Oman's history is rich, honourable and authentic, says Sharjah Ruler Sheikh Sultan

Gulf Today

25-04-2025

In an interview aired on Sharjah TV, His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, spoke with Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, about his latest historical and intellectual work, " The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman: Events in Annals from 1497 to 1757.'
The 21-volume series chronicles events from 1497 to 1757 AD, focusing on the region's history and the strategic significance of the Sea of Oman. His Highness highlighted the depth and authenticity of Oman's historical legacy, describing it as both rich and honourable.
The Ruler of Sharjah opened the television interview with an in-depth overview of his ongoing project to collect, translate, and publish historical documents. He recalled that in 1985, after earning his doctorate and publishing his thesis as a book, he visited the India Office Library and Records in the UK. There, he met the library's director, Barry Bloomfield, a distinguished figure with extensive expertise in history, library science, and administration. His Highness noted that Bloomfield played a key role in transforming the India Office Library into what is now the British Library at its current location.
Sheikh Sultan shared that he had presented his doctoral thesis to the Director of the British Library, who examined it with interest, particularly intrigued by the sources of the documents it referenced. His Highness then detailed the challenges he faced in accessing British documents for his research, which ultimately led him to travel to Mumbai, India, to obtain the necessary copies. He recounted that the idea came from an elderly Indian woman he met in the library, who was also working on her thesis. She informed him that the same documents were available in Mumbai, which prompted his decision to continue his research there.
The Ruler of Sharjah shared with Bloomfield the challenges students often face when conducting research in the British Library, contrasting it with the Mumbai Library, which he praised for its detailed document classification and ease of access to information and sources. He noted that similar difficulties he experienced in the British Library also occurred during his research in Portugal.
Sheikh Sultan expressed his determination to obtain equivalent historical documents from the British Library and, with the director's support, was granted the necessary access and facilities. He photocopied all the needed materials and enlisted the help of transcribers to process them. He added that he followed a similar approach at a library in Portugal, acquiring valuable documents to support his academic work and publications.
His Highness shared that he had enlisted the assistance of Fiona Wilkie, an employee at the British Library who specialised in Portuguese documents. With approval from the Library Director, Sheikh Sultan arranged for her early retirement—covering the expenses himself—and employed her directly to support his efforts in gathering Portuguese historical records.
He explained that the British Library had preserved many Portuguese documents following the recapture of Mumbai from the Portuguese, as part of efforts to better understand and study the region. His Highness also revealed that transferring and translating these documents into the British Library's collection took five years and was carried out by a Portuguese-speaking expert named Denver, supported by a dedicated and skilled team.
Sheikh Sultan explained that the Portuguese documents cover not only Mumbai but also surrounding regions, making them highly valuable to local historians and researchers. He expressed a particular interest in the Portuguese records that detail the history of the Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
Fiona served as the key liaison between His Highness and the British Library in acquiring these documents. To support the project, His Highness established a dedicated office in London, where Fiona brought together a team of four experts fluent in ancient Portuguese to translate the texts into modern Portuguese. Additionally, a team of 29 specialists was assembled to handle the complex task of restoring and deciphering fragile, handwritten documents, many of which had deteriorated over time due to age, affecting their legibility and condition.
Sheikh Sultan added that Fiona was entrusted with managing all Portuguese documents found across various international archives, including those in Portugal, Spain, and the Goa region of India. He noted that the documents are spread across multiple institutions, with the largest collection housed in the Portuguese National Archives, alongside significant records held by church, military, and port archives.
The Ruler of Sharjah shared that he also collaborated with Michael Pender, a former financial officer at Crescent Petroleum Company. His Highness set up an office for Pender near his residence in the York area of northern Britain. Two women assisted in this effort by receiving documents from the British Library and transporting them to the York office, where they transcribed the handwritten materials into typed documents. His Highness personally reviewed and verified the accuracy of the work, communicating with Pender via phone and mail to ensure everything was correctly processed.
Sheikh Sultan explained the workflow of the various teams involved in the project, noting that some were tasked with sourcing the documents, which were then translated, printed, and systematically filed and organised. He referenced a specific document sent by Predam—who was responsible for research, translation, and printing—to Michael Pender. The document outlined the process and how responsibilities were divided among the team. Fiona oversaw the distribution of the final copies, ensuring one remained in Britain while the other was sent to His Highness. Once both copies were in place, communication would follow for review and further analysis.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah explained that the review process is ongoing, focusing on identifying variations in Arabic names and regional references found in the documents. To aid researchers, he has included explanatory notes in the margins of each page, clarifying these differences. He emphasised that the effort to gather, translate, and publish these documents in their current format has spanned 36 years—beginning in 1989 and continuing to the present day.
Sheikh Sultan revealed that in August 2006—18 years after the process of collecting, translating, and printing historical documents had begun—he was performing the Maghrib prayer when he missed a call, which he only discovered the following morning. The message informed him that Fiona had arrived the previous evening to personally deliver the final file of documents and to congratulate His Highness on the project's completion. She had left two copies: one for His Highness and the other for Predam. When His Highness requested to contact Fiona to express his gratitude, he received the heartbreaking news that she had passed away shortly after delivering the file and returning to her office.
His Highness explained that following Fiona's passing, Predam went to her office and retrieved the key documents, which he then organised at his own headquarters through December 2006. Predam documented the entire project in a memorandum written in English, which was later translated into Arabic. In it, he wrote: "This collection of documents and translations has never been compiled by anyone—not even the Portuguese themselves—as Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi has done. Archives across Portugal, Spain, Goa, and other countries were thoroughly searched, and every document related to the Gulf was transcribed from old Portuguese script and translated into modern English."
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah emphasised the significance of the document collection and research efforts, noting that the work goes far beyond the "Portuguese in the Sea of Oman" series, which spans 21 volumes. In fact, the collected material has the potential to support the publication of over 200 volumes. The current series focuses specifically on the Sea of Oman.
Sheikh Sultan mentioned that many individuals and officials have encouraged him to write about the histories of India and East Africa, given his access to extensive evidence and documents that shed light on the past of these regions. He clarified that these documents are not intended for casual reading, but rather to serve as valuable resources for researchers.
To support scholarly use, His Highness included a Researchers' Guide at the end of each volume. These guides feature section summaries, his personal commentary on the events, document references, and page numbers—all designed to help researchers navigate the content with ease.
His Highness spoke about how the outcomes of this project—now available in the form of published annals—can be of great value to researchers. He noted that each file contains between 150 and 200 documents, offering a wealth of information for those studying the region's history. By studying these files, researchers can uncover detailed insights and access primary sources that could support advanced academic work, including doctoral studies.
He emphasised that the documents have been carefully reviewed, feature clear footnotes, and are available in both Arabic and English to ensure accessibility and academic accuracy.
His Highness explained the reasoning behind the title of his book, "The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman," noting that it covers the entire stretch of the Sea of Oman—from Pakistan to the Strait of Hormuz and down to the Salalah region in the south. He described the historical events that took place across this vast area and how ships navigated its waters, using currents to travel safely. His Highness also highlighted the challenges ships faced in loading and exchanging goods with various countries, emphasising that this activity occurred across multiple ports and banader (harbours) along the Sea of Oman—not limited to those within Oman itself.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah noted that Portugal did not establish a central base on Gulf land but instead maintained control through a network of coastal centres. He explained that the Portuguese did not engage in large-scale land wars; rather, their dominance came from naval power, particularly through their use of gunpowder weaponry. In contrast, the local populations were primarily armed with swords, which gave the Portuguese a significant advantage and allowed them to establish control over strategic islands. His Highness gave the example of Muscat, describing it as an island encircled by mountains.
His Highness revealed that the "Portuguese in the Sea of Oman" series comprises 1,138 documents, all of which have been digitised and stored on electronic memory cards in both Arabic and English. To promote accessibility and encourage research, 10,000 of these memory cards will be distributed as complimentary gifts to visitors at the Muscat International Book Fair, allowing broader access to the material free of charge.
His Highness described Oman's history as rich, honourable, and deeply rooted. He referred to his book 'Sultan of Histories,' in which he chronicles the legacy of Oman's kings and sultans, their resistance to foreign occupation, their triumphs, and eventual expulsion of the occupiers. He emphasised that this legacy reflects the deep patriotic spirit of the Omani people—beginning with the ancient people of ʿĀd, through the Persian attempts at occupation, and later the Al-Ya'ariba and Al Busaid dynasties, who not only expelled the Portuguese from East Africa but pushed them back as far as Mozambique. At their height, Oman's borders extended all the way to Gwadar (a port city in Pakistan).
Speaking about the title of his book "Sultan of Histories," His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah explained that the term "sultan" represents both authority in argument and depth of knowledge. He noted that the "argument" refers to engaging with others about their histories and responding with clear evidence, while "knowledge" is reflected in the comprehensive nature of the book and its various volumes. His Highness clarified that the series focuses on ancient and lesser-known aspects of history, deliberately avoiding commonly known narratives that many historians have already explored.
His Highness shared the motivations that led to his research on the Portuguese presence in the region, which followed his thesis on British occupation and the historical distortions surrounding it. He explained that it became essential to understand what drew the Portuguese to the area. During his research, British documents revealed a historical rivalry between the British and the Portuguese.
His Highness further explained that the Portuguese presence was largely driven by the Ottoman Empire's conquest of Constantinople, which had been a central hub for the papacy. In response, the Pope issued a directive to boycott Muslim goods and halt all trade and communication with Muslim territories, including those in Italy and Egypt. This campaign was a key factor that spurred Portuguese exploration and expansion into the region.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah noted that Europeans relied heavily on importing spices to preserve meat and enhance its flavour. Additionally, they lacked access to cotton and silk, which were essential, particularly for women who struggled to wear woolen garments during the summer months. This created an urgent demand for goods such as spices, cotton, and silk from India and China.
His Highness spoke about the Silk Road, which begins in western China, passes through Sindh, reaches Kerman in northern Iran, then continues through northern Syria and Turkey before ending in Europe. He explained that this vital trade route often faced disruptions due to wars or bandit attacks, which would halt the flow of goods.
Sheikh Sultan recalled a specific incident in northern India, near the Afghan border, where a caravan was unable to proceed due to such disruptions. As a result, traders altered the route, transporting goods via the Indus River southward until they reached the Sea of Oman through the 'Eustachian River.' From there, ships carried the goods to Hormuz, then on to Magistan, Shamil, and Tozurg, eventually reaching Kerman, where the caravan could rejoin the Silk Road and continue its journey.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah noted that some merchants used the mouth of the Indus River to sail toward Sohar, then continued to Mleiha and onward to the Port of ed-Dur in Umm Al Quwain, from where their goods were transported to Persia. Another commonly used route passed through Dibba. He highlighted that the development of the Dibba trade route led to tensions between the Omanis and officers of Alexander the Great stationed in Mleiha, who sought to maintain a steady flow of goods to their side. This historical dispute is evidenced by the large number of arrowheads discovered in the Mleiha area.
His Highness recounted a clever method used by the people of Kerman to transport silk from China, despite the ban on exporting it. He explained that they hid silk eggs in the hair of women, successfully smuggling them from China to Kerman. His Highness also noted that many historical agreements found in documents involved the Dutch, Portuguese, and English, all expressing a strong interest in purchasing silk from China.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah explained that the Portuguese presence in the region was driven by the fall of Andalusia and the Christian victory there, which coincided with the Christian defeat in Constantinople. Motivated by these events, the Portuguese sought to wage war and expand their influence in the region. His Highness noted that at the time, China maintained a vast commercial fleet that extended as far as Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and actively engaged in trade across the region. He also highlighted the cultural exchange between the two regions, pointing out that the Persian coast had schools teaching the Chinese language, while the city of Canton in China hosted Persian schools.
His Highness spoke of several ancient trade routes that predated the Silk Road. One such route began in the Arabian Gulf and extended to Basra, from where caravans would journey to Aleppo, then Tarsus, and finally reach Venice in Italy, with much of the journey conducted by ship. He noted that the Italians dominated trade across the Mediterranean. Another route passed through the Red Sea to Al Qusayr, followed by overland travel via caravans to Alexandria, and from there, goods were transported onward to Europe.
His Highness revealed that during the Fatimid era, the Indian Bohras controlled the flow of goods from Egypt to Europe. The Karimi family operated the main export company, with all positions—from ship captains to staff at various trading centres—held by family members. However, following the expulsion of the Fatimids from Egypt by the Mamluks, the Bohras withdrew from the region and returned to India.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah responded to the Portuguese claims about Vasco da Gama's six voyages to the Cape of Good Hope, stating that these were ships that went to explore and were able to pass through South Africa by chance.
His Highness spoke about the Muslims' assistance to the Italian Christopher Columbus, who wanted to discover the New World and reach India, and his story in the Spanish city of Granada when it was besieged and his insistence on entering the city. His Highness pointed out that upon entering, Columbus asked about the place where ships that sail the ocean are built. His Highness mentioned that Columbus met a Muslim scholar and asked him about sailing, and the Muslim scholar gave him maps and details about sailing to reach India, which indicates that the Arabs passed through South Africa before everyone else.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah emphasised the importance of academic integrity when conveying historical events, ensuring that documents and history are presented as they are, without any additions or omissions. He shared that he collaborates with professors from various universities around the world, who assist him in reading and researching historical details. His Highness also showcased a Portuguese book from his collection, which contains a document not included in his research. He mentioned that one of his collaborators, Ben Slot, Director of the Heik Archives in the Netherlands, had read a document titled "Annals of the Viceroys," a correspondence from the Viceroys of Portugal, which referenced the Viceroy being in the "Kank" region in Persia.
His Highness recounted the contents of the document, which stated: "I contacted Kayed and arranged for the assassination of Imam Saif Bin Sultan, the Imam of the Ya'ariba tribe in Oman." He pointed out that the document also mentioned the involvement of a man from the Kayed tribe, along with Mohammed bin Saif bin Ali Al Qasimi, the ruler of As-Seer, and Mohammed Bin Mohammed Bin Nasser Bin Jaifer Al Maliki. His Highness explained that they had planned to enter from northern Sohar to Samayil, while the Imam was traveling the route from Muscat to Nizwa via Samayil. However, on that day, the Imam unexpectedly changed his route, causing their plan to be uncovered and leading to their arrest.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah's mention of this story and the publication of the Portuguese Viceroy's document in his book are intended to preserve academic integrity in conveying the events. His Highness did not conceal or improve the image of the Qawasim in the story, nor did he conceal their heinous act and their attempt to assassinate the President and Imam of the State.
Sheikh Sultan noted that he did not stop at merely recounting the story but took further steps by reaching out to his friend Barros at the Goa Library in India to inquire about the Portuguese document detailing the incident. At the time, the library did not have the document, as it had been borrowed by the Portuguese. His Highness spoke of his efforts to retrieve the document and ensure it was returned to its rightful place, emphasising the importance of preserving complete and accurate information for researchers, so they would not encounter gaps or transmit incomplete accounts.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah confirmed that he included a comment in the book, which read, "For academic integrity, I did not conceal this document, which contains material that harms the reputation of the Al Qawasim. I published it as it appears in the State Council Documents book, which is the third volume of the Sultan of Histories Encyclopedia." His Highness urged researchers not to overlook facts in their research and studies.
Sheikh Sultan spoke about his hands-on supervision of the production of his books and publications, revealing that he personally reads each work five times. During these reviews, he rewrites, edits, and adds content—carefully considering the number of paragraphs, lines, and words. He also pays close attention to reading aids, punctuation, and the logical sequencing of ideas to ensure clarity, reinforce understanding, and allow the information to flow smoothly and effectively for the reader.
His Highness added that once a book reaches its final stage, he takes another look at it before printing. He is the first to purchase the edition and read it through critically. His Highness pointed out that he sometimes praises his work and himself, and at other times criticises some of the contents of the book and re-formulates it. His Highness lives the reader's experience so that the output is useful and satisfies the reader's desires. This is a first-class scientific approach.
Sheikh Sultan concluded his televised interview by extending his gratitude to all those who took the time to listen to the in-depth discussion. He expressed his hope that everyone who watches the interview or reads the publication The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman would find it informative and beneficial.