Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi (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. 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.

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.

Political career

In December 1971, Sultan was appointed the first Minister of Education for the Emirates. Sultan succeeded his brother, Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, as emir after his assassination on January 25, 1972. 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. He is the longest reigning Arab ruler, beating Qaboos bin Said's record of 49 and a half years.

Honours and awards

Honours

National honour

Foreign honours

Honorary degrees and awards

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.

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: With his second wife, Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, he had four children: 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.