His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of American University of Sharjah (AUS), met today, March 12, with Dr. Yasir Suleiman, Director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center of Islamic Studies, University of Cambridge, and received an update on the two-day Cambridge in Sharjah: Perspectives on Middle Eastern Studies conference that concluded at AUS yesterday, March 11.

The Sharjah Ruler expressed satisfaction at the outcome of this important conference held at AUS and hoped that more such collaborative events between the two institutions will take place in the future from which both the faculty as well as the students can gain benefit.

Dr. Suleiman briefed the Sharjah Ruler on the wide range of issues addressed at the event by faculty members from both universities. From matters relating to Gulf Cooperation Council countries and broadcast media in the Middle East to issues pertaining to doing business the Islamic way as well as those relating to urban studies in the region, the event featured papers on numerous topics and proved an excellent platform where fruitful exchanges took place between colleagues from the two institutions.

He also briefed His Highness on the launch of the Narratives of Conversion to Islam in Britain: Female Perspectives and presented the Sharjah Ruler with copies of the report. The launch at AUS was the first stop in a series of launches to be held internationally. His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan invited Dr. Suleiman to accompany him on a tour of the Dr. Sultan Al Qassimi Center for Gulf Studies.

"I would like to thank His Highness for the opportunity to visit the center and its truly distinctive and rich holdings," said Dr. Suleiman. "The center is a resource not just for Sharjah and the UAE but for all students of history and culture of this strategically important area. The center reflects Sheikh Dr. Sultan's patronage of culture in its various forms for which he is well known worldwide," he added.

Dr. Suleiman thanked the Sharjah Ruler for his support to the conference and extended an invitation to His Highness to visit the University of Cambridge of which His Highness is a friend and generous benefactor. He also apprised Sheikh Dr. Sultan of the current and future plans of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center of Islamic Studies and its many activities. Dr. Suleiman, who is the author of numerous published works, is renowned for his research that covers the cultural politics of the Middle East. He also conducts research in Arabic grammatical theory and the Arabic intellectual tradition in the pre-modern period.

In a separate meeting with His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, attended by Dr. Thomas Hochstettler, AUS Provost and AUS Vice Chancellors, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan also announced the appointment of Dr. Hochstettler as Acting Chancellor until the return to office of Chancellor Peter Heath. Sheikh Dr. Sultan expressed confidence in Dr. Hochstettler to provide leadership and continuity to the university in the absence of Dr. Heath.