Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi awarded the Grand Collar of the Order of Camões
The University of Coimbra maintains close ties with the Emir of Sharjah through the Joanina Digital project, as well as wider academic, scientific and cultural cooperation. This is the first time Portugal’s highest cultural honour has been awarded to a figure from the Arab world.
President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has awarded Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, Emir of Sharjah, the Grand Collar of the Order of Camões, the highest cultural distinction of the Portuguese State. This marks the first time the honour has been conferred on a figure from the Arab world.
The Collar of the Order of Camões recognises outstanding contributions to literature and intercultural dialogue. The award was presented during a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Portuguese-Arab relations. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa highlighted the symbolic significance of the distinction, stating: “In the year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates and Portugal, I cannot imagine a better way to mark the occasion than by honouring such an enlightened, distinguished and open-minded individual.”
An author of nearly 200 published works, the Emir of Sharjah maintains a close relationship with Portugal, particularly with the University of Coimbra (UC). In October 2025, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi — also a member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates — visited UC for the official launch of the Joanina Digital project.
The project aims to digitise and make available around 30,000 volumes from the Noble Floor of the Joanina Library by 2030, creating a new heritage archive of some 18 million pages. It is the result of a partnership between UC and the Sharjah Book Authority, under the high patronage of the Ruler of Sharjah. During the visit, UC also inaugurated the Arab Studies Centre at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.
The award ceremony took place on Thursday, 29 January, at the Presidential Palace, and underscores the strengthening of relations between Portugal and the United Arab Emirates, extending beyond the cultural sphere.