His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, formally launched the Portuguese edition of his major historical work The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman: Annals of History 1497CE–1757CE during a ceremony held at the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, reinforcing long-standing cultural and scholarly links between the Arab world and Europe. According to information released by the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the event brought together senior Portuguese academics, cultural figures, diplomats, and media representatives, alongside Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority. The launch underscored Sharjah’s broader cultural strategy of presenting rigorously documented Arab and regional history to global audiences through translation, archival research, and institutional cooperation, while highlighting the shared maritime and intellectual heritage connecting the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian Ocean, and Europe.
Lisbon Launch Highlights Sharjah’s Global Cultural and Archival Vision
In his keynote address, Sheikh Sultan explained that his scholarly engagement with Portuguese history followed his membership in the Lisbon Academy of Sciences in 2013, after which he systematically collected documents from Portuguese archives and studied specialized historical sources tracing Portuguese activity in the Indian Ocean. He outlined that this research culminated in the 21-volume The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman, documenting events from the arrival of the Portuguese to the decline of their regional presence and the emergence of British influence. He also referred to his subsequent 33-volume Compendium of the Histories of the Arabian Peninsula and Persia 1622 CE to 1810 CE, which draws on multilingual European and Ottoman sources. Looking ahead, he announced plans for a further 25-volume publication on Portuguese history across India, East Africa, and Asia, scheduled for launch at the Sharjah International Book Fair in November 2026.
Professor José Francisco Rodrigues, President of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, welcomed the Sharjah Ruler and noted that his academic contributions formed the basis for Portugal awarding him the Grand Collar of the Order of Camões, the country’s highest cultural honor. Vice President José Luís Cardoso highlighted the book’s chronological structure, extensive footnotes, and presentation of rare documents, emphasizing its value for researchers. Attendees also viewed a film presentation detailing the publication’s academic significance.
Following the ceremony, Sheikh Sultan directed the restoration of 90 rare Arabic manuscripts held by the Academy, reaffirming his commitment to preserving Arab cultural heritage through digitization, conservation, and international scholarly access.