Reign 1972 – present | Name Sultan Muhammad | |
 | ||
Predecessor Sheikh Khalid III bin Muhammad al-Qasimi (1931 – 24 January 1972)Sheikh Saqr bin Muhammad al-Qasimi (acting 25 January 1972 – 1972) Crown Prince Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi Spouse Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi Issue Crown Prince Mohammed (1974–99), Khalid (1981–), daughters Arabic صاحب السمو الشيخ سلطان بن محمد القاسمي Role Member of the Federal Supreme Council of United Arab Emirates Office Member of the Federal Supreme Council of United Arab Emirates since 1972 Children Sheikha Noor Bint Sultan Al Qasimi Books The myth of Arab piracy in the Gulf, Deep-seated Malice Parents Sheikh Mohammed Bin Saqr Bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Sheikha Maryam Bint Ghanem Bin Salem Al Shamsi Similar People Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktou, Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi | ||
Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, commonly known as Sheikh Sultan III (Arabic: سلطان بن محمد القاسمي; born 6 July 1939), is the sovereign ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah and is a member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates. 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 `Abd al-`Aziz bin Muhammad al-Qasimi. He is also an established historian and has published several theatrical and literary works.
Contents
- Early life and education
- Official and professorial positions
- Honorary degrees and awards
- Children
- References
Early life and education
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.
The Emir 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.
Official and professorial positions
Sheikh Sultan succeeded his brother, Sheikh 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 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.
Honorary degrees and awards
Children
