, customs, symbols and collective memory passed down through families and communities.
“We have our Islamic faith, our values and customs inherited from our parents, and our Arabic language. As long as we hold on to these three, we preserve the foundations of our cultural identity,” he said.
Dr. Saif Al Jabri
He warned that advances in artificial intelligence were raising questions about intellectual property and the growing influence of algorithms. He also stressed the importance of protecting Arabic, pointing to the Sharjah International Book Fair’s support for the language and the written word.
“The wider the gap between the younger generation and the generation before it, the greater the risk of losing our values, customs and traditions if communication between them breaks down,” he added.
Al-Marashdeh also emphasised the role of retirees in preserving cultural knowledge, saying their experience and expertise could help pass values and traditions on to younger generations.
For his part, Al Jabri focused on the contribution of community organisations and social initiatives to preserving Emirati culture. Referring to his work on the role of public-benefit associations in supporting government efforts to serve society, he described community participation as central to maintaining the country’s values and traditions.
“Society is the central pillar. Today, these initiatives focus on the essence of Emirati culture and how to preserve it,” he said.
He said the UAE’s social structure encouraged cooperation between citizens, institutions and the government, supporting community initiatives and collective action.
He illustrated this cooperation through an account of the UAE’s humanitarian relief efforts around the world, describing how mutual trust between individuals, businesses and government enabled the rapid mobilisation of emergency supplies.
“We operate on trust. As citizens, we deal with one another on the basis of trust,” he said, explaining that established relationships between individuals and businesses allowed urgent humanitarian requests to be fulfilled quickly.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026) runs from November 4 to 15 at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme ‘Made of Stories’, with the Sultanate of Oman as Guest of Honour. The fair brings together 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries, showcasing more than 1.7 million titles. Its programme features 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic events, with 106 guests from 25 countries.
