Seminar Examines Presenting Arab Image at Sharjah Book Fair
The Arab Organisation for Dialogue and International Cooperation hosted the session as part of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2026.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Lecture and Seminars
The Arab Organisation for Dialogue and International Cooperation, partnering with the Arab Union for Media and Culture, hosted a seminar titled "Mechanisms for Intercultural Dialogue and Presenting the Image of Arabs" at the Sharjah International Book Fair 2026. Professor Hanan Youssef outlined focus areas for the second phase of the Arab Initiative for Intercultural Dialogue.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to offer a more balanced and nuanced portrayal of Arab societies to counter stereotypes and biases arising from one-sided media coverage. Its second phase targets refining programme structures, expanding participation and deepening ties with cultural, academic and media entities.
The seminar was held in 2026 at the Sharjah International Book Fair under the theme "We Write Chapters." No participant counts or measurable outcomes from the session were reported.
The players
Arab Organisation for Dialogue and International Cooperation
A regional organisation that runs the Arab Initiative for Intercultural Dialogue as a flagship strategic programme focused on cross-cultural engagement.
Hanan Youssef
A media professor who heads the Arab Initiative for Intercultural Dialogue and serves as its lead strategist on intercultural communication.
Sahar Al-Oubad
The president of the Emirates Volunteer Association, a UAE-based volunteer organisation.
The details
Professor Hanan Youssef, Professor of Media and Head of the Arab Initiative for Intercultural Dialogue, led an open dialogue with attendees, with Dr Karima Al-Saadi moderating the panel. The initiative spans academic, media, cultural and educational tracks, enabling participation from institutions, universities, intellectuals, journalists and cultural dialogue advocates.
Timeline
The Arab Initiative for Intercultural Dialogue was officially inaugurated at the end of December alongside the Arab League Summit.
The seminar was held in 2026 during the Sharjah International Book Fair.
Culture Shift
The initiative's effort to correct one-sided media portrayals of Arabs reflects a broader push, traceable to its launch alongside the Arab League Summit, to shape how Arab societies are represented in international cultural and media discourse.
Readers interested in the initiative can follow its progress through the book fair's public programming and the organisation's cultural events. The second phase's focus on expanding participation suggests more opportunities for institutions, journalists and cultural advocates to take part.
The takeaway
Balanced portrayals of cultural groups depend on dialogue across media, academia and public institutions rather than any single outlet. Readers can seek out varied sources when forming views about how Arab societies are represented.
Further reading
Explore more Lecture and Seminars coverage to see how cultural dialogue events like this one are reported across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Egyptian Gazette.
