Sharjah Media Centre to Host Fifth Ramadan Majlis From June 12 to 20

Five interactive sessions at Al Majaz Amphitheatre to feature a galaxy of public figures, scholars, artists and sportspersons in the spirit of promoting the culture of dialogue 

Sharjah/Sharjah Media Centre, June 5, 2016:   In keeping with its tradition of the past five years, Sharjah Media Centre (SMC) will be celebrating the Holy Month of Ramadan by hosting the fifth Ramadan Majlis, from June 12 to 20, at Al Majaz Amphitheatre in Sharjah. Held in a special Ramadan tent on Al Majaz Island in the heart of Khalid Lagoon, the fifth Ramadan Majlis will see five exciting and intellectually stimulating sessions with a galaxy of public figures, intellectuals, artists, scholars, authors, sportspersons and media personalities taking part in debates and interactive discussions in the spirit of promoting a culture of dialogue. 

Headlined “In the Culture of Dialogue”, the fifth Ramadan Majlis sessions will be held after the Taraweeh prayers and once again promise to be highly interactive and fruitful covering a gamut of issues and interests. The SMC Ramadan Majlis will see the presence of high-profile public figures, including ministers, artists, intellectuals and sports personalities who will share their experiences and views with the select audience.

Announcing the fifth Ramadan Majlis, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Centre, said: “The Ramadan Majlis initiative was unveiled by Sharjah Media Centre five years ago, as part of our efforts to spotlight the cultural vision of the Emirate of Sharjah. This reflects the ideas of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who believes in promoting a culture of dialogue and respect for others, encouraging harmony, love, and tolerance among all sections of the community and larger humanity.”

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi said: “Taking advantage of the spirit of the Holy Month, we are looking to use the SMC Ramadan Majlis as a platform for meaningful intellectual dialogue, in line with the approach of the Emirate of Sharjah and the UAE in promoting tolerance and building a culture of dialogue. Dialogue is important within the Islamic culture and necessary to exchange knowledge during sessions that discuss various issues and concerns facing society.” 

The first session of the fifth Ramadan Majlis will be held on Sunday, June 12, headlined “Women Leading Excellence Dialogue”. It will focus on the evolution of women’s empowerment in the UAE from the establishment of the Union until the present day. Guest speakers include HE Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, HE Khawla Al Mulla, Chairperson of Sharjah Consultative Council, Dr Mona Al Bahar, Acting CEO of Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children and Aisha Sultan (moderator) founder and director of Dar Waraq Publishing House, Dubai.  

The second Ramadan Majlis session will be held on Monday, June 13 and will look at the phenomenon of neglected and less popular sports under the title “Minority Sports Champions Dialogue.” Sheikh Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum, President of Emirates Tennis Association, HE Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council, HE Qais Abdulla Al Dhalai, Secretary General of the UAE Rugby Federation, Mohammed Al Qaid, wheelchair sprinter and Khalid Al Hammadi (moderator) producer and presenter of Sharjah Media Corporation would be the guest speakers. The sports session will look into ways of encouraging and developing new and not so popular sports.  

The third Ramadan Majlis session is dedicated to Arts and will be held on Wednesday, June 15. Titled “Emerging Talents Dialogue: Nurturing Existing Talents to Build the Future of Theatre,” the session will explore the theatre movement in the UAE and the region and the challenges facing it. 

Speakers include Hassan Hosny, popular Egyptian actor, Jassim Al Nabhan, Kuwaiti actor and Chairman of the Popular Theatre Troupe, Ghanim Al Sulaiti, Qatari actor and Adviser to Minister for Theatre, Qatar’s Ministry of Culture and Sports, Jamal Al Radhan, Kuwaiti actor, Ahmed Al Jasmi, Emirati actor and Chairman of the Sharjah National Theatre and Ibrahim Salem (moderator) Emirati actor and Senior Director at the UAE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development. 

The focus will be on the factors behind the absence of young talent from purposeful theatre works. A long-time patron of theatre, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has stressed the need to encourage and support young Arab artists in this exclusive field.

The fourth session on Sunday, June 19 is dedicated to the role of popular social media application, Snapchat. Titled “Snapchat Dialogue… An Opportunity for Amateurs and Innovators,” the session debates the new phenomenon of Snapchat and the social, technical and psychological factors that have led to its rise and popularity at the cost of other similar social media applications. 

Speakers include Dr Anwar Al Hammadi, Consultant Dermatologist and Cosmetic Surgeon, Badr Al Zidan, Saudi media figure and presenter, Hamad Al Shamsi, media activist, Venicia, media activist and (Moderator) Munther Al Muzki, Emirati media figure and sports presenter.

This year’s Ramadan Majlis will conclude on Monday, June 20 with the session titled, “Building Knowledge Society in the UAE Dialogue…Reading is the Means”. Coinciding with the UAE’s Year of Reading, the session will spotlight the importance and culture of reading and knowledge in Islam and why reading is essential to building an informed and empowered society.  Recent studies have proven that there is a direct correlation between reading and knowledge; the more you read, the more you know and open your mind up to new ways of thinking. 

Speakers include Sheikh Dr Aziz bin Farhan Al Anzi, Director of Religious Call and Guidance Centre, Dubai, Sheikh Dr Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Haddad, Grand Mufti and Head of the Fatwa Department at the Dubai Fatwa Centre of Islamic Affairs and Charity Department of Dubai, Dr Khalifa Ali Al Suwaidi, faculty member at the UAE University, Dr Sajed Al Abdali, doctor, columnist and community activist, Jamal Al Shehhi, founder of Kuttub Publishing and Executive Director of the Arab Child programme at Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and (Moderator) Dr Sulaiman Al Hattlan, CEO of Hattlan Media. 

The Ramadan Majlis is one of the most innovative initiatives by Sharjah Media Centre to raise and discuss a wide spectrum of issues before the community, with the help of distinguished experts, innovators, intellectuals, writers and artists from across the Arab world.