In April 2013, H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has issued an Emiri decree, pertaining to the establishment of an Arabic Islamic University in the emirate of Sharjah with its name as "Al Qasimia University".
The establishment of Al Qasimia University is a result of H.H. Sultan Al Qasimi’s keen interest in education and his commitment to establish higher educational edifices which can be a beacon of Sharia sciences and a destination of knowledge seekers. It is a gift from Sultan Al Qasimi for the whole world.
The idea of the university
The idea to set up Al Qasimia University comes from the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, when he wanted to establish an educational edifice like Al Azhar University in Egypt. In April 2013, His Highness Sultan issued an Emiri decree to establish an Arab Islamic university in the Emirate of Sharjah which shall be named as al-Qasimia University. The new university, the decree says, shall come as a practical but calm response towards those voices, spreading all over the world, aimed at tarnishing the image of Islam, and also as a gift to the world and bright knowledge-seekers, who are economically poor, to study at the expense of the capital of culture.
Style of Architecture
The University is built on an architectural style, which is a distinct blend of Islamic, Fatimid and Andalusian styles and a mixture of elements of traditional industry and craft which characterize the Islamic civilization. Its design and implementation were supervised by a group of professional craftsmen and architects. Al Qasimia University's mosque can contain more than 4000 worshippers at the same time and is built on Fatimid architectural pattern with two minarets each of which has a length of 90 meters and a main dome at the center of building which is surrounded by four other small domes. The mosque has three main gates.
The management headquarters, the main block of university, consists of a ground floor topped by two floors and includes administrative offices, classrooms and service facilities such as dining halls and rest rooms which are designed in Islamic architectural style which surprised all delegations coming from out of state when they visit it. This building is very attractive due to its Islamic architectural design as well as its interior pillars decorated with inscriptions and geometric shapes in addition to its oriels and wooden balconies that adorn the side edges below the direction in the center of the building. Its glass surfaces help to reduce the use of electricity and depend upon natural lighting thus making the building eco-friendly.
Al Qasimia buildings include students’ hostels which are situated behind college buildings and can accommodate, at its first phase, 200 boys and 200 girls. It has also a University theatre which can contain 550 persons and is well equipped with the latest light and sound systems.