The Ruler of Sharjah launches the Portuguese version of its publication "The Portuguese in the Sea of ​​Oman, Events in the Annals from 1497 to 1757 AD"

LISBON, 31 JANUARY / WAM / His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, yesterday, Friday, in the presence of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Book Authority, launched the Portuguese version of his publication “The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman, Events in the Annals from 1497 to 1757 AD,” in the building of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, and His Highness directed the restoration of Arabic manuscripts in The Academy, in support of the Arab cultural heritage, and preserving rare documents.

His Highness gave a speech during the launch ceremony, in which he said, “I was nominated for membership in the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, and since I obtained membership in the Academy, on the third of October 2013, I had to be an active member of this academy. I had collected all documents related to the history of Portugal, from Portuguese archive centers. I devoted my scientific efforts to studying a number of specialized books and references in the history of Portugal. These studies included tracking the Portuguese presence in the Indian Ocean.”

His Highness added, “The result of this diligence was the publication of my book, ‘The Portuguese in the Sea of Oman, Events in the Annals from 1497 AD to 1757 AD’. It consists of 21 volumes, and deals with the history of the Portuguese from their entry into the Indian Ocean, until the fall of the Kingdom of Hormuz, their exit from Oman, and the beginning of British influence in that region. This diligence did not stop there, as I published my book, ‘The Complex of Histories of the Arabian Peninsula and Persia.’ Events in the Annals from 1622 AD to 1810 AD,” which consists of 33 volumes, and includes English, Dutch, French, Portuguese, and Ottoman documents, dealing with the conflicts and wars that took place between the Portuguese, the Dutch, and the British in that region.

His Highness announced his next publication at the Sharjah International Book Fair, saying: This year, specifically in November 2026, at the Sharjah International Book Fair, I intend to publish the book “The Portuguese in the Indian Ocean, Events in the Annals from 1507 AD to 1748 AD,” which consists of 25 volumes, and deals with the history of the Portuguese in India and East Africa, along with a number of Asian countries, and I promise to continue researching and writing on everything related to the history of… Portugal, and I promise you again that the signing of this book will be here in this academy, God willing.”

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah kindly signed the first Portuguese copies of the publication “The Portuguese in the Indian Ocean, Events in the Annals from 1507 AD to 1748 AD,” dedicating them to the Lisbon Academy of Sciences and its officials. His Highness also received a number of commemorative gifts from the Academy.

Jose Francisco Godríguez, President of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, delivered a speech in which he welcomed His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and his accompanying delegation, pointing out the relationship between His Highness with the Academy and his visit in 2013 when he obtained membership in the Academy in the Arts category, pointing to the reasons for granting His Highness membership, which is dedication and contribution to highlighting and valuing the historical monuments that Portugal left in the Arabian Peninsula and Persia.

The President of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences explained that these reasons were the basis for the initiative of His Excellency Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Republic of Portugal, to grant His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah the Order of Camoes, the highest sovereign cultural honor in the Republic of Portugal. He expressed his pride in signing, as President of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, alongside the President of the University of Coimbra, the proposal to award the medal to His Highness, and he hoped that future joint initiatives between the United Arab Emirates in general and the Emirate of Sharjah in particular would continue with the Academy.

José Luiz Cardoso, Vice President of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, gave a speech in which he presented the book “The Portuguese in the Sea of ​​Oman, Events in the Annals from 1497 AD to 1757 AD,” praising the great scientific effort made by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah in writing scientific and historical publications and his great interest in history and collecting documents and manuscripts.

Cardoso discussed a group of documents included in the publication, appreciating that these manuscripts are highlighted in the book for all researchers and readers, which supports the conduct of further research and studies, and the clarification of historical facts.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and the audience watched a film about the book, issued by Al Qasimi Publications, and the facts and documents it contains, and the scientific and historical research importance it represents, enabling researchers to see the historical events that took place in the region during the Portuguese presence, and providing the opportunity to work on further studies and scientific investigations of the documents provided by the book.

The book is arranged according to chronological order, as each volume contains events that took place in each year, arranged in the form of annals, and each volume has a guide for research at the end, in addition to detailed footnotes for the documents. The historical achievement is not limited to listing only letters and documents, but rather includes complete books and rare works by Portuguese authors published for the first time.

The publication is considered an invaluable historical treasure, as it monitors important and vital historical events that took place in the Sea of ​​Oman, and mentions all the events and battles that took place during that period, which extends to 260 years. This book reveals historical facts mentioned for the first time, with a solid scientific investigation and extensive study.

The book provides a documented historical reading of a pivotal stage in the region’s history, based on original Portuguese documents and archives and rare primary sources. It rereads the Portuguese presence in the Sea of ​​Oman within its historical, maritime and economic context, away from ready-made narratives or unilateral interpretations. The work highlights the region’s role in networks of navigation, trade and cultural communication in the Indian Ocean, as an influential historical actor and not just a theater of events.

Through this book, the reader moves on a journey through time in which he examines the facts and events that period witnessed, recorded by the pens of the Portuguese in their correspondence, speeches, and writings. The nature of political, economic, and social life becomes clear to him, as well as the conditions and conditions that the Sea of ​​Oman region witnessed in that period. This historical achievement is considered a qualitative addition and valuable enrichment to the Arab and international library, as it presents historical information and facts that had remained locked away in shelves and drawers for centuries.

The launch of the Portuguese version comes within the framework of an integrated knowledge project led by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, which is based on rereading the history of the Arab region in its interaction with the world, and presenting it to the reader in the language of scientific research and accurate documentation. The publication is also consistent with a cultural vision that sees translation as an essential tool for dialogue between cultures, and in the historical document as a basis for understanding the past and building a more balanced and equitable common knowledge.

The publication reflects the depth of the cultural and academic relationship between His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and the Republic of Portugal, especially with the ancient scientific institutions, most notably the University of Coimbra, where His Highness’s initiatives over the past years have contributed to supporting Arabic studies and enhancing the presence of the Arabic language in European universities, in addition to joint projects to preserve the written human heritage, most notably the digitization of manuscripts and rare books and making them available to researchers around the world.

Following the launch ceremony, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah viewed a group of rare Arabic manuscripts owned by the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, directing His Highness to restore the 90 Arabic manuscripts, to be displayed in a designated place in the Academy after their restoration.

The rare Arabic manuscripts cover a variety of fields, including copies of the Holy Qur’an, the Muwatta of Imam Malik, books on geography and meteorology, Arabic proverbs and wisdom, and others. The manuscripts date back to the twelfth to eighteenth centuries.

His Highness had previously taken the initiative to digitize all the manuscripts of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences, based on his cultural vision and his belief in the importance of preserving the Arab cultural heritage, which constitutes the Arab identity, and preserves among its records science, knowledge, literature, and what Arab scholars have presented to culture throughout the past centuries.

The manuscripts represent an invaluable intellectual and cultural treasure, and are living evidence of the cultural and scientific heritage and the abundant Arab production in the fields of science, astronomy, medicine, forensic sciences, geography, and other fields. They highlight the social and economic aspects of societies during the past centuries, and showcase the masterpieces of the arts represented in calligraphy, decoration, and literature. They are also considered sources for researchers that enable them to investigate, study, and compare manuscripts.

The launch ceremony was attended, in addition to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, by Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Mahmoud, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Portugal, Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting and Television Authority, and a number of officials and media professionals.

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