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Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi

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Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi
Al Qasimi in 2017
Ruler of Sharjah
Reign25 January 1972 – present
PredecessorKhalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi
Heir presumptiveSultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi
United Arab Emirates Minister of Education
In office
9 December 1971 – 19 February 1972
PresidentZayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Prime MinisterMaktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byAbdullah bin Omran Al Taryam
Born (1939-07-02) 2 July 1939 (age 87)
Sharjah, Trucial States
SpouseJawaher bint Mohammed Al-Qasimi
Issue
HouseAl Qasimi
FatherMohammed bin Saqr bin Khalid Al Qasimi
MotherMaryam bint Ghanem bin Salem Al Shamsi

Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi (Arabic: سلطان بن محمد القاسمي, romanized: Sulṭān bin Muḥammad al-Qāsimī; born 2 July 1939) 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.[1] 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and served as the United Arab Emirates first Minister of Education in 1971.[2] As an academic, he has authored multiple historical documents as well as memoirs, studies, novels, poetry and plays regarding the Middle East and North Africa.[3]

Early life and education

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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

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Minister of Education

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In December 1971, Sultan was appointed the first Minister of Education for the Emirates.[6]

Academia

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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

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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.[9][10][11]

Sultan celebrated the 50th anniversary as the Ruler of Sharjah on 25 January 2022.[12]

Writing career

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Al Qasimi has authored at least 82 books by 2023 which include historical, literary, and theatrical books.[13][14]

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]

Philanthropy

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University of Exeter

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Al-Qasimi has made numerous donations to his alma mater, the University of Exeter, since graduating in 1985. This includes generous donations to the university's Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, and was described as "the university's single most important supporter" in its 2007 annual report. He also contributed £5m towards the total cost of £48m for its Forum building which opened in 2012. These donations have been subject to criticism, including from fellow Exeter alumnus Robert Halfon, who as chair of the House of Commons education select committee stated that he'd rather universities "looked at democratic countries as opposed to dictatorships or countries with questionable human rights records."[16][17] The United Arab Emirates was ranked 119th out of 167 on the Economist Democracy Index and classed as an authoritarian regime.[18]

In 2023, Al-Qasimi made a philanthropic pledge to expand the institute with a new building named after him that is scheduled to open in 2027.[19] In 2025 the university awarded him with the inaugural Chancellor's Medal to recognise his transformational impact.[20]

Haghartsin Monastery

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In 2011, Al-Qasimi donated to the non-profit Armenia Fund for the purpose of renovating the Haghartsin Monastery in Dilijan, Armenia. [21]

Honours and awards

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Honours

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Styles of
Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi
Reference styleHis Highness
Spoken styleYour Highness

National honour

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Foreign honours

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Honorary degrees

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Al Qasimi has been awarded multiple honorary degrees from various institutions for his work in promoting education in social studies, law, science, and arts.[30]

Degrees
Country Date University Degree
 Pakistan 1983Faisalabad UniversityDoctorate in Science (DSc) honoris causa
 Sudan 1986Khartoum UniversityDoctor of Law honoris causa
2020Sudan University of Science and TechnologyPhD in Drama honoris causa
 United Kingdom 1993University of ExeterDoctorate in Arabic and Islamic studies honoris causa
2001University of EdinburghDoctorate in Humane Letters honoris causa
2003South Bank UniversityDoctor of Law honoris causa
2008University of SheffieldDoctor of Arts (D.A) honoris causa
 Russia 1995Russian Academy of SciencesDoctor of History honoris causa
 Malaysia 2001International Islamic University of MalaysiaDoctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Education honoris causa
 Canada 2004McMaster UniversityDoctor of Law honoris causa
 Armenia 2005Armenian National Academy of Scienceshonoris causa
 Germany 2006University of TübingenDoctor of Philosophy honoris causa
 Jordan 2008University of JordanDoctor of Public Administration honoris causa
 Egypt 2009Cairo UniversityDoctorate in Humane Letters honoris causa
2015American University in CairoDoctor of Social Science honoris causa
 Japan 2010Kanazawa UniversityHonorary Doctorate honoris causa
 South Korea 2011Hanyang UniversityDoctor of Social Science honoris causa
 France 2012Paris Diderot UniversityDoctorate in Humane Letters honoris causa
 India 2017University of CalicutDoctorate in Education and Cultural Relations honoris causa
 Portugal 2018University of Coimbrahonoris causa
 Italy 2019Polytechnic University of TurinDoctorate in Urban and Regional Development honoris causa
 Spain 2019Autonomous University of Madridhonoris causa

Personal life

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Al Qasimi has had at least two wives. With his first wife, Al Qasimi had two children:

With his second wife, Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, he had four children:[34]

  • 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'.[35][36][37]

References

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  1. ↑ "Biography of Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi". Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  2. ↑ Langton, James (25 January 2022). "Seven highlights from the life of Sheikh Dr Sultan, Ruler of Sharjah". The National.
  3. ↑ Al Bustani, Hareth; Ayach, Liza (15 August 2022). "Sharjah Ruler publishes groundbreaking new history book". The National.
  4. ↑ "Life of Service". The Business Year. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  5. ↑ Smith, Eugene (9 February 2017). "Al-Qasimi Building named after ruler of UAE emirate accused of human rights abuses". Palatinate. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  6. ↑ Langton, James (25 January 2022). "Seven highlights from the life of Sheikh Dr Sultan, Ruler of Sharjah". The National. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  7. ↑ "Khaled bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi: A humble ruler and man of letters". Arab News. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  8. ↑ Jessup, John E. (1998). "An encyclopedic dictionary of conflict and conflict resolution, 1945–1996", p. 773, Greenwood Press.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "Sharjah to set up new drug-rehab centre". gulfnews.com. 28 May 2018.
  11. ↑ Wam (11 January 2017). "Sheikh Mohammed issues Law on formation of 'Irada' Rehab and Treatment Centre". Emirates24-7.
  12. ↑ "Sharjah celebrates 50th anniversary of Ruler's accession to throne". Emirates News Agency.
  13. ↑ Jalal, Maan (3 July 2023). "Sharjah Ruler's latest book delves into the history of Oman". The National.
  14. ↑ "Publications". sheikhdrsultan.ae. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  15. ↑ "'Khorfakkan' a film based on Sheikh Sultan's book to debut on international streaming platforms". 8 February 2022.
  16. ↑ Preston-Ellis, Rom (22 August 2017). "Exeter University 'accepted donations from dictatorships'". Devon Live. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  17. ↑ Turner, Camilla; Yorke, Harry (12 August 2017). "Exclusive: MPs demand British universities stop accepting donations from dictatorships". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 9 August 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  18. ↑ "Democracy Index 2024". Economist Intelligence Unit. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  19. ↑ Sandes, Duncan (27 March 2023). "Transformational philanthropy will establish innovative new building at the University of Exeter". University of Exeter News. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  20. ↑ Sandes, Duncan (25 July 2025). "University of Exeter Honours Ruler of Sharjah with Inaugural Chancellor's Medal". University of Exeter News. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  21. ↑ "Armenia Fund Will Upgrade Haghartsin Monastery With Donation from HH the Ruler of Sharjah". 19 March 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011..
  22. ↑ "Khalifa honours Mohammed bin Rashid with 'Zayed Order'". Emirates 24/7. 2 December 2012.
  23. ↑ Sharjah 25
  24. ↑ "Arabstoday". 4 July 2015.
  25. ↑ "Sharjah Ruler wins Germany's Grand Order of Merit". The Diplomat Magazine. 3 July 2015.
  26. ↑ "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".
  27. ↑ al-Qasimi, Sultan bin Muhammad (12 April 2012). Taking the Reins: The Critical Years, 1971-1977. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4081-8017-4.
  28. ↑ "Sharjah celebrates 50th anniversary of Ruler's accession to throne". wam. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  29. ↑ "Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi distinguido com o Grande Colar da Ordem de Camões". wam. 2 February 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  30. ↑ "Honorary Degrees". sheikhdrsultan.ae. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  31. ↑ "Mystery death of sheikh, aged 24". The Argus. 8 April 1999.
  32. ↑ "Sheikh died after heroin overdose". The Independent. 16 June 1999. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.
  33. ↑ Terri Judd (16 June 1999). "Sheikh died after heroin overdose". Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  34. ↑ "Personal | HHEO".
  35. ↑ "Fashion Designer and Son of Sharjah Ruler, Sheikh Khalid al Qasimi, Has Passed Away". 2 July 2019.
  36. ↑ "Emirati son of Sharjah ruler dies in London at age 39". Daily Sabah. 2 July 2019.
  37. ↑ "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.
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