Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi is an Emirati politician, author, historian, and the current and 11th ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah and a member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates since January 1972. He is best known for his historical publications, support for education, and preservation of cultural landmarks. He restored the Al Hisn Fort in Sharjah in 1970 and served as the United Arab Emirates first Minister of Education in 1971. As an academic, he has authored multiple historical documents as well as memoirs, studies, novels, poetry and plays regarding the Middle East and North Africa.
Dec 11 2019
Jun 15 1999Early life and education
Sultan's mother was Maryam bint Sheikh Ghanem Al Shamsi (1915–2010). He has four brothers and two sisters: Khalid, Sheikh Saqr, Abdul Aziz, Abdullah, Sheikha and Naema.4
In 1948, at the age of nine years, he enrolled in Eslah As Qasimia School. After completing his elementary and secondary education between Sharjah, Kuwait City and Dubai, Al-Qasimi went on to study a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering at Cairo University, graduating in 1971. He completed a PhD in history at the University of Exeter in 1985, and another in the political geography of the Gulf at Durham University in 1999.5
Career
Minister of Education
In December 1971, Sultan was appointed the first Minister of Education for the Emirates.6
Al Qasimi became president of both the American University of Sharjah and the University of Sharjah in 1997 and was named a visiting professor at the University of Exeter, his alma mater, in 1998. He became a professor of modern history of the Gulf at the University of Sharjah in 1999. In 2008, he became a visiting professor at Cairo University.
Ruler of Sharjah
Al Qasimi succeeded his brother, Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, as emir after his assassination on January 25, 1972.7
Al Qasimi has ruled Sharjah continuously since coming to power in the wake of the 1972 Sharjawi coup where the former Sheikh, Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi was killed by forces loyal to Saqr bin Sultan Al Qasimi, apart from a seven-day period in June 1987, during the 1987 Sharjawi coup led by his elder brother Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi.8
In May 2018, Al Qasimi established the "Irada" drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation centre in Sharjah.91011
Sultan celebrated the 50th anniversary as the Ruler of Sharjah on 25 January 2022.12
Writing career
Al Qasimi has authored at least 82 books by 2023 which include historical, literary, and theatrical books.1314
In 2020, a historical film titled Khorfakkan based on the book Khorfakkan’s Resistance Against the Portuguese Invasion of September 1507 written by Al Qasimi was released. The movie tells the story of the resistance of Khorfakkan city against the Portuguese invasion in the 16th century.15
Honours and awards
Honours
National honour
- United Arab Emirates: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Zayed16
Foreign honours
- Armenia: Grand Cross of the Order of Honour
- Belgium: Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold
- Egypt: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Republic
- France:
- Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters
- Commander of the Legion of Honour17
- Germany: Great Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany1819
- Senegal: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit20
- Sudan: Sash of Honour2122
Honorary degrees
Al Qasimi has been awarded multiple honorary degrees from various institutions for his work in promoting education in social studies, law, science, and arts.23
DegreesPersonal life
Al Qasimi has had at least two wives. With his first wife, Al Qasimi had two children:
- Azza bint Sultan al Qasimi
- Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi (1974–1999). He was the crown prince. He died after a heroin overdose at the Emir's residence in Wych Cross Place, near Forest Row, East Grinstead, UK, on 3 April 1999 at the age of 24 years.242526
With his second wife, Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, he had four children:27
- Bodour bint Sultan (b. 1978). She is married to Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi and has three children:
- Maryam bint Sultan Al Qasimi
- Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi
- Alya bint Sultan Al Qasimi
- Noor bint Sultan (b. 1979)
- Hoor bint Sultan (b. 1980)
- Khalid bin Sultan (1980–2019). He was the owner of British clothing chain Qasimi. He died in London aged 39. His death was, according to the coroner, 'drug related' as 'toxicology tests revealed Khalid had high levels of GHB and "recreational" amounts of cocaine in his system'.282930
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sultan bin Mohamed al-Qassimi III..References
"Biography of Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi". Retrieved 9 October 2016. http://www.sheikhdrsultan.ae/Portal/en/education.aspx ↩
Langton, James (25 January 2022). "Seven highlights from the life of Sheikh Dr Sultan, Ruler of Sharjah". The National. https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2022/01/25/seven-highlights-from-the-life-of-sheikh-dr-sultan-ruler-of-sharjah/ ↩
Al Bustani, Hareth; Ayach, Liza (15 August 2022). "Sharjah Ruler publishes groundbreaking new history book". The National. https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/books/2022/08/15/sharjah-ruler-publishes-groundbreaking-new-history-book/ ↩
"Life of Service". The Business Year. Retrieved 24 January 2022. https://www.thebusinessyear.com/uae-2018/life-of-service/profile ↩
Smith, Eugene (9 February 2017). "Al-Qasimi Building named after ruler of UAE emirate accused of human rights abuses". Palatinate. Retrieved 14 June 2022. https://www.palatinate.org.uk/al-qasimi-building-named-after-ruler-of-uae-emirate-accused-of-human-rights-abuses/ ↩
Langton, James (25 January 2022). "Seven highlights from the life of Sheikh Dr Sultan, Ruler of Sharjah". The National. Retrieved 15 May 2024. https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2022/01/25/seven-highlights-from-the-life-of-sheikh-dr-sultan-ruler-of-sharjah/ ↩
"Khaled bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi: A humble ruler and man of letters". Arab News. Retrieved 15 May 2024. https://www.arabnews.com/node/462225/amp ↩
Jessup, John E. (1998). "An encyclopedic dictionary of conflict and conflict resolution, 1945–1996", p. 773, Greenwood Press. ↩
"Ruler of Sharjah directs to establish drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation centre". The Personal Website of H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi. https://sheikhdrsultan.ae/Portal/en/media-center/activity/28/5/2018/حاكم-الشارقة-يوجه-بإنشاء-مركز-علاجي-للمتعاطين.aspx ↩
"Sharjah to set up new drug-rehab centre". gulfnews.com. 28 May 2018. https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/sharjah-to-set-up-new-drug-rehab-centre-1.2228142 ↩
Wam (11 January 2017). "Sheikh Mohammed issues Law on formation of 'Irada' Rehab and Treatment Centre". Emirates24-7. https://www.emirates247.com/news/government/sheikh-mohammed-issues-law-on-formation-of-irada-rehab-and-treatment-centre-2017-01-11-1.646170 ↩
"Sharjah celebrates 50th anniversary of Ruler's accession to throne". Emirates News Agency. https://wam.ae/en/details/1395303014233 ↩
Jalal, Maan (3 July 2023). "Sharjah Ruler's latest book delves into the history of Oman". The National. https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/books/2023/07/03/sharjah-rulers-latest-book-delves-into-the-history-of-oman/ ↩
"Publications". sheikhdrsultan.ae. Retrieved 31 December 2024. https://sheikhdrsultan.ae/portal/en/official-positions/literary-works.aspx#page=1 ↩
"'Khorfakkan' a film based on Sheikh Sultan's book to debut on international streaming platforms". 8 February 2022. https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2022/02/08/khorfakkan-a-film-based-on-sheikh-sultans-book-to-debut-on-international-streaming-platforms ↩
"Khalifa honours Mohammed bin Rashid with 'Zayed Order'". Emirates 24/7. 2 December 2012. https://www.emirates247.com/news/government/khalifa-honours-mohammed-bin-rashid-with-zayed-order-2012-12-02-1.485527?ot=ot.AMPPageLayout ↩
Sharjah 25 https://www.sharjah24.ae/en/Articles/2023/04/11/Ruler-of-Sharjah-receives-French-Order-of-Legion-of-Honour ↩
"Arabstoday". 4 July 2015. https://www.arabstoday.net/en/amp/335/sharjah-ruler-wins-germanys-grand-order-of-merit-with-star ↩
"Sharjah Ruler wins Germany's Grand Order of Merit". The Diplomat Magazine. 3 July 2015. https://www.thediplomatmagazine.com/main/sharjah-ruler-wins-germanys-grand-order-of-merit/ ↩
"Sharjah Prize for doctoral theses in management science in the Arab world site | Sharjah Prize for doctoral theses in management science in the Arab world". http://sharjahphdaward.com/en/about/ ↩
al-Qasimi, Sultan bin Muhammad (12 April 2012). Taking the Reins: The Critical Years, 1971-1977. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4081-8017-4. 978-1-4081-8017-4 ↩
"Sharjah celebrates 50th anniversary of Ruler's accession to throne". wam. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2023. https://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395303014233 ↩
"Honorary Degrees". sheikhdrsultan.ae. Retrieved 31 December 2024. https://sheikhdrsultan.ae/Portal/en/biography.aspx?c=cat_35 ↩
"Mystery death of sheikh, aged 24". The Argus. 8 April 1999. https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/6800041.mystery-death-of-sheikh-aged-24/ ↩
"Sheikh died after heroin overdose". The Independent. 16 June 1999. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/sheikh-died-after-heroin-overdose-1100442.html ↩
Terri Judd (16 June 1999). "Sheikh died after heroin overdose". Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2020. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/sheikh-died-after-heroin-overdose-1100442.html ↩
"Personal | HHEO". https://hheo.ae/personal/ ↩
"Fashion Designer and Son of Sharjah Ruler, Sheikh Khalid al Qasimi, Has Passed Away". 2 July 2019. https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/people/news/fashion-designer-son-of-sharjah-ruler-khalid-al-qasimi-has-died ↩
"Emirati son of Sharjah ruler dies in London at age 39". Daily Sabah. 2 July 2019. https://www.dailysabah.com/mideast/2019/07/02/emirati-son-of-sharjah-ruler-dies-in-london-at-age-39 ↩
"Emir's fashion designer son, 39, dies after cocaine and sex drug binge at luxury Knightsbridge flat". news.com.au. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/emirs-fashion-designer-son-39-dies-after-cocaine-and-sex-drug-binge-at-luxury-knightsbridge-flat/news-story/f404b15548bee180bce681c924f51030 ↩