House of Wisdom cultural exchange took centre stage at the 4th Selangor International Book Fair 2025 in Malaysia. The event highlighted Sharjah’s efforts to promote knowledge, reading, and cultural connections. The fair was opened by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, Sultan of Selangor, who honoured the House of Wisdom for its major role in supporting books, reading, and youth literature.
As part of the visit, the House of Wisdom team met officials at the Selangor Public Library Corporation. Director Mastura Muhamad welcomed the delegation and discussed new ideas to improve cooperation between the UAE and Malaysia. She expressed appreciation for the library’s earlier visit to Sharjah and praised the House of Wisdom’s modern design. She said several features, including the Ladies Diwan, will inspire the library’s future expansion.
The delegation also joined the Selangor International Forum on literacy and library innovation. Marwa Al Aqroubi, Executive Director of the House of Wisdom, took part in two discussions with experts from Malaysia, Korea, and China. She spoke about the growing role of libraries as creative spaces that support learning and innovation. She said that technology and AI tools should be part of modern library programmes to match the rise of digital content.
Al Aqroubi highlighted the value of stories in connecting children across cultures. She shared examples such as book clubs, storytelling sessions, exhibitions, and the Enchanted Gardens event, where outdoor spaces turn into story worlds.
Closing the visit, she said books will always play an important role. Technology can support learning, but it cannot replace the emotional depth of stories. The House of Wisdom cultural exchange reflects Sharjah’s long-term vision to build global cultural bridges and strengthen knowledge-sharing between nations.
