Sharjah has launched its guest of honour programme at the Rabat International Book Fair, which runs from today until April 27 in the Moroccan capital.
A central pavilion in Rabat is hosting Emirati publishers, cultural displays and dedicated stands that highlight landmarks such as Sharjah Publishing City.
The guest of honour programme features a stage for panel discussions with writers and poets, including International Prize for Arabic Fiction nominee Sultan Al Ameemi.
The emirate’s participation, organised through the Sharjah Book Authority, comes on the back of Morocco being named guest of honour at the 2024 Sharjah International Book Fair.
Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, chairwoman of the Sharjah Book Authority, toured the pavilion on Friday with Morocco's Prince Moulay Rachid and the country's Minister of Culture, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, ahead of the book fair's opening.
With the formal launch held at the Chellah archaeological site, Sheikha Bodour highlighted the cultural ties between the UAE and Morocco, citing 14th-century traveller Ibn Battuta, who chronicled both regions in his journeys.
“The relationship between Sharjah and Morocco – or between the UAE and the Kingdom of Morocco – is not something new. It is the continuation of a long history of cultural and intellectual exchange,” she said.
“Centuries ago, the traveller Ibn Battuta visited our region and witnessed its rich heritage and noble Arab values. He saw first-hand the deep bonds that have always united the East and the Maghreb.”
With Sharjah previously serving as guest of honour at prestigious book fairs in London and Seoul, she described these initiatives as reinforcing the emirate’s position as a global cultural hub.
“Our participation today as guest of honour at the Rabat International Book and Publishing Fair reflects this vision,” she said. “It expresses the role that Sharjah plays as a hub for the Arab cultural project – a global centre for cultural and creative dialogue – and a key contributor in shaping the future of Arab culture, publishing, and the book industry, both in the Arab world and beyond.”
Bensaid expressed similar hopes for the 30th Rabat International Book Fair. He said the annual event – which this year hosts more than a hundred international authors and publishers – plays an important role shaping government policy on the kingdom’s literary sector.
“It is a prominent manifestation of our continuing cultural policy,” he said. “We aim to put these visions into practice to help achieve a cultural renaissance that supports the comprehensive development model led by His Majesty Mohammed VI.
“We make sure that every edition of this international fair provides opportunities for as many exhibitors as possible to showcase both new and old titles – thereby boosting book circulation. The fair has always aimed to offer space for monitoring developments and anticipating transformations in publishing and literary activity, as well as in national and international intellectual and cultural issues.”
Also on the agenda in Rabat was the formalisation of a partnership between the American University of Sharjah (AUS) and Al Akhawayn University – the latter also offering an American-style liberal arts education with English as the primary language of instruction. The agreement will see both institutions collaborate on courses ranging from Islamic studies and digital humanities to ethical artificial intelligence.
“The MoU with Al Akhawayn reflects the deep-rooted ties between the emirate of Sharjah, the UAE and the Kingdom of Morocco – and highlights our shared commitment to advancing higher education and preserving cultural identity,” said Sheikha Bodour, who is also president of the American University of Sharjah.
“AUS and Al Akhawayn University share a common academic vision – one that values Arabic and Islamic studies, supports research in heritage and identity, and embraces innovation in knowledge creation.
“Through this partnership, we look forward to enriching academic exchange and strengthening collaboration between our institutions and our nations.”
THE SPECS
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Ajax v Real Madrid, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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F1 The Movie
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Director: Joseph Kosinski
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Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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Price: Dh332,800
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if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
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House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
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- Glasgow, Scotland
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- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
