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Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi

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In this Arabic name, the surname is Al Qasimi.
Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi
سلطان بن محمد القاسمي
Sultan in 2017
Ruler of Sharjah
Reign25 January 1972 – present
PredecessorKhalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi
Heir presumptiveSultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi II
UAE 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 Omran Taryam
Born (1939-07-02) 2 July 1939 (age 85)
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 the ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah and a member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates.[1]

He has ruled Sharjah continuously since January 1972, apart from a seven-day period in June 1987, during an attempted coup led by his elder brother Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi.[2]

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.[3]

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.[4]

Political career

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In December 1971, Sultan was appointed the first Minister of Education for the Emirates.[5] Sultan succeeded his brother, Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, as emir after his assassination on January 25, 1972.[6]

In addition to those offices, he holds several educational posts. He 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.

Sultan celebrated the 50th anniversary of his accession to the throne on 25 January 2022.[7] He is the longest reigning Arab ruler, beating Qaboos bin Said's record of 49 and a half years. On January 14, 2024, he became the world's longest incumbent head of state or second if Brunei before 1984 is considered not a colony.[citation needed]

Honours and awards

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Honours

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National honour

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Foreign honours

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Honorary degrees and awards

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  • Honoris Causa in History; University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal, October 2018
  • Honorary Doctorate in Education and Cultural Relations; University of Calicut, Kerala, India; September 2017
  • Honorary Doctorate in Social Sciences; Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, May 2015
  • Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters; University of Paris Diderot, Paris, France; March 2012
  • Honorary Doctorate in Political Science; Hanyang University, South Korea, September 2011
  • Honorary Doctorate, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan; April 2010
  • Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters; American University in Cairo (AUC) Cairo, Egypt; February 2009
  • Honorary Doctorate in Arts; University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK; November 2008
  • Honorary Doctorate in Administration; University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan; May 2008
  • Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy, Tübingen, Germany; October 2006
  • Honorary Doctorate; Armenian Academy of Science; Yerevan, Armenia; September 2005
  • Honorary Doctorate in Administration; McMaster University; Hamilton, Canada; May 2004
  • Honorary Doctorate in Laws; South Bank University; London, UK; April 2003
  • Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters; University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; 15 July 2001
  • Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy; in Education; International Islamic University of Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; February 2001
  • Honorary Doctorate in History; The Eastern Studies Institute, Academy of Russian Studies; Moscow, Russia; 1995
  • Honorary Doctorate in Arabic and Islamic studies; University of Exeter; Exeter, UK; 1993
  • Honorary Doctorate in Law; Khartoum University; Khartoum, Sudan; 1986
  • Honorary Doctorate in Sciences; Faisalabad University, Faisalabad, Pakistan; April 1983

Khorfakkan (2020 film)

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In 2020, a historical film titled Khorfakkan was released, based on the book Khorfakkan’s Resistance Against the Portuguese Invasion of September 1507 written by Al Qasimi. The movie tells the story of the resistance of Khorfakkan city against the Portuguese invasion in the 16th century.[15]

Personal life

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The Emir has had at least two wives. He had two sons, and lived to see the death of both. With his first wife, the Emir had two children:

  • Azza bint Sultan al Qasimi (daughter)
  • 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.[16][17][18] A state mourning period in Sharjah of seven days was observed and flags flew at half-mast.

With his second wife, Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, he had four children:[19]

  • Bodour bint Sultan (b. 1978), daughter. 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), daughter
  • Hoor bint Sultan (b. 1980), daughter
  • Khalid bin Sultan (1980–2019), son. 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'.[20][21][22]

With reports of increasing drug abuse problems in the emirate, in May 2018 the emir announced the directive to establish the "Irada" drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation centre in Sharjah.[23][24][25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Biography of Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi". Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  2. ^ Jessup, John E. (1998). "An encyclopedic dictionary of conflict and conflict resolution, 1945–1996", p. 773, Greenwood Press.
  3. ^ "Life of Service". The Business Year. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  4. ^ Smith, Eugene (9 February 2017). "Al-Qasimi Building named after ruler of UAE emirate accused of human rights abuses". Palatinate. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  5. ^ Langton, James (25 January 2022). "Seven highlights from the life of Sheikh Dr Sultan, Ruler of Sharjah". The National. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Khaled bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi: A humble ruler and man of letters". Arab News. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Sharjah celebrates 50th anniversary of Ruler's accession to throne". Emirates News Agency.
  8. ^ "Khalifa honours Mohammed bin Rashid with 'Zayed Order'". Emirates 24/7. 2 December 2012.
  9. ^ Sharjah 25
  10. ^ "Arabstoday". 4 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Sharjah Ruler wins Germany's Grand Order of Merit". The Diplomat Magazine. 3 July 2015.
  12. ^ "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".
  13. ^ al-Qasimi, Sultan bin Muhammad (12 April 2012). Taking the Reins: The Critical Years, 1971-1977. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4081-8017-4.
  14. ^ "Sharjah celebrates 50th anniversary of Ruler's accession to throne". wam. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  15. ^ "'Khorfakkan' a film based on Sheikh Sultan's book to debut on international streaming platforms".
  16. ^ "Mystery death of sheikh, aged 24". The Argus. 8 April 1999.
  17. ^ "Sheikh died after heroin overdose". The Independent. 16 June 1999. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.
  18. ^ Terri Judd (16 June 1999). "Sheikh died after heroin overdose". Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  19. ^ "Personal | HHEO".
  20. ^ "Fashion Designer and Son of Sharjah Ruler, Sheikh Khalid al Qasimi, Has Passed Away".
  21. ^ "Emirati son of Sharjah ruler dies in London at age 39". Daily Sabah. 2 July 2019.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ "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.
  24. ^ "Sharjah to set up new drug-rehab centre". gulfnews.com. 28 May 2018.
  25. ^ Wam (11 January 2017). "Sheikh Mohammed issues Law on formation of 'Irada' Rehab and Treatment Centre". Emirates24-7.
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