Sharjah Deputy Ruler Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed launched the SELAH family lineage app and opened the Sharjah Legal Forum 2026 focused on legislation family stability and digital challenges in the UAE Year of Family.
By Imran Malik | Community & Government Desk | SharjahNews.ae | MediaBites.com.pk
In a morning of significant activity at the University of Sharjah, His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Judicial Council, launched a new digital platform for documenting family lineages and officially opened the Sharjah Legal Forum 2026 — two milestones that together reflect Sharjah’s comprehensive commitment to family as the foundation of society during the UAE’s Year of Family 2026.
SELAH — Documenting Every Family’s Story
Following directives from His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, to expand family lineage documentation to encompass all families and households in the community, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed officially launched the SELAH application — an integrated digital platform designed to document family ties and preserve family history in a modern, user-friendly format.
The launch follows the successful introduction of the Al Qawasim application dedicated to documenting the ruling family’s lineage and responds to the Ruler of Sharjah’s encouragement for all families to document their kinship ties.
SELAH allows users to create and manage multiple family trees with flexible options to join existing trees through direct invitation or QR code scanning. The tree administrator has full authority to add family members, edit data, and organize the family structure, ensuring accuracy and easier management.
The application provides an advanced interactive experience for exploring family trees across generations, from the founding ancestor to the most recently added member, displaying family relationships in a clear visual format that strengthens communication among family members and preserves heritage for future generations.
SELAH is available free of charge on digital app stores, allowing families worldwide to document their lineages and kinship ties.
Sharjah Legal Forum 2026 — Law, Family and the Digital Age
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed also witnessed the launch of the Sharjah Legal Forum 2026, organised by the Legal Department of Sharjah in cooperation with the Judicial Council at Al Razi Hall.
Her Excellency Mariam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary-General of the UAE Cabinet, delivered the keynote address, noting that 2026 has been designated the Year of Family under the directives of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. She emphasized that a strong society begins with strong families and that integrating policies, legislation, and initiatives supporting families represents a sustainable investment in the UAE’s future generations.
She highlighted that the Ruler of Sharjah’s approach has made building people and strengthening family cohesion the foundation of the emirate’s entire development project.
Counselor Dr Mansour Mohammed bin Nassar, Chairman of the Legal Department of Sharjah, noted that the strength of legislation lies not only in the precision of its structure but in its ability to address reality, respond to change, and enhance community stability.
Forum Themes — Legislation, Values and Digital Challenges
The forum’s agenda addresses four interconnected themes directly relevant to Sharjah’s families and the broader UAE community.
The relationship between legislation and family stability amid social, economic, and technological change. The role of societal values in building cohesive families. Legal alternatives for resolving family disputes through mediation and reconciliation. And critically, digital challenges and the future of the family — examining the impact of AI, misinformation, identity theft, and other digital risks on family relationships and children’s safety.
A panel discussion titled “Legal Text between Stability and Evolution” brought together senior legal experts who agreed on the positive role of technology and artificial intelligence in supporting data analysis and facilitating legislative work.
His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed honoured the forum’s sponsors and participants, commending their contributions to family stability and Sharjah’s social development.
— Imran Malik | Community and Government Desk | SharjahNews.ae | MediaBites.com.pk
Source: Sharjah Government Media Bureau
