Sheikh Dr Sultan turns 87, having ruled Sharjah for more than five decades, written over 80 books and built one of the world’s largest book fairs
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, shared a warm birthday message on Thursday for her father, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, reflecting the close bond between them and wishing him continued health and well-being as he turned 87.
“My dear father, you have always been, and remain, the unwavering support, the light that guides our steps, and the shelter we have sought in every season,” Sheikha Bodour wrote on her Instagram account.
“Eighty-seven years of light, love, and giving, and you continue to fill our lives with warmth and reassurance,” she added.
The tribute, which drew a flood of comments wishing the Sharjah Ruler a happy birthday and a long, healthy life, was accompanied by a photograph of Sheikha Bodour and Sheikh Dr Sultan together in a car, offering a rare and intimate glimpse of a family moment away from public life.
“You taught us that strength lies in compassion, that dignity is built through actions, and that love is the most beautiful legacy a person can leave behind,” she wrote, concluding her message with prayers for her father’s life to be filled with peace and joy, “just as you have filled ours with love and tranquility… Happy Birthday.”
A ruler of letters
Sheikh Dr Sultan, who became Ruler of Sharjah on January 25, 1972, is one of the world’s longest-serving rulers, having led the emirate for more than five decades. He also served as the UAE’s first Minister of Education following the formation of the federation in December 1971.
Few heads of state anywhere can match his literary output. A historian, novelist and playwright, Sheikh Dr Sultan has authored more than 80 works spanning history, memoir, fiction, poetry and theatre, several of which have been translated into multiple languages. His book on Khorfakkan’s resistance to the Portuguese invasion of 1507 was adapted into the 2020 historical film Khorfakkan. He holds earned doctorates in history from the University of Exeter and in the political geography of the Gulf from Durham University, alongside numerous honorary degrees.
His most enduring cultural legacy may be the Sharjah International Book Fair, which he founded in 1982 with a small group of publishers, personally purchasing books to keep the young fair alive. Under his patronage it has grown into one of the world’s largest book fairs, welcoming more than 2,000 exhibitors from over 100 countries each year, and in 2021 it was declared the largest edition of any book fair in the world. His vision also drove Sharjah’s designation as UNESCO Arab Capital of Culture in 1998 and World Book Capital in 2019, and the establishment of the University of Sharjah and the American University of Sharjah in 1997.
Carrying the legacy forward
Sheikha Bodour has built her own career on the foundations her father laid. She founded the Arabic children’s publisher Kalimat Group in 2007, became the first Arab woman to serve as President of the International Publishers Association in 2021, and now chairs the Sharjah Book Authority, which organises the Sharjah International Book Fair. In 2022, she was appointed President of the American University of Sharjah, the first woman to hold the post.
Sheikh Dr Sultan was born in Sharjah on July 2, 1939, and completed his early education between Sharjah and Kuwait before graduating from Cairo University’s College of Agriculture in 1971. He chaired the Sharjah Municipality from 1965 and managed the Ruler’s office before acceding as Ruler and joining the UAE Supreme Council at the age of 32.
