SHARJAH // The composed face of a young boy of about 10 stares back from the cover of Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed's latest book.
Although that boy is now the Ruler of Sharjah and the author of more than 29 titles, including theatrical plays, novels and his better-known works on Gulf history, it is the first time the public will have a chance to see into the life of the man who has ruled Sharjah for the past 37 years.
Sard al That - meaning autobiography - is the sheikh's memoir from the days of his earliest memories, during the Second World War, to the time he succeeded his brother as the Ruler of Sharjah, in 1972. The book was released yesterday at the opening of the 28th annual Sharjah International Book Fair.
"It's a very broad and transparent piece of history," said Dr Yousuf Aydabi, the book's editor. "It's not an event, but a combination of autobiography, novel and analysis."
Muhanad Abu Sadah, 25, a Sharjah businessman from Iraq, said: "It's about his country and his family and everything around him in his life."
The book offers insight into the challenges for the Sharjah royal family in the lead-up to the formation of the UAE in 1971, and Dr Sheikh Sultan does not skirt major issues, including colonialism and local politics. "It's not just a personal biography, it's a political biography," Dr Aydabi said.
At the same time, there are softer anecdotes, like the story of a camping trip to Ras al Khaimah, when a drowning woman was saved by a man who, with "blood and passion", went to her rescue. Among the book's glossy pages are black and white photographs of the Ruler, as a boy, with his scout group or posing with his football team.
Dr Sheikh Sultan was born in Sharjah in July 1939. As a young adult, he headed to Egypt, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in agricultural engineering from Cairo University in 1971.
In the 1980s, when he was working on his PhD in history at Exeter University in Britain, he met Dr Shashikant Karnik, a consultant with the Dr Sultan al Qasimi Centre of Gulf Studies and former vice chancellor of the University of Mumbai, who provided him with original documentation as he worked 14-hour days on his research.
Dr Sheikh Sultan grew into a respected scholar and historian in his own right. He is known for his dedication and promotion of Arabic arts and culture. His books have been translated into Russian, English, Farsi, German, French, Spanish and Urdu. The autobiography is expected eventually to be translated into English.
His most famous book, The Myth of Arab Piracy in the Gulf, published in 1986, challenged the long-held Western assumption that the Qawasim tribe were pirates whose attacks provoked the British in their attacks in RAK during the early 19th century.
Mohammed al Khawajah, a quality co-ordinator from the Documentaries and Studies Centre in Ras al Khaimah, said the autobiography would make history accessible to all readers while providing strong academic background.
"Dr Sultan's books are excellent documentaries," he said. "I've read some of his books. They are very useful for historians and university students. But a biography holds a personal view of each event."
Dr Karnik agreed. "This book is a childhood story but it is also reflecting the society, culture and environment of where he lived," he said. "I personally feel that Emirati people will find this book intriguing, educating and it will bring before them a picturesque past of the Sharjah emirate."
"We wanted to write it," Dr Karnik continued. "He said, 'I will write my own background. Other people can write about my contributions as a ruler'."
azacharias@thenational.ae
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
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