The Ruler of Sharjah received Portugal’s Grand Collar of the Order of Camões for his contributions to cross-cultural dialogue.
LISBON: His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has been awarded the Grand Collar of the Order of Camões by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The honour, Portugal’s highest cultural distinction, was presented during an official ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Lisbon.
H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan is the first Arab recipient and only the sixth individual globally to receive the honour, which recognises exceptional contributions to culture and intercultural dialogue. The event coincided with the 50th anniversary of UAE–Portugal diplomatic relations, underscoring the deep cultural ties between the two nations.
President de Sousa praised H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan’s enduring commitment to intellectual collaboration and his role in building bridges between cultures. “This honour reflects your enlightened and distinguished personality, and your efforts in fostering respect and understanding across civilisations,” he said.
The ceremony also highlighted the Ruler of Sharjah’s longstanding ties with Portuguese institutions, including the University of Coimbra, which awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2018. His cultural initiatives in Portugal include establishing centres for Arabic studies and supporting manuscript preservation and digital library projects.
In his remarks, H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan expressed deep appreciation for the recognition. “Culture is not a legacy we merely preserve, but a bridge we build with others,” he said, reaffirming Sharjah’s commitment to advancing global understanding through scholarship, literature and education.
He concluded by dedicating the honour to Arab culture and the broader cultural vision of the United Arab Emirates, emphasising that dialogue and knowledge-sharing remain essential in shaping a peaceful future.
