This month’s project showcases one of the most important contributions of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in historical research, where he provided logical interpretations of the region's events and sought to affirm facts while dispelling misconceptions and falsehoods in certain Western writings on the Gulf’s history.
The 2nd of July, 1999, was not only a day marking His Highness's doctoral degree from Durham University, but also a day that witnessed the intellectual dawn of a work that has since become a valuable reference for researchers exploring the political, economic, commercial, diplomatic, social, and cultural events in the Gulf over the past two centuries.
On that day, His Highness displayed a unique research character rooted in wisdom and insight developed from his experiences and extensive studies. His Highness became a historian, archivist, and evaluator of information with transparency, objectivity, and great precision, employing a research methodology that turned his book, "Power Struggles and Trade in the Gulf," into an essential reference for scholars.
In his book, His Highness presented a scientific vision based on numerous references and documents, occupying 33 pages of references and footnotes, which reflected his dedication to collecting information and ensuring accuracy. He also employed a research approach aimed at correcting distorted narratives found in historical writings or documents.
From within the walls of Durham University, the third-oldest British university, His Highness refuted the narrative of the British historian and geographer John Lorimer, who had described the Gulf’s events in the early 20th century.
In the introduction to his book, "Power Struggles and Trade in the Gulf," His Highness stated that the primary aim of the book was to offer a rational and logical explanation of the events that took place in
the Gulf from 1620 to 1820, while correcting the inaccuracies found in Lorimer's "Gulf Guide/Persian Gulf/Oman/Central Arabia," written between 1908 and 1914.
His Highness emphasised in the conclusion of the book that the extensive study he conducted relied almost entirely on primary sources, including records from European companies preserved in archives and libraries.
In this book, the Ruler of Sharjah offered more realistic perspectives on the Persian power struggles, local trade disputes in the Gulf, and the affairs of European East India Companies, all based on his insistence on accessing reliable documents free from scholarly doubt.
The book left a significant academic mark at Durham University, and since then, His Highness's contributions to supporting scientific research and graduate students have continued. His Highness funded the establishment of the Al Qasimi Building at Durham University, which opened in 2003 to support Arab and Islamic studies programmes. This centre has become one of the most vital research hubs for Middle Eastern studies in the UK and a leading centre for global studies in Islamic political economy.
His Highness, a visionary leader who believes that investing in scientific research not only improves the present but also lays the foundations for a future full of opportunities and discoveries, has further enhanced cooperation between the University of Sharjah and Durham University. This collaboration serves the advancement of human thought, free from historical inaccuracies.
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