Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi

Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi (Arabic: فاهم بن سلطان القاسمي; born 1948) is an Emirati lawyer, diplomat, politician and businessman. He served as the second secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) from 1993 to 1996.

Fahim bin Sultan Qasimi
Minister of Supreme Council and GCC Affairs
In office
November 2004 – February 2006
Minister of Economy and Commerce
In office
March 1997 – November 2004
Succeeded bySheikha Lubna Al Qasimi
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council
In office
April 1993 – April 1996
Preceded byAbdullah Bishara
Succeeded byJamil Ibrahim Hejailan
Personal details
Born1948 (age 72–73)
NationalityEmirati
Spouse(s)Linda Usra Soffan
Alma materCairo University
Johns Hopkins University
OccupationLawyer
ProfessionDiplomacy

Early life and education

Qasimi was born in 1948.[1] He hails from a family based in Ras Al Khaimah.[2] He is a member of the ruling family of the Ras Al Khaimah Emirate, Al Qasimi, and the cousin of the ruler.[3][4] Qasimi has five brothers and five sisters.[5] He holds a law degree, which he earned from Cairo University in 1974, and a master's degree in international politics, which he received from Johns Hopkins University in 1977.[6]

Career

Qasimi began his career in the 1970s as a legal consultant and litigator for companies doing business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).[7] Then he joined the foreign ministry in 1975.[8] He was the ambassador of the UAE to the United Nations and consul-general in Geneva from 1977 to 1980.[5][9] He served as the UAE's permanent representative at the United Nations in New York from 1980 to 1984.[10] During the same period he was also non-resident ambassador of the UAE to Canada.[7]

From 1984 to 1992 he was the director of the legal department at the foreign ministry.[10] Then he was appointed secretary of the GCC in April 1993, replacing Abdullah Bishara.[11][12] During his term, Qasimi supported the idea that the dispute over the islands in the Gulf should be settled through intervention of neutral third parties or of the international agencies like the international court of justice in the Hague.[13] Qasimi's tenure lasted until April 1996.[9] He was replaced by Saudi diplomat Jamil Ibrahim Hejailan.[4]

Qasimi was appointed minister of economy and commerce of the UAE in March 1997.[14] He replaced Said Ghobash in the post.[15] Qasimi's tenure lasted until November 2004 when he was replaced by his cousin Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the first woman assumed this post in the country, in a reshuffle.[2] In the same reshuffle, he became the minister of supreme council and GCC affairs.[2][16] He retired from office in February 2006.[8]

In 2006, Qasimi co-founded an Emirati-owned law firm and was the chairman of that firm until 2013. In March 2013, Qasimi co-founded a new law firm, Qasimi Law Partners (d/b/a QLP MENA),[7] and is the chairman of the firm. He is also the chairman of the Emirates Golf Federation and Arab Golf Federation.[7][17]

Personal life

Qasimi is married to a Lebanese-American, Linda Usra Soffan.[5] She published a book, entitled The Status of Women in the UAE, in 1983.[5]

References
  1. Bob Reinalda; Kent Kille (21 August 2012). "Biographical Dictionary of Secretaries-General of International Organizations" (PDF). IO BIO Database.
  2. "Sheikha Lubna's challenge". AMEinfo. 12 December 2004. Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  3. "Cabinet Reshuffle Enhances Stability Ahead of Leadership Transition". Wikileaks. 2 November 2004. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  4. Malcolm C. Peck (12 April 2010). The A to Z of the Gulf Arab States. Scarecrow Press. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-8108-7636-1. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  5. Vincent Barwood, Aileen (March–April 1983). "The Spokesmen". Saudi Aramco World. 34 (2). Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  6. "Honorable Shaikh Fahim Al Qasimi". HG. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  7. "Shaikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi". QLP MENA. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  8. "They served their country well". Gulf News. Abu Dhabi. 11 February 2006. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  9. "Profile". ECSSR. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  10. "The Council of Ministers". APS Review Downstream Trends. 8 June 1998. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  11. "GCC agrees to bolster joint force". New Straits Times. Abu Dhabi. 25 December 1992. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  12. Habib Toumi (29 November 2009). "Oman endorses Al Mutawa". Gulf News. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  13. Christian Koch; David E. Long (22 February 2003). Gulf Security in the Twenty-First Century. I.B.Tauris. p. 162. ISBN 978-1-85043-386-6. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  14. "New Cabinet Appointed". UAE Interact. 26 March 1997. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  15. "UAE - Profiles - Ministers". APS Review Downstream Trends. 31 May 2004. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  16. "UAE cabinet restructured". Khajeej Times. Abu Dhabi. 2 November 2004. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  17. "Shaikh Fahim bin Sultan Al Qasimi formally inaugurated the Mena Golf Tour at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club". UAE Golf. 26 September 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
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