Why is Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi in Greece?
The UAE royal inaugurated a very special event – one which is centred on cultural exchange between the two countries
HE Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and Founder and Patron of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), recently shared snippets from her trip to the historic Greek city of Thessaloniki.
The UAE royal attended the Thessaloniki International Book Fair 2024 (TIBF) as Sharjah was invited as the Guest of Honour at the event.
Representing the Emirate, Sheikha Bodour inaugurated the Folktales Reimagined exhibition, at Thessaloniki Central Library.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi Inaugurates Special Exhibition In Greece
During her visit, the Sharjah royal met some of the Emirati and Greek artists who took part in bringing the display to life and appreciated their efforts.
The exhibit features five Emirati and five Greek artists, who presented characters from traditional folktales from the two countries, as reimagined by them in the present day.
As an exercise on cultural exchange, Emirati creatives depicted the most popular Greek tales, while their Greek counterparts reinterpreted the most famous stories from the UAE.
The Folktales Reimagined exhibition was first launched as part of the Sharjah World Book Capital 2019 initiative, with previous editions held in Italy, Mexico, and South Korea.
Looking regal as usual throughout her trip, Sheikha Bodour wore an all-white ensemble, a burnt orange matching set as well as a printed green outfit.
Sheikha Bodour had earlier spoken to Bazaar Arabia about her passion for growing the publishing world and about early influences from His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, member of the Federal Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah.
She said, “My father, a prolific reader, would tell us stories from the history books he used to read, and that always stimulated my imagination, not to mention increased my curiosity about books.”
UAE Royals Have A Special Relationship with Greece
Another royal from the UAE that boasts a unique relationship with the European country is Her Highness Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, daughter of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Ruler of Dubai; she is half-Greek on her mother, Zoe Grigorakos’, side.
“My upbringing was deeply rooted in Greek culture by my mother, and as a result, I feel a strong sense of connection to it,” Sheikha Mahra told Harper’s Bazaar Arabia exclusively in her cover story interview back in January 2024. “Maintaining close ties with my family is a significant priority in my life, as it serves as a means to remain closely connected to my cultural heritage. I am fluent in the Greek language and make an effort to visit my homeland as frequently as my circumstances allow.”
Her Highness and her husband Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum shared pictures from their vacation on the island of Mykonos after getting married in 2023. During the holiday, the couple enjoyed the pristine beaches of Greece, rode jet skis, and tried local cuisine at popular restaurants such as Nammos.
Sheikha Mahra shares a strong bond with her mother, Zoe, as she is constantly seen as part of her Instagram posts.
On March 25, Her Highness took to Instagram to share a picture of the iconic skyscraper Burj Khalifa lighting up in blue and white as Greek nationals in the UAE and across the world celebrated their Independence Day.
Lead Image Courtesy of Instagram/@bodouralqasimi