UAE Heritage Conference Recommends Documentation of Travel Literature
The conference held under the theme "Popular Heritage Through the Eyes of Others" took place at the Arab Heritage Center in the university city of Sharjah, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported Saturday.
Participants urged a reevaluation of the writings of travelers and Orientalists using contemporary scientific criticism methodologies, WAM said.
They advocated for analytical comparisons between groups of travelers from various geographical regions and similar time periods to derive a more realistic portrayal and compare it with available local studies, it added.
According to WAM, the attendees stressed the need to establish practical laboratories for translating Western research and studies on travel literature and forming scientific committees to review untranslated travel accounts, particularly Russian works.
Among the recommendations was the proposal to extend the conference from two to three days and to publish the presented research in a scientific book.
They also suggested creating an online library featuring works of travelers and Orientalists, along with a specialized database for researchers and translators in this field.
The recommendations further called for stimulating critical studies addressing representations of the "other" in popular heritage through various approaches, including anthropology, semiotics, narratives, and post-colonial studies.
Additionally, they highlighted the need to examine the interaction between oral and narrative cultures as described by travelers, questioning the ideological and epistemological backgrounds that shaped their representations and deconstructing the positions of self and other in their writings.
"The recommendations from the Second Heritage Conference embody our vision at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, which aims to establish awareness of the importance of reading popular heritage from multiple perspectives, especially through the writings of travelers and Orientalists,' said Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam.
'Through this conference, we sought to initiate a critical intellectual dialogue with these records, opening new horizons for understanding the self and the other, and enhancing the presence of our heritage in the global cultural sphere with a scientific spirit and objective approach,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
4 days ago
- Arab News
Dubai International Airport sets H1 passenger record with 46m travelers
RIYADH: Dubai International Airport handled 46 million passengers in the first half of 2025, marking its busiest six-month period on record despite regional airspace disruptions and global headwinds. In a press release, operator Dubai Airports said the 2.3 percent year-on-year increase underscores the continued strength of the emirate's aviation sector and the terminal's operational resilience. The growth came despite temporary airspace restrictions in May and June, which forced several Gulf carriers to reroute flights and adjust schedules due to heightened military activity and no-fly zone declarations in parts of the Middle East. Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said: 'DXB's continued growth through a period of regional challenges highlights the strength of Dubai and the UAE, the agility of our operations, and the commitment of our airport community.' In the second quarter alone, the airport handled 22.5 million passengers, a 3.1 percent increase over the same period last year. April was the busiest month of the quarter and the most active April on record, with 8 million travelers. Average monthly traffic during the first half stood at 7.7 million passengers, with daily volumes averaging 254,000. January was the busiest month, setting a new monthly record with 8.5 million passengers. In the second quarter alone, DXB served 22.5 million guests, an increase of 3.1% over the same period last year. April emerged as the busiest month of the quarter and the most active April on record, with 8 million guests passing through the terminals. — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 29, 2025 DXB also handled 222,000 flights and processed 41.8 million bags in the first half, with 91 percent delivered within 45 minutes of arrival. The mishandled baggage rate stood at 2 bags per 1,000 passengers, well below the industry average of 6.3, the release added. 'As we enter the second half of the year, travel activity is expected to accelerate, beginning with the late-summer peak and leading into a winter season filled with high-profile events across entertainment, sport, and business,' said Griffiths. He said the Dubai Airshow 2025 will be a standout event, poised to break previous records and highlight the bold vision driving the future of aviation and aerospace. 'Based on our performance to date and a positive outlook, we expect the annual traffic to reach 96 million this year, bringing us closer to the symbolic 100 million milestone,' added Griffiths. India remained DXB's top market in the first half of the year, with 5.9 million passengers, followed by Saudi Arabia with 3.6 million. The UK accounted for 3 million passengers, while Pakistan and the US recorded 2.1 million and 1.6 million, respectively. London was the busiest city destination with 1.8 million passengers, followed by Riyadh, Mumbai, Jeddah, New Delhi, and Istanbul. DXB also processed more than 1 million tonnes of cargo during the first half of 2025, a 0.1 percent increase compared with the same period last year. The airport is connected to more than 269 destinations in over 107 countries and is served by 92 international carriers.
Al Arabiya
4 days ago
- Al Arabiya
Dubai Airport logs record 46mln passengers in first half of 2025
Dubai International Airport welcomed a record 46 million passengers in the first half of this year, authorities said on Tuesday, despite disruptions due to the Iran-Israel conflict. The facility marked its busiest first half on record with a 2.3 percent year-on-year growth, Dubai Airports said in a statement, 'despite temporary regional airspace disruptions in May and June.' During the 12-day Iran-Israel conflict, airlines cancelled flights to many Middle East destinations as some governments closed their airspace. In the first six months of 2025, the average monthly traffic stood at around 7.7 million passengers or 254,000 daily travelers. 'Based on our performance to date and a positive outlook, we expect the annual traffic to reach 96 million this year, bringing us closer to the symbolic 100 million milestone,' said Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths. In 2024, Dubai International Airport recorded its highest annual passenger traffic in history, totaling 92.3 million. 'January was the busiest month of the period and also set a new monthly record, with 8.5 million guests,' said the statement. 'As we enter the second half of the year, travel activity is expected to accelerate,' it added. The top countries for passenger traffic to and from Dubai were India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. The Emirati city, located between Asia, Europe and Africa, has been ranked the world's busiest air hub for international passengers for a decade. Dubai is planning a $35 billion expansion and relocation of the airport to Al Maktoum International, on the city's outskirts, in 2032. The new airport will be scaled up in phases, with an eventual capacity of about 240 million -- expected to be the world's largest by a wide margin.
Arab News
22-07-2025
- Arab News
Abu Dhabi Airports sees 13% rise in passenger numbers despite airspace disruptions
JEDDAH: Abu Dhabi Airports handled more than 15.8 million passengers in the first half of 2025, up 13.1 percent from the previous six months, despite regional airspace disruptions. Zayed International Airport, the UAE's second-largest air base and a key international hub connected to over 120 passenger destinations, played a central role in the surge. It recorded 15.5 million passengers by the end of June — a 13.2 percent year-on-year increase, according to the UAE's official news agency WAM. The government-owned operator showed resilience, maintaining steady growth in both passenger traffic and flight movements despite regional disruptions caused by a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. The unrest led to airspace closures across the Gulf, including the UAE, resulting in flight suspensions and rerouting. Elena Sorlini, managing director and CEO at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: 'Consistently delivering positive growth for the past 17 quarters is testament to the dedication and collective effort of the entire Abu Dhabi Airports team.' She added: 'It reflects our operational agility and commitment to delivering an exceptional aviation experience and attracting international investors.' This increase in passenger traffic was accompanied by 133,533 total flights across the five airports in the first half of 2025, marking a 9.2 percent rise compared to the same period last year, according to the WAM report. Zayed International Airport recorded 93,858 aircraft movements during the first half, up 11.4 percent from 84,286 flights in the first six months of 2024. Etihad Airways temporarily halted some regional flights amid the tensions. Meanwhile, Wizz Air recently announced plans to exit Abu Dhabi from Sept. 1, citing geopolitical instability and airspace restrictions. Abu Dhabi Airports pushed ahead with network expansion, introducing 16 new destinations and onboarding several new airline partners in the first half of the year. These include China Eastern Airlines' four-times-weekly Shanghai service, which will become daily in September; Air Seychelles' six weekly flights; and Fly Cham's route to Damascus. Indian carrier IndiGo also added new services to Madurai, Bhubaneswar, and Visakhapatnam, making Zayed International its most connected hub in the UAE. Cargo volumes also rose, reaching 344,795 tonnes in the first half of the year, supported by infrastructure upgrades and growing trade flows through the emirate.
