Khalid Al Qasimi, A UAE Prince, Accomplished Fashion Designer Dies in London Apartment Aged 39

Khalid Al Qasimi, second son of UAE Sharjah emirate ruler, a famous fashion designer, has died aged 39.

A report was filed about the death of the Crown Prince and son of Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi at his high brow London home in Knightsbridge five days ago.

Khalid Al Qasimi founded a fashion label that bears the same name, Qasimi in 2016 and has gone on to exhibit his collections in London and Paris Fashion weeks.

Following the death of the 39-year-old prince, three national days of mourning were declared in his honor in the UAE.

In a statement, the Metro Police said they received a report of “sudden death at a residential property in Knightsbridge.”

And a statement released by the clothing label Qasimi said the 39-year-old, Crown Prince had died “unexpectedly” but provided no further information.

A post-mortem result showed an inconclusive cause of death, though further examinations are expected to provide insights into the cause of death.

Accolades and condolences

Sheikh Dr. Sultan, his father, announced his son’s death on Instagram by posting “Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi is in the care of God.”

Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi has ruled Sharjah since 1972.

Celebrity fashion photographer Mariano Vivanco has paid her last respects on Instagram with the words “Will always be my Angel” shared along with a photograph of Al Qasimi.

Qasimi, the fashion label posted on its website “praised for his tenacious yet sensitive exploration of social-political issues, particularly those about the Middle East and its sometimes strained relationship with the West.”

The UK’s ambassador to the UAE, Patrick Moody, has expressed “our deepest condolences” to the royal family.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE and Sheikh of Abu Dhabi also sent in their condolences to the Sharjah ruler and his family.

Education and Works

According to Qasimi, the Crown Prince studied fashion design at Central Saint Martins in London. He released his first collections in 2008.

Before that, he was educated at the Ton bridge School, where he bagged an Art scholarship. From there, he proceeded to read French and Spanish at University College London and rounded up his education with a degree in Architecture.

Before his death, he was the chairman of the Sharjah Urban Planning Council whose responsibilities include overseeing infrastructural development in the emirate.

Elder brother’s tragic death

In 1999, the ruler’s eldest son from his first marriage, Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi died from a drug overdose aged only 24.

He was found dead surrounded by syringes and a tie strapped as a bandage around his arm on the floor of his bathroom at the royal’s family home in East Grinstead.

As it is, Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi has now lost two sons. And no date has been announced for an inquest into his second son’s death.