The governments of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah have joined forced to set up a regional unit of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) in Khor Fakkan. The foundation stone was jointly laid by Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah and HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.
According to a report by WAM, the new branch of the Academy will grant students a Bachelor’s Degree in applied and theoretical sciences. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah was also present at the foundation stone laying ceremony.
The laying of the foundation stone follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in January, between the Sharjah Government and AASTMT. The Sharjah ruler signed the MoU on behalf of his government, while His Excellency Professor Ismail Abdel Ghaffar Ismail Farag signed the MOU on behalf of AASTMT. 
According to the AASTMT website, its mission is to ‘Contribute to the social and economic development of the Arab region by offering distinguished Change Agents who have been qualified through comprehensive educational programs, high caliber faculty, and centers of excellence in research, training and consultancies while strictly committed to the highest levels of Quality’.
