The Arab cultural project, planned by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad AI- Qassimi Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah aims at first priority to build man with a new mentality enabling him to penetrate the .new century armed with a genuine history and welcoming bright future.

On the 30th of April 1981, the Department of Culture & 1nformation has been established to be in charge of this vital project in accordance with the directions of His highness the Ruler of Sharjah.

Icon the same way, the Department of Culture & Information secured a cultural atmosphere from which all local and Arab creators benefited, and built the infrastructure of museums, library chains, child culture centres, theatres, public welfare societies, art, heritage and literature areas where more than 3,000 various cultural activities had already been practised.

All these were going hand in hand with a multimedia; activities presented by Sharjah T.V. and its Satellite Channel. In addition to specialised intellectual printed matters, news papers, magazines and periodical covering all the aspects of interest to mankind and most importantly, establishing Sharjah Universities pioneered by H.H. the Ruler to motivate scientific, educational, and cultural life in the Emirates.

This Generosity attracted the attention of the General Conference of The United Nations Education, Scientific & Cultural Organization “UNESCO" in its 29th session in November 1997 and Sharjah was selected as the Arab Cultural Capital for the year 1998.