Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi

Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi (Arabic: سلطان بن محمد القاسمي‎; born 2 July 1939), also known as Sheikh Sultan III, is the sovereign ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah and is a member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates.[1] He has ruled Sharjah continuously since January 1972, apart from a six-day period in June 1987, during an attempted coup led by his brother Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi.[2] He is also an established historian and has published several theatrical and literary works.

Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi
Emir of Sharjah
Reign25 January 1972 – present
PredecessorSheikh Khalid III bin Muhammad
Heir presumptiveSultan bin Muhammed bin Sultan II bin Saqr
Born (1939-07-02) 2 July 1939
Sharjah, Trucial States
SpouseSheikha Moza bint Salim Al Falasi
Jawahir bint Mohammed
IssueSheikha Azza bin Sultan
Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan, Crown Prince of Sharjah
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan
Sheikha Noor bint Sultan
Sheikha Hoor bint Sultan
Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan
Full name
Sultan bin Muhammad bin Al-Qasimi
Arabic: صاحب السمو الشيخ سلطان بن محمد القاسمي‎
HouseAl-Qasimi of Sharjah
FatherSheikh Mohammed bin Saqr bin Khalid Al Qasimi
MotherSheikha Maryam bint Ghanem bin Salem Al Shamsi (1915-11 August 2010)

Biography

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 with distinction in History at Exeter University in 1985, and another in the Political Geography of the Gulf at Durham University in 1999.

Al-Qasimi is an Indophile, has made numerous visits to India in his private capacity and even speaks the Malayalam language, albeit haltingly. His abiding interest and affinity for India has been attributed to the fact that as a child, he was raised by a Malayali nanny from Kerala and picked up the Malayalam language from her.

Sheikh Sultan succeeded his brother, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, as Emir after his assassination on 25 January 1972.[3] He was previously the Minister of Education for the Emirates.

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 Exeter University, 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 also became a Visiting Professor at Cairo University.

His eldest son from his first marriage, Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi (1974–1999), was the crown prince of the emirate and died after a heroin overdose at the Emir's residence in Wych Cross Place, near Forest Row, East Grinstead, on 3 April 1999 at the age of 24 years.[4][5] A state mourning period in Sharjah of seven days was observed and flags flew at half-mast. 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.[6][7][8]

His younger son Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi (1980–2019), owner of British clothing chain Qasimi, 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'.[9][10][11]

Family

With his first wife, Moza bint Salem, he had two children.

With his second wife, Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, he had four children.[13]

  • Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan (b. 1978) is married to Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi and three children:
    • Sheikha Maryam bint Sultan Al Qasimi
    • Sheikh Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi
    • Sheikha Alia bint Sultan Al Qasimi
  • Sheikha Noor bint Sultan (b. 1979)
  • Sheikha Hoor bint Sultan (b. 1980)
  • Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan (1980–2019).

Honours and awards

National honour

Foreign honours

Honorary degrees and awards
  • Honorary Doctorate in Education and Cultural Relations; University of Calicut, in recognition of his continuous efforts and distinctive role in supporting education and scientific research.; 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, in recognition of his outstanding academic and educational contributions; Kanazawa, Japan; April 2010
  • Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters; American University in Cairo (AUC) in recognition of his generous contribution to education and culture at the national and international levels; Cairo, Egypt; February 2009
  • Honorary Doctorate in Arts; University of Sheffield; in appreciation of his efforts in spreading Arab and Islamic Culture and Civilization; Sheffield, UK; November 2008
  • Honorary Doctorate 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; May 2008
  • Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy; in recognition of his long-term commitment and support of research in fields of History and Archaeology; 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; Exeter University; Exeter, UK; 1993
  • Honorary Doctorate in Law; Khartoum University; Khartoum, Sudan; 1986
  • Honorary Doctorate in Sciences; Faisalabad University; in recognition of his outstanding contribution in the field of education; Faisalabad, Pakistan; April 1983


See also

References
  1. "Biography of Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi". Retrieved 9 October 2016.
  2. Jessup, John E.,"An encyclopedic dictionary of conflict and conflict resolution, 1945–1996", p. 773, Greenwood Press, 1998
  3. "Netty Royal".
  4. "Mystery death of sheikh, aged 24". The Argus.
  5. "Sheikh died after heroin overdose". The Independent. 16 June 1999.
  6. "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.
  7. "Sharjah to set up new drug-rehab centre". gulfnews.com.
  8. Wam (11 January 2017). "Sheikh Mohammed issues Law on formation of 'Irada' Rehab and Treatment Centre". Emirates24-7.
  9. "Fashion Designer and Son of Sharjah Ruler, Sheikh Khalid al Qasimi, Has Passed Away".
  10. "Emirati son of Sharjah ruler dies in London at age 39".
  11. "Emir's fashion designer son, 39, dies after cocaine and sex drug binge at luxury Knightsbridge flat". news.com.au. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  12. Terri Judd (16 June 1999). "Sheikh died after heroin overdose". Independent. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  13. "Personal | HHEO".
  14. "Khalifa honours Mohammed, Sultan".
  15. "Khalifa honours Mohammed bin Rashid with 'Zayed Order'".
  16. https://sheikhdrsultan.ae/Portal/Content/Generated/Thumbnails/1c776807_3201x2bc1WTransparent.jpg
  17. https://sheikhdrsultan.ae/Portal/Content/Generated/Thumbnails/e8f7407f_3201x2bc1WTransparent.jpg
  18. https://sheikhdrsultan.ae/Portal/Content/Generated/Thumbnails/b9be9902_3201x2bc1WTransparent.jpg
  19. https://sheikhdrsultan.ae/Portal/Content/Generated/Thumbnails/e95346e6_3201x2bc1WTransparent.jpg
  20. https://sheikhdrsultan.ae/Portal/Content/Generated/Thumbnails/a1515c23_3201x2bc1WTransparent.jpg
  21. "Arabstoday".
  22. https://sheikhdrsultan.ae/Portal/Content/Generated/Thumbnails/e706ee7e_3201x2bc1WTransparent.jpg
  23. "Sharjah Ruler wins Germany's Grand Order of Merit". 3 July 2015.
  24. "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".
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