• E-Mail
  • Print
  • Share

Government of Sharjah

His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi,
Member of the Supreme Council of United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah

On 25 January 1972, the Al Qasimi Ruling Family in Sharjah appointed His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, to succeed his late brother His Highness Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi as the Ruler of Sharjah and as the Member of the UAE Supreme Council. His Highness is the 15thRuler of the Emirate of Sharjah following a chain of succession of Al Qasimi Rulers dating back to 1630 AD.

Educational Qualifications:

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Political Geography, Durham University, Durham, UK – 2 July 1999
  • Doctor of Philosophy with Distinction in History, Exeter University, Exeter, UK – 22 July 1985
  • Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt - 1971
  • Elementary and Secondary Education - Sharjah, Dubai and Kuwait

Official and Professorial Positions:

  • Ruler of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates - 1972 to date
  • Member of the UAE Supreme Council - 1972 to date
  • Minister of Education, United Arab Emirates - 1971 to 1972
  • President, American University of Sharjah - 1997 to date
  • President, University of Sharjah - 1997 to date
  • Visiting Professor, Cairo University - 2008
  • Professor, Modern History of the Gulf, University of Sharjah - 1999
  • Visiting Professor, Exeter University - 1998

Honorary Degrees:

  1. Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humane Letters, the American University in Cairo  (AUC); in recognition of His generous contribution to education and culture at the national and international levels, Cairo, Egypt – 11 February 2009
  2. Honorary Doctorate Degree in Arts, University of Sheffield; in appreciation of His efforts in spreading Arab and Islamic Culture and Civilization, Sheffield, UK – 11 November 2008
  3. Honorary Doctorate Degree in Administration, University of Jordan; in recognition of His efforts in the scientific research and cultural fields in the UAE and Arab world, Amman, Jordan – 5 May 2008
  4. Honorary Doctorate in Arabic and Islamic studies, Exeter University; Exeter, UK - 1993
  5. Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law, Khartoum University, Khartoum, Sudan - 1986

 Medals and Awards

 Medals:

  1. “Gold Medal” - the Union of Arab Universities; in recognition of His support for interaction and collaboration among Arab universities, Amman, Jordan – April 2009
  2. “Avicenna Gold Medal”- UNESCO; in recognition of His profound commitment to the ideals of the Organization and His outstanding contribution to the promotion of the culture and international co-operation, Paris, France – 26 October 1998
  3. “Gold Medal”- Research Centre for Islamic History Art and Culture, Institute of Research in Islamic History, Arts and Culture; in recognition of His support of the preservation and education of cultural heritage, Istanbul, Turkey – October 1990

 Awards:

  1. “Distinguished Personality of the Year”- Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Award for 2008; in recognition of His persistent services to upgrade the standards of education and His   remarkable contributions and support to education, science knowledge and culture globally, and His leading role on preserving the Arab and Islamic heritage and culture, Dubai, UAE – 6 April 2009
  2.  “Founding Member of the University of Exeter's College of Benefactors” - Exeter University; in recognition of His generous and continuous support of higher education and research, Sharjah, UAE – 14 May 2007
  3.  “Member of the Companion of The Guild of Cambridge Benefactors” - Cambridge University; in recognition of His generous support of the continuation of the University's commitment to teaching and research, Cambridge, UK – 21 June 2004
  4.  “Distinction Award” - King Faisal International Islamic Award; in recognition of His cultural and scientific contributions in the Islamic and Arab World, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – 9 March 2002
  5.  “Academic Excellence” - Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum Award, Dubai, UAE – 22 November 1989
  6. “Honorary Fellow” - African Studies Institute, Khartoum University; Khartoum, Sudan – 1977

Publications:

1. The Myth of Arab Piracy in the Gulf, Croom Helm, UK, 1986
Second edition: Croom Helm, UK, 1988. Third edition: Routledge, London, UK, 2006
Translation (Persian): Hamasaya Publishing, Tehran, Iran, 2008
2. Al-ihtilal al-biritani Li-aden (British Occupation of Aden), Al Ghurair
Printing and Publishing House Co., Dubai, UAE, 1990
Second edition, 1992
3. Al-wathaeq al-arabiya al-omaniya fee marakez al-archeef al-faransia (Arab Omani Documents in the French Archives Centre) (Arabic), Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing House Co., Dubai, UAE, 1993
4. Wal-qaeda at-tijariya al-britaniya fil-khaleej 1800 (John Malcolm & the British commercial base in the Gulf, 1800) (Arabic), Dar Al Khaleej Printing & Publishing, Sharjah, UAE 1994
5. Yawmiyat devid Seton fil-khaleej, 1800 – 1809 (The Journals of David Seton in the Gulf, 1800 - 1809) (Arabic) Dar Al Khaleej Printing & Publishing, Sharjah, UAE, 1994
6. Ash-Sheikh Al-Abyad (The White Sheikh) (Arabic), Dar Al Khaleej Printing & Publishing, Sharjah, UAE, 1996
7. Omani-French Relations, 1715 - 1905, Forest Row, London, UK, 1993
8. The Gulf in Historic Maps, 1493 - 1931, edited by Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Thinkprint Limited, Leicester, UK, 1996
9. Resalat zuamaa’ al-somal ila ash-shaikh sultan bin saqr Al-Qasimi, 1837(Letters of Somali leaders to Sheikh Sultan Bin Saqer Al Qasimi 1837) (Arabic), Dar Al Khaleej Printing & Publishing, Sharjah, UAE, 1996
10. Al-ameer al-thaer (The Rebel Prince) (Arabic), Al-Qasimi Publications, Sharjah, UAE, 1998
11. Awdat holako (The Return of Holako) (Arabic), Sharjah Department of Culture and Information, Sharjah, UAE, 1998. Second edition: Sharjah Department of Culture and Information, Sharjah, UAE, 1999. Translation (English): Al Qasimi Publications, Sharjah, UAE, 2004
12. Power Struggles and Trade in the Gulf, 1620 - 1820, Forest Row, London, UK, 1999
13. The Gulf in Historic Maps, 1478 - 1861, edited by Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Streamline Press Limited, Leicester, UK, 1999
14. Al-Qadiya (The Case) (Arabic), Department of Culture and Information, Sharjah , UAE, 2000. Translation (Russian): Al Qasimi Publications, Sharjah , UAE, 2004
15. Bayan lel-muarikheen al-amajed fi bara’at ibn majed (A Memorandum for Historians on the innocence of Ibn Majid) (Arabic), Maddad Printing, Sharjah, UAE, 2000
16. Al-Waqe’- Soura tebq al asl (The Reality) (Arabic), Maddad Printing, Sharjah, UAE, 2000

Establishment of Cultural, Educational and Research Institutes in Sharjah:

Higher Educational and Research Institutions

  1. American University of Sharjah (www.aus.edu)
  2. University of Sharjah (www.sharjah.ac.ae)
  3. Sharjah Police Academy
  4. Sharjah College of the Arts (now part of University of Sharjah)
  5. Sharjah Community College (now part of University of Sharjah)
  6. Sharjah Academy of Scientific Research
  7. Dr Sultan Al Qasimi Centre of Gulf Studies
  8. Sharjah Institute of Technology
  9. Breeding Centre for Endangered Arabian Wildlife (www.breedingcentresharjah.com)

Summary of Cultural, Social and Economic Developments in Sharjah

As the Ruler of Sharjah, His Highness has led the social, economical and cultural development of the Emirate, and has devoted considerable time, effort and resources to promote intercultural interactions and dialogue among the people of the world. The following is a brief summary of some of His Highness’s achievements:

Establishment of the Sharjah Award for Arabic Culture

The idea of the award emerged from the designation of Sharjah as the Cultural Capital of the Arab world for 1998 by UNESCO. The award was officially adopted by UNESCO based on His Highness, the Ruler of Sharjah’s generous initiative to allocate the sum of US$250,000 to the organisation.

The objective of this prize, awarded every two years, is to reward a citizen of an Arab country and a citizen from a non-Arab country who’s intellectual or artistic works have contributed to the development, enrichment and dissemination of Arabic culture throughout the world.

Commerce, Industry and Agriculture

  • Laid the foundation of the basic infrastructure that paved the way for the development of production, and the formation of various government bodies facilitating the expansion of local and foreign trade in the industrial sector
  • Promotion of the tourism industry and the establishment of specialized public institutions in a global development process that boosted the performance of the GNP of the Emirate, particularly in the agricultural and industrial markets.
  • Adoption of Islamic architecture in public buildings and market places
  • Expansion of green landscapes, public gardens and parks
  • Creation of the Botanic Garden, which is the first of its kind in the region vying with its international peers
  • Creation of free trade zones in Hamriyah and at Sharjah International Airport

Establishment of Cultural, Educational and Research Institutes in Sharjah:

Post your comments here

Please login to post a comment.