His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has once again reaffirmed his stature as one of the Arab world’s foremost historical scholars with the release of his latest monumental work, The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman: Events in Annals from 1497 to 1757. This 21-volume series chronicles in meticulous detail the historical events surrounding the Portuguese presence in the Gulf region, particularly the Sea of Oman—a waterway of immense strategic and cultural importance.
In a deeply insightful interview on Sharjah TV with Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, Sheikh Sultan described Oman’s historical legacy as “rich, honorable, and authentic.” The interview offered viewers a rare look into the decades-long journey of collecting, verifying, and translating over 1,100 Portuguese documents, many of which had never before been published or studied.
Sheikh Sultan’s scholarly pursuit began as early as 1985, following his doctoral studies. His quest took him from the British Library to archives in Portugal, Mumbai, and beyond. Aided by historians and translators like Fiona Wilkie and Predam, the Ruler of Sharjah personally oversaw the transcription, translation, and categorization of fragile, handwritten Portuguese manuscripts. The project was supported by a team of over 30 experts working across international offices to ensure authenticity and clarity. 
Notably, Sheikh Sultan shared how the British Library and other archives had long preserved Portuguese records detailing not just Oman but regions across the Arabian Gulf and South Asia. Through rigorous documentation, he unearthed valuable insights on trade routes, naval power, colonial ambitions, and resistance efforts by the people of Oman and the wider Gulf region.
In one especially striking example, Sheikh Sultan discussed a document describing a failed assassination attempt on Imam Saif bin Sultan, orchestrated through betrayal by regional figures—a revelation he insisted on publishing in full, even though it implicated his own Qawasim ancestry. “For academic integrity,” he stated
