Sharjah’s Deputy Ruler, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, concluded a two-day visit to Shanghai, China, on Saturday, touring facilities at the Shanghai Film Studios and Film Park, as well as the Shanghai Football Club Stadium. The visit underscored potential collaborations in media, sports, and technology, according to a press release issued by AETOSWire.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed began his visit at the 800,000-square-metre Shanghai Film Studios and Film Park in Shidon. He received a presentation detailing the studio’s capabilities, which include four professional studios ranging in size from 800 to 3,000 square metres, a substantial costume warehouse, and comprehensive production support services. The delegation was shown examples of artificial intelligence technologies being utilized in filmmaking processes, and toured sound recording rooms, image quality control facilities, and editing suites.
The visit included a demonstration of advanced cinematic technologies, such as “Green Chroma” technology and underwater filming techniques. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed also explored the Shanghai Film Park, observing diverse filming locations, including a rebuilt section of “Babeling Well Road” and the “Zhejiang Road Bridge,” designed to replicate historic bridge architecture. A classic car exhibition, a key resource for period productions, was also part of the tour. The delegation travelled through the park on a train modeled after those used in the 1930s.
On Friday, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed visited the Shanghai Football Club Stadium, which has a capacity of 80,000 spectators. He examined the stadium’s media facilities and toured the Shanghai Football Club Museum. Wang Shuwei, General Manager of the Stadium Operations Centre, presented information on the club’s history, achievements, and championships. The museum utilizes advanced digital systems to archive events, matches, and tournaments, accessible through interactive touchscreens.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed was briefed on the stadium’s use of AI-enabled facial recognition for entry and exit, on-pitch monitoring systems, and Huawei’s display technologies. He also learned about the club’s fan engagement strategies, including a smart app, digital platforms, social media broadcasts, a dedicated studio, and interactive games designed to enhance the visitor experience. Data management within the stadium is also driven by artificial intelligence.
The visit concluded with an exchange of gifts and commemorative shields between Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed and representatives from the Chinese side. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation and exchanging expertise in sports, media, technical management, content creation, and film production.
Mohamed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of Sharjah Government Media Bureau; Hassan Yaqoub Al Mansouri, Secretary-General of the Sharjah Media Council; Rashid Abdullah Al Oubad, Director General of Sharjah Media City (Shams); Salem Ali Al Ghaithi, Director of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority; Alia Bu Ghanem Al Suwaidi, Director of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau; and Hessa Abdullah Al Hammadi, Assistant Secretary-General of the Sharjah Media Council accompanied Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed during the visit.
As of February 15, 2026, no further meetings or collaborative projects have been publicly announced following the visit.
