The UAE News Report
Sharjah: Rare newspapers, magazines, books and photographs documenting more than six decades of Sharjah’s development are on display at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026), offering visitors a look at how the emirate’s history was recorded at the time.
The collection has been assembled by Egyptian archivist Mohamed Sadiq, Director of the Arab Heritage Archive Foundation in Egypt. It includes records dating back to 1954 and brings together original publications from the UAE and several other countries.
Among the items is an issue of the magazine Akher Sa’ah containing an early speech by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. The material reflects themes that have shaped the emirate’s development, including culture, education, heritage and investment in people.
A printed record of Sharjah’s development
Sadiq, who is participating in the book fair for the fourth time, said he had sought historical sources from the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Sudan, France and elsewhere. The resulting collection includes material published in Arabic, English and French.
The publications document official visits, educational milestones, major projects and other defining moments in Sharjah’s history. They also show how reports produced in different places can offer distinct perspectives on the same period.
“When His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan assumed power in 1972, he spoke about building an ideal city, Islamic architecture and investing in people,” Sadiq recalled, adding: “Building people was the most important thing.”
For the archivist, the publications connect Sharjah’s physical development to its identity and longstanding emphasis on preserving culture. “Sharjah is a land of heritage that preserves its heritage,” he said.
“This year, I decided to bring the history of Sharjah over the past 60 years,” Sadiq said, explaining the scope of the research behind the display.
“It is the story of a city built from A to Z. The history and archives I have, tell that story,” he added.
Vintage comics connect parents and children
Alongside records of public life and government initiatives, the exhibition contains children’s publications and illustrated stories that many older visitors may recognise from their youth.
The collection includes comics featuring Mickey Mouse, Superman, Tarzan, Samir and Majid, as well as vintage newspapers, photographs and books. Some of the children’s publications are nearly a century old, according to the press release.
Sadiq said these items often become the starting point for conversations across generations, as parents point out familiar characters and explain what they enjoyed reading when they were younger.
“A father comes with his children and shows them what he used to read when he was young,” he said.
The display is therefore not limited to major historical announcements. It also records everyday reading habits and popular culture, showing visitors how publications were part of family and community life.
Preserving historical accounts from different sources
Other items in the archive concern women in the UAE, the establishment of universities and the unification of the Armed Forces. Together, they place Sharjah’s story within wider developments in the country’s history.
Sadiq’s approach relies on finding and preserving original reports rather than presenting a single retrospective account. Publications from different languages and countries enable visitors to compare how developments were described to readers at the time.
The collection also provides material for those interested in the role of scholars, intellectuals and cultural figures in Sharjah’s evolution. By preserving printed records, the archive makes older public discussions accessible to new generations of readers.
The historical publications are being displayed at the Arab Heritage Archive Foundation booth during SIBF 2026, giving book fair visitors an opportunity to explore the emirate’s past through surviving editions of newspapers and magazines.
