In the emirate of Sharjah the commitment to culture, and in particular culture presented through the medium of the museum, has been at the very heart of the vision of its ruler, His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed al Qasimi, a dedicated and exceptionally committed supporter of education and patron of the arts. Sharjah today has a family of nineteen museums run by the Sharjah Museums Department. Together, these museums are intended to cater for the interests and concerns of local society. The Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization is seen as a particularly important addition to the museum landscape in Sharjah, as it reflects the vision of its ruler to preserve and promote Islamic Culture. It is the first and only museum of its kind in the UAE to focus entirely on the universal achievements and contributions of Islamic civilization.