H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has received the Egyptian Minister of Antiquities, Dr. Khaled El-Anany, at his residence in Cairo, as part of his visit to the country.

Following his arrival on Saturday, the Ruler of Sharjah presented the Egyptians with 354 antiques that were seized and confiscated by customs officers at Sharjah International Airport. Some of the valuable pieces date back to the Pharaonic period, while others are from the Ottoman Empire.

Dr. El-Anany conveyed the gratitude of the Egyptian leadership and the people to Sheikh Sultan for his gesture and efforts.

The Egyptian Minister said he hoped that other governments, authorities and people would follow the Sharjah Ruler's example in restoring Egyptian antiquities and returning them to their rightful owners.

Egypt has been facing an unprecedented surge in the illegal smuggling of artefacts since the country's revolution in 2011.

Dr. El-Anany also commended the smooth and speedy delivery of the items, and the expert method of preservation, which helped maintain their historical value.

He added that some of these relics from Sharjah would be presented within a few days as part of one of the most important archaeological conferences, with the participation of a group of specialised archaeologists.