The ALECSO-Sharjah Award for Language and Lexical Studies (2017) is only one of Sharjah's many tools for renaissance in culture, science and the Arabic language in all fields, said H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

H.H. Sheikh Sultan, who is also the Chairman of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah, explained that such awards will stimulate creativity, which is part of Sharjah's mission to encourage scholars of Arabic, according to the Sharjah 24 news website.

He made his remarks at the ceremony for the first set of awards, held in conjunction with the celebrations of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) of the World Arabic Language Day.

The UNESCO Director General, Audrey Azoulay, Dr. Saud Hilal Al-Harbi, the Director General of ALECSO, Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, the Minister of Education, a number of former Ministers and scholars and researchers from the UNESCO headquarters in Paris were present.

The Sharjah Ruler thanked UNESCO for organising the event and thanked the organisers and participants.

He said that these lexicographers, academics and linguists have used their talents to promote the Arabic language and have dedicated their efforts to making this language available in the modern scientific, social and technological circles.

The Ruler concluded his speech that this award is part of Sharjah's mission to promote the Arabic language and linguistic scientific research among peoples and nations.

The UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay, welcomed Sheikh Sultan and the attendees, thanking the Ruler for the support he gives to many of UNESCO's programmes related to Arab and Islamic culture. UNESCO seeks to promote the status of the Arabic language, she said.

Sheikh Sultan and Audrey Azoulay then presented the awards while the Ruler also presented commemorative shields reflecting the authentic Arab culture of Sharjah to Azoulay, the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to UNESCO Dr. Ibrahim bin Yusuf Al-Balawi, and to Dr. Saud Hilal Al-Harbi, Director-General of ALECSO.

The ceremony was also attended by Omar Saif Ghobash, Ambassador of UAE to France, Abdullah Ali Musabah Al Naimi, the Chairman of the UAE Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, Abdulla Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture, Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of Sharjah Media Corporation, Dr. Mohamed Safi Mostaghanmi, Secretary General of the Arabic Language Academy in Sharjah and a number of senior officials.