Held under the theme "Cultural Diversity: Enriching Civilisations," the event served as the platform for His Highness to sign his latest historical publication, “The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman: Events in Annals from 1497 to 1757," published by Al Qasimi Publications. The book marks a significant addition to His Highness's contributions to documenting regional history.

During the visit, His Highness was accompanied by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), along with His Excellency Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court of Oman; His Excellency Mohammed bin Nakhira Al Dhaheri, UAE Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman; His Excellency Abdullah Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture; His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority; His Excellency Mohammed Obaid Al Zaabi, Head of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality; His Excellency Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; His Excellency Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau; along with several senior officials.

Upon arrival at the venue, His Highness was welcomed by His Highness Sayyid Saif bin Julandi bin Saif Al Said, along with His Excellency Dr Abdullah bin Nasser Al Harrasi, Minister of Information; His Excellency Dr Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Saidi, Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs; His Excellency Dr Saud bin Hamoud Al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources; and His Excellency Dr Mohammed bin Saeed Al Maamari, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah visited the pavilion of the North Al Sharqiyah Governorate, the fair’s guest of honour. During the visit, His Highness received an explanation from Mahmoud bin Yahya Al Dhahli, Governor of North Al Sharqiyah, about the governorate's participation and its display of local customs, traditions, and popular heritage. His Highness also watched a video showcasing the environment of North Al Sharqiyah, highlighting the diverse landscapes that define the governorate.

His Highness was presented with a commemorative sculpture titled "The Door Threshold" by the Governor of North Al Sharqiyah, inspired by traditional Omani architecture. In addition, His Highness received several commemorative gifts, publications, and contributions from various participating entities at the fair, as a gesture of appreciation and gratitude for his visit to the event and the pavilion.

His Highness toured the exhibition halls, which feature the participation of 674 publishing houses from 35 countries. During his visit, he was briefed on the contributions of the Oman News Agency, the Omani Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and the Omani National Records and Archives Authority. His Highness also engaged with participating writers and intellectuals, highlighting the event’s vibrant cultural atmosphere.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah signed his latest work, "The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman: Events in the Annals from 1497 to 1757 AD." This comprehensive 21-volume publication, available in both Arabic and English, spans between 400 to 600 pages per volume, with a total of 10,500 pages. The series includes 1,138 historical documents and letters sourced from archival centres around the world.

The book is organised chronologically, with each volume presenting events year by year in an annalistic format. At the end of each volume, a detailed index and footnotes to the documents are provided for easy reference. In addition to letters, this landmark historical work features complete books and rare writings by Portuguese authors—many of which are being published for the first time.

The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman: Events in the Annals from 1497 to 1757 is a vital historical record that captures key events and developments in the Sea of Oman over a span of 260 years. It meticulously documents the movements of Portuguese fleets en route to India and details the numerous battles and encounters that shaped the region during this pivotal era.

This book unveils historical facts for the first time through rigorous scholarly research, in-depth analysis backed by solid evidence, and the unwavering dedication of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, whose tireless efforts made this monumental historical work possible.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah adopted a distinctive methodology in compiling this rare annal, acquiring an extensive collection of Portuguese, Dutch, and British manuscripts. The process of gathering these historical documents spanned many years and involved meticulous scholarly work—beginning with organising them chronologically and thematically, followed by translating them from old Portuguese into modern Portuguese, then into English, and finally into Arabic.

The volumes of "The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman: Events in the Annals from 1497 to 1757 AD" offer readers a journey through history, capturing the events and developments of the era as documented by the Portuguese in their letters, correspondence, and writings. The collection unveils to researchers the political, economic, and social dynamics of the time, shedding light on the conditions and transformations experienced in the Sea of Oman region over this pivotal 260-year period.

These documents also shed light on the Portuguese ambitions in the Arabian Gulf and their strategic efforts to undermine the Omani economy. Notably, they include agreements made between the Portuguese and Indian sultans, containing clauses that explicitly prohibited cooperation with the Arabs in Oman or the establishment of trade relations with them.

This groundbreaking historical book is a significant contribution to both Arab and international libraries, offering a rich trove of historical insights and facts that had remained hidden for centuries in archives and forgotten shelves.

Annals are a form of historical writing in which events and facts are documented in chronological order, year by year. Each entry typically begins with phrases such as “At the beginning of the year…” or “Then the year began…” to mark the start of a new period. When multiple events occur within the same year, they are introduced with expressions like “And in the same year,” “During that year,” or “It was also the year when…” to maintain continuity and clarity in the timeline of events.

Annals reflect the cyclical nature of time, capturing the flow of political, economic, religious, and social events as they unfold. In this style, the historian records not only what happened, but also where and when each event took place, providing detailed spatial and temporal context. This meticulous structure allows annals to offer a clearer, more profound understanding of significant historical developments.

This approach was embraced by Islamic historians to recount the stories and events of past nations. Among the earliest pioneers of this chronological method were the renowned historians Al-Haytham ibn 'Adi ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Kufi and Abu 'abd Allah Muhammad Ibn 'umar Al-waqidi.

Annals come in two main types: the first records the events of a specific year regardless of location, while the second focuses on events within a particular region, arranged in strict chronological order. These annals compile a wide range of events, incidents, and news, presented in a sequential format that allows researchers and readers to follow them with ease. They also provide concise summaries of the lives and stories of individuals across different regions and over extended historical periods.