Page 17 - MBRF PR REPORT - MAY 2025

Press Release

MBRF kicks off participation at Turin Book Fair 2025 with a

seminar on ‘The Legacy of Muslim Sicily’ encyclopedia

Dubai, UAE, 15 May 2025- The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation
(MBRF) commenced its participation at the Turin International Book Fair 2025, one of Europe’s

most prestigious intellectual and cultural gatherings, which is taking place from May 15 to 19,
2025. MBRF’s participation at the event reflects its ongoing efforts to expand its global footprint,

promote its knowledge-based initiatives and showcase its leading intellectual publications across

science, academia, and publishing.

In line with its participation, MBRF organized a dedicated seminar exploring the recently published
‘The Legacy of Muslim Sicily’ encyclopedia. The session featured H.E. Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of

MBRF, alongside Dr. Attilio Petruccioli, Professor in the Department of Architecture and Building
at the University of Rome, and Dr. Francesco Violante, Associate Professor of Medieval History at

the University of Bari, Italy.

During his keynote address, H.E. bin Huwaireb stated that the encyclopedia is the outcome of

eighteen years of meticulous academic research, spearheaded by the late renowned thinker and
scholar Dr. Salma Khadra Jayyusi. The publication includes 30 scholarly essays by 29 researchers

from Italy, the Arab world, Europe and the Americas. Furthermore, H.E. highlighted that apart
from recording Sicily’s Islamic era (831 -1091 CE), the encyclopedia also depicts the remarkable

civilizational legacy that influenced various aspects of the island, including its architecture,

sciences, arts, language, and social structures, marking a lasting impact on this Mediterranean
crossroads.

In addition, H.E. bin Huwaireb emphasized that MBRF functions under the visionary leadership of

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of
the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to promote cross-cultural dialogue and mutual understanding. He

further highlighted the pivotal role of knowledge in facilitating civilization exchange, noting that