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. 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 As an academic, he has authored multiple historical documents as well as memoirs, studies, novels, poetry and plays regarding the Middle East and North Africa.
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Early 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.
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.
Career
Minister of Education
In December 1971, Sultan was appointed the first Minister of Education for the Emirates.
Academia
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.
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.
In May 2018, Al Qasimi established the "Irada" drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation centre in Sharjah.
Sultan celebrated the 50th anniversary as the Ruler of Sharjah on 25 January 2022.
Writing career
Al Qasimi has authored at least 82 books by 2023 which include historical, literary, and theatrical books.
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.
Philanthropy
University of Exeter
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." The United Arab Emirates was ranked 119th out of 167 on the Economist Democracy Index and classed as an authoritarian regime.
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. In 2025 the university awarded him with the inaugural Chancellor's Medal to recognise his transformational impact.
Haghartsin Monastery
In 2011, Al-Qasimi donated to the non-profit Armenia Fund for the purpose of renovating the Haghartsin Monastery in Dilijan, Armenia.
Honours and awards
Honours
United Arab Emirates: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Zayed
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 Honour
Germany: Great Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Senegal: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit
Sudan: Sash of Honour
Portugal: Grand Collar of the Order of Camões
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.
Personal 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.
With his second wife, Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, he had four children:
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'.