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Abdulrahman Sultan Alsharhan Edit Profile

academic administrator geologist

Abdulrahman Sultan Alsharhan is an Emirian geologist and academic administrator, chairman of International Center for Biosaline Agriculture in Dubai. He is an initial member of staff of the UAE University and the first University Professor in the United Arab Emirates.

Background

Abdulrahman Sultan Alsharhan was born on September 15, 1954 in Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. His father is Sultan Abdulrahman and Aminah (Alsakkar) Alsharhan.

Education

He received his B.Sc (1978) in Geology from Cairo University, and M.Sc. (1983) and Ph.D. (1985) in Geology both from the University of South Carolina, USA. Fulbright scholarship at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, 1990-1993.

Career

In 1978-1980, Abdulrahman Sultan Alsharhan worked as a geologist at the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, UAE. In 1980, he joined the UAE University as an Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science, Department of Geology, teaching courses and contributing to various Executive Committees. The UAE University is the oldest University in the UAE established in 1976 as an accredited research-based institution comprising nine colleges, about 13000 students in 2 campuses and 1000 teaching staff. In 1986, Abdulrahman Sultan Alsharhan was selected as the first Professor in the United Arab Emirates. He led course development and management, academic advisory, and headed the creation of an internationally respected College of Science with a highly functional support environment appropriate to stakeholder requirements.

Progressed through roles as Head of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Desert and Marine Environment Research Centre, (1987-1990), Assistant Dean Scientific Research, Faculty of Science (1992-1994), and Assistant Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs, (1994-1995).

From 1990-1996, he worked as the Director of the Desert Marine Environmental Research Center and oversaw several programs, including the Tissue Culture (Palm Trees) Laboratory and Salt Tolerant Plants Project. At that time, he contributed extensively to the formation of a farming project that grew plants able to handle high salinity, interacted with external corporations, participating in discussions that led to the creation of IQWA, a palm tree tissue culture farm now operating as a commercial enterprise growing genetically modified palm trees that resist fungi and infection and offer significantly increased date production.

As Director of the Environmental Science Master Program from 1992-1994, Abdulrahman Sultan Alsharhan played a key role in the formation of the Master Plan for the course and its structure and content. Recruited teaching staff and oversaw initiation of an environmental postgraduate program still considered to be one of the best in the Middle East. In 1995-2003, he was a Dean of the Faculty of Science, UAE University.

From 1997-2003, Abdulrahman Sultan Alsharhan provided substantial on-the-ground involvement in the creation and deployment of strategic processes enabling expansion of courses and programs, with the responsibility to critically review curriculum for each Department of the University and either approve course content or suggest alterations.

In 2010, he received the UAE Appreciation Award for Research and Environmental Studies from the President of the United Arab Emirates.

In 2011-2013, he worked as the President of American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Middle East region.

Currently, Professor Abdulrahman Sultan Alsharhan is the chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Cement Company (since 2003). Since 2013, he has been also the Chairman of the International Center for Biosalione Agriculture, Dubai (international, non-profit agricultural research center). He is actively engaged in development and support of the Center’s environmental objectives and strategies. Focuses mainly on the issues of water, environment, income, and food security with complete oversight of research and development programs that aim to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability in marginal environments.

In 2013, he received Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Award for Best Environmental Practices in Saudi Arabia.

Achievements

  • With a 35-year career he has experience in the oil industry and with academia, both as professor and Dean of College of Science at UAE University; the latter enabled him during the past 26 years to publish more than 100 scientific papers in international journals and 8 books on his research interests which concentrate on the petroleum geology of the Middle East, water resources and integrated management and climatic changes and desertification of the Arabian Gulf region. He also presented over 60 abstracts at several international conferences and meetings. He was the first UAE national to be promoted as professor, based on his academic teaching and his administration, research, participation, organization and chairing sessions in regional and international events. He also served as reviewer for international scientific journal such as American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), and member of advisory board for Journal of African earth Sciences, International Association of Sedimentology, Arabian Journal of Geosciences and Middle East Petroleum Geosciences (GeoArabia).

Works

All works

Membership

United Arab Emirates Research Council, American Association Petroleum Geologists, Geological Society of America, Society Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, International Association Sedimentologists, Geological Society London, Canadian Society Petroleum Geologists, Society Petroleum Engineers, Geological Association Canada, International Oil Scouts Association.

Interests

  • Reading, travelling, music, swimming

Connections

Married Mona Alsharhan (September 21, 1980). They have 3 children: Fahad Abdulrahman Sultan, Noora Abdulrahman Sultan, Maryann Adbulrahman Sultan.

Father:
Sultan Abdulrahman Alsharhan

Mother:
Aminah (Alsakkar) Alsharhan

Spouse:
Mona Alsharhan

child:
Fahad Abdulrahman Sultan Alsharhan

child:
Noora Abdulrahman Sultan Alsharhan

child:
Maryann Adbulrahman Sultan Alsharhan