AGYA’s Annual Conference 2025 opens in Sharjah on Monday 17 November 2025 with a full day of academic exchange, starting at the University of Sharjah in the morning and concluding with an evening science communication event at Holiday International Hotel beside Khalid Lagoon. The programme for the opening day runs from 10:00 to 21:00 and combines ceremonial moments, a high-level policy panel, interdisciplinary labs and public-facing science communication. Organisers present the event as a bridge between Arab and German research communities, with more than 100 participants expected from over 40 institutions across both regions.Throughout the day, scholars, policymakers and students move between plenary sessions and smaller lab-style formats that encourage collaboration across disciplines. The conference theme, “Connectivity in Science – Today. Tomorrow. Future.” shapes both the content and the networking agenda. Public programming on Monday 17 November 2025 runs continuously from 10:00 until 21:00 (suitable for solo participants, academic groups and students).
AGYA conference background and objectives
The Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities, known as AGYA, brings together early and mid-career researchers from across the Arab world and Germany to work on joint projects in fields ranging from sustainability and public health to cultural heritage and digital technologies. Over the past decade, the academy has rotated its annual conference between cities such as Berlin, Tunis, Kuwait and Aachen, where it combines closed working meetings with a series of public events. In 2025, the conference comes to Sharjah for the first time, underlining the emirate’s role as a regional hub for education and research. The University of Sharjah and University of Khorfakkan co-host the four-day programme from 17 to 20 November, while the city’s waterfront venues support evening activities that connect science and society. The opening day is designed to introduce AGYA’s mission, highlight new members and set the tone for three further days of detailed discussions.
Opening ceremony and guest speakers
The public opening ceremony on Monday 17 November 2025 is scheduled from 10:00 to 11:00 at the University of Sharjah. It brings together dignitaries including H.H. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, President of the University of Sharjah and Deputy Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, alongside senior representatives from German research ministries and Egyptian science institutions.Welcome addresses introduce the conference theme of “Connectivity in Science” and underline long-term commitments to Arab-German collaboration in higher education and research policy. The ceremony also includes the festive inauguration of the new AGYA members and alumni cohort for 2025, signalling fresh additions to the academy’s network. The format combines speeches with a more informal atmosphere suitable for networking as soon as the official programme concludes. Because the opening session includes high-ranking guests, attendees should arrive well before 10:00 to clear security and registration smoothly (suitable for academics, policymakers and interested students).
Panel discussion on connectivity in science
Immediately after the ceremony, a panel discussion titled “Connectivity in Science: Arab-German Research Cooperation” runs from 11:00 to 12:30. The panel features university leaders, AGYA alumni and representatives from German federal research ministries who discuss practical strategies for building cross-border research partnerships. Names listed in the programme include the president of the American University of Ras Al Khaimah, senior research leaders from the University of Sharjah and professors from Berlin-based institutions. Moderators from AGYA guide the conversation toward concrete examples, such as co-funded projects, joint supervision schemes and collaborative graduate schools. For participants, this session offers a chance to hear institutional perspectives before moving into smaller, more hands-on lab environments later in the day. Because seats at the panel are limited, early registration and punctual arrival are strongly advised (suitable for researchers, university administrators and policy specialists).
Interdisciplinary labs and networking coffee break
After a short networking lunch from 12:30 to 13:00, attention shifts to interdisciplinary labs running from 13:30 to 16:30. These labs carry titles such as “Human-Centred Urban Futures: Smart, Sustainable, Social?”, “The Gift of the Date Palm Tree: Perspectives from Medicine, Agriculture, History, and Literature” and “From Campus to Community: The Role of Higher Education in Peacebuilding.” Each lab combines short inputs with breakout discussions, aiming to “share ideas and shift perspectives for knowledge co-creation,” as organisers describe it. Participants can dive into specific themes, meet colleagues who share similar research interests and identify potential project partners. At 16:30, a networking coffee break provides time to regroup, move between rooms or continue conversations begun earlier in the afternoon. Because the labs are intensive and interactive, attendees should choose their preferred topics in advance and pace their day with the 16:30 coffee break in mind (suitable for solo researchers, interdisciplinary teams and graduate students).
Plenary session and evening highlight of science communication
The programme reconvenes at 17:00 for a 30-minute plenary session where lab convenors report back on key insights and ideas generated in their sessions. This short plenary helps reconnect participants who attended different labs and gives organisers a chance to spotlight emerging themes that may shape later conference days. After a break to allow for transfers and preparation, the focus moves to the waterfront, where the “Highlights of Science Communication” event begins at 19:00 at Holiday International Hotel in Sharjah and continues until 21:00. The evening event is described as a showcase of innovative science communication formats, likely including talks, performances or interactive elements designed to bridge the gap between specialists and wider publics. A dinner reception follows, encouraging informal exchanges between speakers, AGYA members and guests. Because the evening programme takes place off campus, participants should plan transport between the University of Sharjah and Holiday International Hotel in advance (suitable for academics, students, media professionals and interested members of the public).
Who typically attends and how suitable it is
AGYA’s annual conferences attract a mix of current members, alumni and invited guests from universities, research institutes, funding agencies and policy bodies across the Arab world and Germany. In Sharjah, organisers also highlight the role of local faculty and students, who gain exposure to international research networks and potential collaboration opportunities. The content throughout the day remains firmly academic and policy-oriented, rather than general entertainment, so it best suits adults with a professional or strong personal interest in science, higher education or innovation policy. Families with young children may find the long sessions and technical discussions demanding, even though the venues themselves are comfortable and accessible. At the same time, solo visitors with a serious interest in science communication or university collaboration will likely find the opening day dense but rewarding. Overall, Monday 17 November 2025 is most suitable for solo attendees, pairs of colleagues and small academic delegations, rather than family groups or casual tourists.
Getting to University of Sharjah and Holiday International
The University of Sharjah campus lies just off University City Road and is reachable in around 15 to 25 minutes by car from central Sharjah, depending on traffic. Taxis from Sharjah’s central districts typically cost approximately AED 20 to AED 35 each way, while rides from Dubai’s Deira or Bur Dubai areas often range from approximately AED 70 to AED 110, depending on time of day and congestion. For participants who prefer public transport, buses connect parts of Dubai and Sharjah, but most visitors still complete the last leg to the campus by taxi. Holiday International Hotel sits on Al Buhaira Corniche near Khalid Lagoon, with many taxis familiar with the location; short rides from the campus usually take 15 to 25 minutes, traffic permitting.Agoda+2expedia+2 Because the programme stretches from campus to lagoon-side hotel, attendees should budget both time and approximately AED 40 to AED 80 for local taxis between venues on the day (suitable for solo travellers, colleagues and small groups).
Travel suggestions from other Emirates
Participants coming from Dubai can generally reach the University of Sharjah in about 45 to 70 minutes by car, depending on morning traffic at inter-emirate checkpoints and on Al Ittihad Road. For those travelling from Abu Dhabi, the trip to Sharjah typically takes around two hours or slightly longer, especially if they pass through central Dubai. Many delegates therefore choose to stay overnight in Sharjah or nearby Dubai to avoid long early-morning drives before the 10:00 opening ceremony. If you still plan a same-day drive from Dubai, leaving between 07:30 and 08:00 usually gives enough buffer to arrive, park and register calmly before the first session. For the evening science communication event, returning to Dubai or Abu Dhabi after 21:00 often means slightly lighter traffic, yet drivers should still remain cautious and consider rest stops on the way home. Because inter-emirate traffic patterns can change quickly, travellers from other Emirates should check live conditions and leave earlier than strictly necessary on Monday morning (suitable for solo drivers and car-sharing colleagues).
Weather, clothing, traffic and closing advice
Weather forecasts for Sharjah on Monday 17 November 2025 indicate dry conditions with hazy sun, morning temperatures near 20 degrees Celsius rising toward 30 or 31 degrees in the early afternoon, and dropping back to the mid-twenties by the evening. Light, breathable business clothing works well for the daytime sessions, while a thin jacket or shawl can be helpful in air-conditioned lecture halls and hotel ballrooms. Comfortable shoes are advisable, because attendees will move between buildings on campus and later into the hotel’s conference spaces. Traffic within Sharjah and from Dubai usually peaks between 07:30 and 09:30 in the morning and again around 17:00 to 19:30, so planning extra time before the 10:00 opening and 19:00 evening event is essential. Taxi and hotel prices, as well as any conference-related fees, can vary and should always be treated as approximately rather than fixed. According to information often highlighted by editors at www.few.ae, the single most effective way to enjoy AGYA’s opening day smoothly is to confirm your registration, build in generous travel buffers and prepare for a long but rewarding programme from morning sessions to the 21:00 close at Holiday International Hotel.
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