Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi has been awarded the Officer rank of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, the country’s highest national honour, in a ceremony held at Al Bait Al Westi in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.
The distinction was presented by His Excellency Lorenzo Fanara, Ambassador of Italy to the UAE, on behalf of the President of the Italian Republic during an official ceremony held at Al Bait Al Westi in the UAE on July 13. It recognises more than two decades of Sheikha Bodour’s efforts to strengthen cultural ties between Italy and the UAE through education, publishing and international dialogue.
Upon receiving the honour, Her Highness said: “Since I was a child, I have understood the power of books to build bridges between people through the books I read. I owe this [understanding] to my father, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who built Sharjah around his conviction that cultural dialogue opens a path to understanding and that understanding gives peace a lasting foundation.”
Sheikha Bodour has championed cultural exchange through initiatives ranging from Sharjah’s participation in the Bologna Children’s Book Fair to Kalimat Foundation’s Pledge a Library initiative, which has donated Arabic and bilingual Arabic-Italian books to libraries and schools supporting Arab immigrant and refugee children. By bringing together Emirati and Italian authors, publishers and young readers, her efforts reflect both nations’ shared belief in the power of books, heritage and education to build understanding.
Her Highness Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi was raised in a household deeply rooted in literature and culture, where the arts were held in the highest regard. Her father, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, is widely known for his unwavering commitment to art, culture and education. His daughter is no different. She has turned her greatest passions — education and literature — into a lifelong mission.
That mission has defined a career spanning more than two decades. Today, Her Highness serves as president of the American University of Sharjah, chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority and founder and CEO of Kalimat Group. She has established landmark institutions, including the Emirates Publishers Association, the UAE Board on Books for Young People and PublisHer, a global platform uniting more than 1,000 women in publishing to advance gender equality. She also made history as the first Arab woman to serve as president of the International Publishers Association since its founding in 1896, created books for the visually impaired and led efforts to restore Beirut’s libraries following the 2020 explosions.
In October 2025, Sheikha Bodour was appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Education and Book Culture. Beyond her work as a cultural leader, she is also a celebrated author. Her book, Let Them Know She Is Here: Searching for the Queen of Mleiha, explores the ancient heritage of Mleiha and its remarkable history, further reflecting her lifelong dedication to preserving knowledge, culture and the written word.
