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
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
Sultan succeeded his brother,
Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, as emir after his assassination on 25 January 1972. 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 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 also became a visiting professor at
Cairo University.[citation needed]
Sultan celebrated the 50th anniversary of his accession to the throne on 25 January 2022. He is the longest reigning Arab ruler, beating
Qaboos bin Said's record of 49 and a half years,[citation needed]. Since 14 January 2024 he will become world's longest incumbent head of state or second if Brunei before 1984 is considered not a colony.
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)
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.[12]
Personal life
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.[13][14][15] 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:[16]
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'.[17][18][19]
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.[20][21][22]