Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, has released his 82nd book. Wam
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, has released his 82nd book. Wam
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, has released his 82nd book. Wam
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, has released his 82nd book. Wam

Sharjah Ruler's latest book delves into the history of Oman


Maan Jalal
  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah, has released his latest historical book. Titled History of the Nabhani Kings 1154-1622, it delves into the history of the Sultanate of Oman and the surrounding region, spanning more than five centuries.

Published by Al Qasimi Publications, the book is the second instalment in the Ruler’s Sultan of History series, a comprehensive historical encyclopaedia he is working on. Sheikh Dr Sultan drew on his own research, knowledge and expertise in the history of the region for the project – along with his vast collection of historical manuscripts, map and document archives.

Mariam Jasim Sajwani, media co-ordinator at Al Qasimi Publications tells The National that Sheikh Dr Sultan is interested in "disseminating historical books and publications that are well-documented and supported by reliable sources".

Sajwani adds: "This attracts readers to explore the history and delve into various historical topics."

The first section of the book, Genealogy and Lineage of the Nabhani Kings and Sultans, provides a thorough and researched account of the rulers of the Nabhani dynasty.

The influential dynasty, members of the renowned Bani Nabhan family, ruled over the region from 1154 to 1622, leaving behind the Bahla Fort, one of four historic fortresses situated at the foot of the Jebel Akhdar in highlands in Oman, and the country’s only Unesco world heritage site.

Golden Currency, the second section of the book, details the discovery of an ancient gold coin dating back to the reign of Sultan Saif Al-Din Nasrat, who ruled from from 1272 to 1290. The discovery was made by the Sharjah Antiquities Authority during excavations in Khor Fakkan, a coastal town on the Gulf of Oman, in the UAE.

"After reading this book, reader's knowledge about the Sultanate of Oman, its history, and what happened there will increase," says Sajwani.

"They will benefit from acquiring information about events in an enjoyable and detailed manner, which motivates everyone to delve deeper and learn more about the history of the Sultanate of Oman."

This is Sheikh Dr Sultan’s 82nd book. His historical works encompasses various fields of knowledge, history, geography and archaeology.

History of the Nabhani Kings 1154-1622 is now available on: www.sheikhdrsultan.ae

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Trump v Khan

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2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

Retail gloom

Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.

It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.

The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.

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Updated: July 03, 2023, 9:36 AM