Khorfakkan: H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member, Ruler of Sharjah, and President of the University of Khorfakkan, inaugurated the Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre, affiliated with the university, in Khorfakkan. Upon arrival, Sheikh Dr Sultan unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the official opening of the centre. He then toured its various sections, which include 12 specialised laboratories focusing on fields such as histology, wet labs, microbiology, and environmental analysis.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Ruler of Sharjah was briefed on the Advanced Microscopy Centre, the Marine Chemistry Analysis Unit, and facilities for remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS). He examined the centre’s infrastructure, which includes an integrated experimental tank system, a seawater treatment plant, a dedicated marine research port, and a scientific diving training facility.
Sheikh Dr Sultan reviewed state-of-the-art instruments and technologies used at the centre to detect marine pollution, monitor bacterial growth, and separate contaminated water from clean samples. Demonstrations on measuring solid waste and marine debris were also part of the tour, along with samples of both polluted and clean water.
The Ruler was introduced to the centre’s research projects, where students conduct fieldwork and data analysis under academic supervision. These projects contribute to global research publications, enhancing the status of the UAE and Sharjah and qualifying them for membership in international organisations. Students also briefed Sheikh Dr Sultan on their four-year Bachelor’s degree programme in Marine and Aquatic Sciences, offered in partnership with the University of Exeter (UK).
Graduates from the programme gain professional certifications, including scientific diving, and are prepared for careers in government, private, and academic sectors. Students from the College of Marine and Aquatic Sciences, who won first place in the Sharjah Government Communication Award – Universities Challenge category for their project ‘Ocean Sustainability,’ presented a prototype of an advanced submarine designed to monitor the marine environment.
Sheikh Dr Sultan also toured the classrooms and specialised library, which houses marine science reference books. He reviewed academic partnerships with institutions such as the University of Exeter, the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the National Oceanography Centre, and the University of Cambridge. These collaborations aim to achieve global leadership in marine research.
Students expressed gratitude for Sheikh Dr Sultan’s support in providing specialised facilities that enhance their learning. They noted that the new centre represents a qualitative leap in their educational and research journey, supporting national efforts to protect marine environments and sustain natural resources.
Honorary professorship certificates from the University of Exeter were presented to Dr Ali Hilal Alnaqbi, Chancellor of the University of Khorfakkan, Dr Steven Kidman, Director of the Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre, and Dr Henrik Stahl, Dean of the College of Marine and Aquatic Sciences, for their contributions to the centre.
The centre aims to become a world-leading institution in marine science research and ocean sustainability, advancing the sustainable blue economy and supporting the UAE’s economic growth. Students at the introductory level study marine and general sciences before progressing to research and applied fields such as marine molecular biology and wildlife biology, with a focus on the UAE’s coastal ecosystems.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, Sheikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Amna Al Dhahak Al Shamsi, Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, and other officials and members of the University of Khorfakkan Board of Trustees.