Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi

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Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi
Emir of Sharjah
Reign	25 January 1972 – present
Predecessor	Sheikh Khalid III bin Muhammad
Heir presumptive	Sultan bin Muhammed bin Sultan II bin Saqr
Born	(1939-07-02) 2 July 1939 (age 82) Sharjah, Trucial States
Spouse	Sheikha Moza bint Salim Al Falasi Jawahir bint Mohammed
Issue	Sheikha 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
Names Sultan bin Muhammad bin Al-Qasimi Arabic: صاحب السمو الشيخ سلطان بن محمد القاسمي‎
House	Al-Qasimi of Sharjah
Father	Sheikh
Mother	Sheikha Maryam bint Ghanem bin Salem Al Shamsi (1915 – 11 August 2010)

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 .^[2] He is also an established historian and has published several theatrical and literary works.^[3][4]

In 2014, Al-Qasimi founded a university with his name: "Qasimia University".

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

Sheikh Sultan succeeded his brother, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, as Emir after his assassination on 25 January 1972.^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[5][6] 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.^[7][8][9]

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'.^[10][11][12]

Family[]

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

• Sheikha Azza bin Sultan (b. 1973)
• Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan, the Crown Prince of Sharjah (1974–1999) – Died of a heroin overdose in 1999 at the family’s English manor house in Sussex, England.^[13]

With his second wife, Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, he had four children.^[14]

• Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan (b. 1978) is married to Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi and had 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).

Development Projects in Kalba[]

The Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi development projects in Kalba are a series of large-scale tourism and community development projects launched by Al Qasimi in the city of Kalba in the emirate of Sharjah.^[15]

The projects include the restoration of historic buildings, the renovation of public spaces, the opening of a biodiversity protection center, and several tourism and cultural projects.^[16][17]

Public Spaces  []

Kalba Clock Tower Square[]

The square is designed to serve as a landmark for the city and is composed of a clock tower and a twelve-nozzle fountain representing the hands of a clock. The tower will be 42 meters high and will offer two viewing balconies for visitors and will be surrounded by a green area. The project also includes the development of surrounding roads and a car park. Work on the project began in April 2021.^[18][19]

Kalba Beach Corniche[]

The project was inaugurated in April 2021 and included improving rainwater drainage, the development of a running track, the addition of public seating areas and the planting of trees.^[20] 

Culture and Tourism  []

Bait Saeed Al Qasimi  []

The Bait Saeed Al Qasimi was built in 1898 and is located on the east coast of Kalba. It is considered an important historical and cultural landmark in Sharjah and acts as a museum of Emirati and Islamic culture.^[21] The restoration project covers the maintenance of the museum, the development of surrounding roads and improving guest areas around the building.^[22]

Heritage Mosque Square

The square is located on Kalba Beach Road and was inaugurated in April 2021. It is considered a prominent tourist destination in Sharjah, featuring a distinctive water fountain with changing lights and the , one of the oldest places of worship in the emirate. As part of the Kalba development projects, work was launched to restore the mosque, also known as the fishermen heritage mosque or the due to the fact that it was used as a place of prayer for local fishermen. The mosque is built from coral stone, palm fronds and sandalwood.^[23][24]

Kalba Heritage Museum

The project is a planned project to construct a large-scale museum focused on the history of Kalba and its surrounding areas. Its design plans show that the museum structure will be shaped like a sail and will be located on the seashore.^[25][26]

Environmental Protection  []

Khor Kalba Mangrove Center[]

Kalba is home to a protected natural mangrove forest. Conservation efforts around the mangrove have sought to protect the declining populations of white-collared kingfisher birds that inhabit the area.^[27] The was opened in the spring of 2021 as a sanctuary to protect the mangrove’s biodiversity and local wildlife, help rehabilitate turtles, and nurture endangered birds. It consists of several pod-like structures inspired by sea urchins with minimal environmental impact and includes a visitor center, veterinary clinics, and laboratories.^[28][29]

Kalba breakwater project[]

Work on the project began in April 2021 as part of prevention measures to protect against damages caused by hurricanes and seasonal storms. The project includes the building of four breakwaters on that are designed to preserve ecological life and the region’s coastal aesthetic.^[30][15]

Jabal Al Ruman planting project[]

The planting project is an initiative to plant pomegranate trees on Jabal Al Ruman (meaning Pomegranate Mountain) in Kalba. It was launched in October 2020 and aims to plant the evergreen trees in an effort to conserve the mountain’s environment.^[31]

Commerce  []

Soor Kalba building project[]

The Soor Kalba project is a mixed-use development project being constructed in the city of Kalba. It is valued at AED 180 million and consists of the construction of 105 buildings, including 420 apartments and 315 shops. Each building is designed to include both residential and retail units, with Islamic architectural elements. The project further covers the development of car parks and green spaces.^[32][33]

Souq Al Jubail[]

Work on the Souq Al Jubail project was launched in April 2021 in the city of Kalba and consists of expanding the existing fresh produce market initially opened in 2015.^[34] The refurbished market is set to cover over 352,000 square feet, expanding the existing market by four times its size. The project will include retail spaces for the sale of fruits and vegetables, fish, and meat as well as restaurants and a car park.^[35]

Honours and awards[]

Honours[]

National honour[]

•  United Arab Emirates: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Zayed^{[36][dead link][37]}

Foreign honours[]

•  Armenia: Grand Cross of the Order of Honour^{[citation needed]}
•  Belgium: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold I^{[citation needed]}
•  Egypt: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Republic^{[citation needed]}
•  France: Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters^{[citation needed]}
•  Germany: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany^[38][39]
•  Senegal: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit^[40]

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, 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  []

• Emirate of Sharjah
• Kalba  

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sultan bin Mohamed al-Qassimi III..

• Official website
• Works by Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi at Open Library