SHARJAH, Dec 19: Kuwaiti novelist Talal Al-Rumaidhi participated in the inaugural Sharjah Heritage Conference, held under the theme "Heritage Cities in the Arab World." During the event, he presented a scientific paper titled The Historical Identity of Old Kuwait City.

In his lecture, Al-Rumaidhi discussed the cultural and historical identity of Kuwait City, emphasizing how this identity evolved over the ages and was shaped by various historical events. He highlighted that Kuwaiti identity is not merely a historical legacy but also a continuum that connects the past, present, and future.

The lecture sparked lively discussions among attendees, who explored ways to preserve and enhance this identity amidst contemporary challenges.

Al-Rumaidhi pointed out that Kuwait City is one of the Arabian Gulf region's historic cities, with deep roots documented in numerous Arab and foreign manuscripts, as well as local records. These sources depict the city's urban and demographic characteristics, reflecting the lives of its ancestors who built and inhabited it over the centuries.

He explained that Kuwait City has long been distinguished by its close relationship with the desert and its inhabitants from Arab tribes. The city’s residents engaged in trade with these tribes, a practice known as Musabala. He also mentioned the historical Al-Manakh market, a well-known site where camels would gather and trade took place.

The two-day conference, which concluded on Wednesday, featured the participation of 50 experts and researchers from 19 Arab countries. On the sidelines of the event, researcher Talal Al-Rumaidhi was honored by Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Muslim, President of the Sharjah Institute, in recognition of his valuable contributions to Arab heritage through his distinguished publications.