His Highness Shaikh Dr. Sultan Ibn Mohammad Al-Qasmi

Sultan Al-Qasimi received his general education in Al-Sharjah, Dubai, and Kuwait, and obtained a B.Sc. in agricultural engineering from Cairo University, a Ph.D. in History from Exeter University, and another Ph.D. in Geopolitics of the Gulf Region from Durham University in the U.K.

A devout Muslim leader, philanthropist, and educator, Sultan Al-Qasimi has contributed to the establishment of educational, social, health care, and housing projects that benefited Muslims throughout the world. He also assisted victims of floods and natural disasters, and helped build roads and water and power stations in some parts of the Islamic world. Realizing that learning is one of the primary goals of Islam, he supported learning institutions in Al-Sharjah and elsewhere in the Arab world. Under his leadership, Al-Sharjah became an important cultural center in the region, embracing several educational institutions, museums, art galleries, theaters, and centers for wildlife and desert life conservation. He is the Chancellor of Al-Sharjah University and the American University in Al-Sharjah, an Honorary President of the International University Services, Arab Foundation for Science and Technology and Association of Arabic Language Societies, and a Visiting Professor at Exeter University. Despite his enormous responsibilities as ruler of Al-Sharjah, he is an active faculty at Al-Sharjah University, where he teaches modern history of the Gulf. Two of his books, The Myth of Arab Piracy in the Gulf and The Gulf in Historic Maps: 1493-1931 are important references on the history of the Emirates. Shaikh Al-Qasimi also published a number of theatrical and literary works.

Sheikh Al-Qasimi’s contributions were also recognized by around 20 honorary degrees, prizes, medals, and fellowships.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.