Saqr III bin Sultan al-Qasimi

Saqr bin Sultan Al Qasimi (1924 – 9 November 1993) was the ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, a Trucial State and today one of the United Arab Emirates, from May 1951 to 24 June 1965.

Acceding to rule Sharjah on the death of his father in 1951, he was removed following a bloodless coup when he lost the support both of the Al Qasimi family and British administrators.

Exiled to Egypt, he returned to Sharjah in February 1972 with a group of mercenaries and attempted to mount a coup which failed, resulting in the murder of the-then ruler of Sharjah and founding father of the United Arab Emirates, Khalid bin Muhammad Al Qasimi.

Arab nationalism Saqr was the eldest son of Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi II, who ruled 1924–51, and duly acceded on Sultan's death.

Saqr was a fervent Arab nationalist and supporter of the Arab League. Founded in 1945, the Arab League gave voice to a growing movement in the Arab world in support of a pan-Arab identity during the post-war tide of Arab independence. With the British Empire collapsing, a generation of newly confident (if essentially autocratic) Arab leaders emerged. an action in which he was joined by Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. The Trucial Oman Scouts picketed Sharjah Fort and took the surrender of the soldiers there, as well as that of Saqr’s brother, Abdullah bin Sultan Al Qasimi. Abdullah was accompanied by the son of the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Khalid bin Saqr bin Muhammad Al Qasimi. His cousin, Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi succeeded him as ruler of Sharjah on 25 June 1965.

Saqr was handed over to Sheikh Zayed's custody by Mohammed and, according to Balfour-Paul, 'dropped in an underground hole in Buraimi.'