The Guardian revealed today that the rulers of Sharjah, the Al-Qasimi family are one of the backers behind the bid of Syrian businessman Yahya Kirdi for Liverpool FC. If the article is true, what do we know of the Al-Qasimi family?
To go way back in history here, the Al-Qasimi tribe possessed the most powerful naval fleet in the lower Persian Gulf in the eighteenth century and because of their control of trade in the region, it led them into conflict with both Oman and Britain. A succession of naval battles ensued which finally led to the defeat of the Al-Qasimi in 1819 after the British burned their ships and destroyed the town of Ras al Khaymah. There has since been a historical hostility between the Al-Qasimi and the British.
Currently there are two branches of the Al-Qasimi family, one that rules Ras al Khaymah and the other Sharjah. The one Liverpool fans should be concerned with is the latter, who are the rulers of the third largest emirate in the UAE. The patriarch of the Sharjah rulers dates back to 1804 when Sultan bin Saqr bin Rashid Al-Qasimi ruled. In the last 50 years, Sharjah has been notorious for its political instability. From 1951 – 1965 Saqr bin Sultan Al-Qasimi ruled Sharjah but he was arrested after attempting to overthrow his successor and cousin Khalid ibn Muhammad Al-Qasimi who was killed in the coup attempt in 1972. His brother and present ruler Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi took over the same year after being unanimously elected by the family council.
One of the most educated rulers in the UAE, Sheikh Sultan was educated at the University of Cairo where he attained a degree in agriculture before moving to England to study for Phd in history at Exeter University and the University of Durham during the 1960s. Once he became leader in 1972, his reputation grew for being quite progressive and he favoured strengthening the powers of the federal government over his own rule. He is also perceived first and foremost as a pragmatist and his alliance with Dubai has been a very important strategic relationship for economic reasons over the last 25 years.
In 1985, a wide-ranging alliance was agreed between Sheikh Sultan and Dubai’s ruling family headed by Mohammed Bin Rashid. The pact not only settled long running disputes over territory which had provided cause for tension over the last two centuries but also brought about a long term gas deal between the two emirates which has been tremendously profitable for Sharjah. To this day, Sheikh Sultan has close ties with Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Al-Maktoum.
Throughout the 1980s, Sheikh Sultan promoted Sharjah as a business centre in tandem with Dubai but his over-lavish spending on construction projects led to an attempted coup attempt in 1987 after some members of the ruling family were aghast at the debt of $920 million that the Sheikh had amassed. When Sheikh Sultan was out of the emirate, his elder brother, Shaykh Abd al Aziz Al Qasimi announced that Sultan had abdicated because of his mismanagement of the economy. Through mediation though, Sultan returned as leader although with his elder brother as crown prince. Sheikh Sultan however forced his brother from his position in 1990, revoked his succession rights and exiled him from the emirate.
Since 9/11 though, Sheikh Sultan has become more conservative. Under the influence of Saudi Arabia’s Wahhabism, he has restricted the rights of women, mainly due to the fact he has become more reliant on money and support from Riyadh in his dispute with Iran over the islands of Abu Musa and the two Tunbs. He needs Saudi Arabian support to keep pressure on Iran over the islands but it has led to stricter Muslim rules in the emirate.
So Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi has had an interesting life to say the least. After a stint at university in this country, he was sworn into power after a coup attempt and even survived one himself. We shall have to wait and see though if in fact his family are the true backers of Kirdi’s bid.
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My left foot – says it all not much other wise it would have said lol. Their getting money from the Saudi Royals so they must not have much themselves, their meant to be the 3rd richest Royals in the UAE……YNWA
LOL! Couldn’t have put it better myself @ my left foot
Their history is important. We are not Chelsea and we would care about where any money they spend comes from, although this article doesn’t really say a lot. Wikipedia it is then!
This family do not have a pot to piss in….Well, not strictly true, they can afford the odd palace and sports car but do not have the kind of wealth to transform Liverpool.
They are Dubai’s poor relation – that is saying something given their well publicised near bankruptcy.
who want to control liverpool
1.. pay a debit and buy a club = 500 mil
2.. build the stadium for 70 000 seat = ?? mill
3.. 100 mill spend for in-out player in 2 seasson
2010/11 and 2011/12
it mean ? how much??
Thats weird!
Sharjah has been known to be conservative way before 9/11!
It gets no money from Saudia Arabia, the only thing they get are political support!
They are not Dubai, but they have their own strategy for conservative growth.
I just wish the source was more accurate and had a name of the Qassimi whos behind this, as Al Qassimi is a huuuuuGe family!
Wow. I need to learn more about this.
Where did all this come from? What offer and when?
Just searched and found this is a load of tripe! The family concerned were dealing back in 2010!! Two years ago….rubbish.
Asalam sir am from uganda and am going to write to u sir very soon and i will mostly tell u what is on my heart about your historical background.thanks sir.salam.
Whatever their wealth, the Al-Qasimi
family are ardent Arsenal fans, starting when they lived in Highbury. They have box and regular season tickets. That’s not to say Liverpool couldn’t do with their help.