His Excellency Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Portuguese Republic, awarded His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Grand Collar of the Order of Camões (Grande Colar da Ordem de Camões), the highest sovereign cultural honor in Portugal. His Highness is the first Arab figure to receive the Order of Camões and the sixth recipient worldwide.
The honor was conferred during a ceremony hosted by the Portuguese President on Thursday at the Presidential Palace in Lisbon, attended by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority, alongside senior officials, cultural figures, and media representatives. The ceremony recognised His Highness’s global standing as one of the most prominent figures in culture, thought, and cross-cultural dialogue.
In his keynote address, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that the Ruler of Sharjah’s visit reflects the deep historical bonds of friendship between the two countries and their peoples. He noted the shared personal commitment he and His Highness hold towards advancing cultural dialogue and strengthening trust and understanding between cultures, expressing his belief that future generations will continue to benefit from this enduring intellectual and cultural exchange.
Addressing the Ruler of Sharjah, President de Sousa said: “As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Portugal this year, I can think of no better way to mark this occasion than by honoring your enlightened, distinguished and open personality, and by recognising your valuable contribution to dialogue between cultures, founded on deep intellectual dedication, mutual respect and shared empathy.”
The President also referred to the long-standing and distinguished relationship between His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi and Portugal, including its cultural institutions and intellectual circles, noting that this relationship is held in deep esteem and admiration. He highlighted the particularly close and enduring ties with the University of Coimbra, where His Highness was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2018 in recognition of his scholarly, literary, cultural and humanitarian contributions, as well as his research on the Portuguese presence in Asia and the Middle East.
In his address, the Ruler of Sharjah expressed his happiness at the honor, highlighting its significance and the role of culture in building bridges between peoples. His Highness said: “I am pleased to receive this honor from Your Excellency and value it deeply, for it carries sincere meaning from a nation distinguished by its rich scientific and cultural history, and from a people known for their openness and respect for knowledge.”
The Ruler of Sharjah is the first Arab figure to receive this prestigious order since its establishment, marking a rare international recognition of an authentic Arab contribution to a humanistic cultural project. Through this long-standing endeavour, knowledge, language and history have been positioned as enduring bridges for understanding between civilisations.
Over the course of this project, His Highness has enriched the global intellectual record through rare historical works and significant creative publications. At the same time, he has extended Sharjah’s cultural vision to the wider world through initiatives in translation, restoration and documentation, as well as through sustained efforts to recognise intellectuals and creatives and to establish and support cultural and knowledge institutions at both regional and international levels.
The Grand Collar of the Order of Camões is awarded by the President of the Portuguese Republic by sovereign decree and bears the name of the Portuguese poet Luís de Camões, a central figure in Portugal’s cultural identity. It honors exceptional individuals who have left a lasting mark on culture and advanced dialogue between peoples through language, literature, and thought.
In its highest grade, the order is conferred as a collar worn around the neck, underscoring the rarity of the honor and the eminence of its status. It is reserved for a limited number of leaders and thinkers whose influence has transcended national boundaries and reached the wider international community.
The order represents international recognition of the cultural achievements realised by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah through a project pursued over more than five decades, rooted in a deep belief in the role of culture in strengthening communication between peoples, and in the contribution of knowledge to development, progress, and the documentation of civilisations and their histories.
Please click here to read His Highness' statement on this occasion.