Sharjah to Stage Major Arab–German Science and Humanities Conference

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and President of the University of Sharjah (UOS), the emirate will host the Arab–German Conference on Science and Humanities from 17 to 20 November 2025.

The four-day programme is expected to convene more than 100 leading academics and researchers representing upward of 40 universities and research bodies across the Arab region and Germany. Organised in partnership with the Arab–German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA), the event seeks to strengthen bilateral research ties and catalyse joint scientific initiatives.

Activities on the third day will take place at the University of Khorfakkan, underscoring Sharjah’s effort to spread academic engagement beyond the emirate’s main campuses. The gathering is supported by internationally recognised institutions, including the University of Cambridge, Technical University of Munich, Cairo University, United Arab Emirates University and Sultan Qaboos University.

Conference sessions will span health sciences, technology and space research, innovation and sustainable smart cities, as well as the social and human sciences. A central aim is to give early-career researchers the platform to build sustained networks, share expertise and launch collaborative projects addressing regional and global research priorities.

Delegates will include university presidents, subject specialists and representatives from multilateral organisations such as UNESCO and the World Bank, reflecting the event’s international reach. Confirmed speakers include Prof Thomas Silveira (Harvard University), Prof Claudia Derichs (Humboldt University, Germany), Dr Gina El Feki (Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Egypt), Dr Bassam Alam Eldin (American University of Ras Al Khaimah), Dr Mohamed Yahya (Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Mauritania) and Dr Erik Hansalik (German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space).

Interactive workshops and panel discussions will address pressing topics such as water resource sustainability, how higher education can underpin global partnerships, innovations in space science, and the role universities play in advancing sustainable development. The conference is designed to produce actionable collaborations and shared research agendas.

AGYA, which is headquartered in Berlin with a regional office in Egypt, has announced plans to establish a new office at the University of Sharjah to coordinate its activities across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, signalling Sharjah’s expanding role as a regional hub for international research cooperation.