His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, launched the Portuguese edition of his historical work The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman: Annals of History 1497CE – 1757CE during a ceremony held on Friday at the Lisbon Academy of Sciences. The event was attended by Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), alongside senior officials, academics, cultural figures and media representatives.
During the ceremony, His Highness also directed the restoration of Arabic manuscripts at the Academy, in support of Arab cultural heritage and the preservation of rare documents.
In his keynote address, His Highness said: “I was nominated for membership of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, and since obtaining my membership on 3 October 2013, it was incumbent upon me to be an active member. I collected all documents related to Portugal's history from Portuguese archival centres. I devoted my scholarly efforts to studying specialised works and references on Portuguese history, including tracing the Portuguese presence in the Indian Ocean.”
His Highness added: “The outcome of this endeavour was the publication of my book The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman: Annals of History 1497CE –1757CE. It comprises 21 volumes, covering the history of the Portuguese, from their entry into the Indian Ocean through the fall of the Kingdom of Hormuz, their departure from Oman, and the beginning of British influence in the region. This endeavour did not stop there, as I also published my book Compendium of the Histories of the Arabian Peninsula and Persia 1622 CE to 1810 CE, which consists of 33 volumes and includes English, Dutch, French, Portuguese, and Ottoman documents addressing the conflicts and wars between the Portuguese, Dutch, and British in the region.”
Looking ahead, the Ruler of Sharjah announced a forthcoming publication to be launched at the Sharjah International Book Fair in November 2026: “I intend to publish The Portuguese in the Indian Ocean: Annals of History 1507 CE – 1748CE, a 25-volume work covering Portuguese history in India, East Africa and several Asian countries. I promise to continue researching and writing on all matters related to Portugal’s history, and I also promise that the signing of this book will take place here at this Academy, God willing.”