H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has issued Law No. 10 of 2018 to organise the Sharjah Institute of Heritage, SIH.

The law stipulates that the SIH shall enjoy the legal personality and the full legal capacity necessary to achieve its objectives. The institute shall also enjoy financial and administrative independence, owned by the government of the emirate of Sharjah.

The main headquarters of the SIH will be in Sharjah city and after a resolution from the Sharjah Ruler, it may set up branches outside the emirate.

The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SCCI, aims to ensure that the emirate becomes a leading centre for education and preparation of national cadres in various heritage pursuits, preserving the heritage and linking it to current events, in addition to cooperation and coordination with the concerned parties to serve the moral heritage and activate scientific links with exchanges of expertise and heritage information with specialised scientific institutions locally and internationally.

The institute is responsible for developing public policies, strategies and academic programmes in all fields of heritage, preparing, qualifying and training researchers and experts concerned with the preservation of the moral heritage, in addition to organising and participating in events, exhibitions and heritage festivals locally and internationally, in coordination with the concerned authorities.

At the suggestion of the council and the adoption of the Executive Council, the organisational structure of the council shall be issued by an Emiri Decree.

According to the law, the directorate shall have a chairman, to be appointed by an Emiri Decree, and assisted by a sufficient number of staff and experts, in accordance with its organisational structure. The chairman shall have the legal personality and capacity necessary to carry out the directorate’s acts, ensuring the fulfilment of its functions.

The SIH shall have an annual budget and begin its financial year from 1st January, and end at the end of December each year. The first financial year shall commence from the date of entry of enactment of this law, and shall end on 31st December of the same year.

The decree shall be effective from the date of issuance and shall be published in the Official Gazette. Any provision contrary to the articles of this law shall be repealed.