Education

H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammed Al Qassimi has worked tirelessly to make Sharjah the emirate of enlightenment and learning. His concern for culture and education is both a reflection of and a stimulus for the creative and intellectual life of Sharjah.

Leading by example, Sheikh Sultan holds two Ph.D.s and has worked for over 30 years to bolster the development of human resources. In a country experiencing an unprecedented construction boom, Sheikh Sultan is noted for constantly striving to maintain a balance between commercial and human development. Sharjah is a reflection of his famous quote: “Enough of concrete, and let us build the human being.”

Under this tenet, Sheikh Sultan sponsored the opening of three universities that have turned the suburbs of Sharjah into a palace-like campus called University City. The palatial “city” encompasses six university campuses and effectively addresses the need for further education in the Arab world, specifically focusing on the evident discrepancy between Arab countries and other technologically and scientifically advanced nations.

The University of Sharjah for Men, the University of Sharjah for Women, Higher College of Technology for Men and Higher College of Technology for Women are four of the six universities embodied by University City and are opened only to Emirati nationals of the highest caliber.

The American University of Sharjah, however, introduces education of another echelon. Founded in 1997, AUS follows American standards in educational system and methods, is open to students of all nationalities and backgrounds, and is allied with the long respected American University of Beirut.

Another revolutionary academic institute present in University City is the Sharjah Police Academy, which aims to enhance the educational and practical levels of the Sharjah force. The academy offers various levels of education in Police Science, music and management and is open to all Gulf nationals.