Khalid Al Qasimi dead – Tributes to Emir of Sharjah’s fashion designer son who died aged 39 in London
TRIBUTES have been paid to the ruler of Sharjah’s fashion designer son Khalid Al Qasimi with one friend saying he “will always be my angel”.
The 39-year-old was the owner of a British fashion label, Qasimi, which has been in business since 2008, and his designs have been shown as part of London and Paris Fashion Weeks.
Three days of mourning have been declared in the emirate and flags have been ordered to fly at half mast.
It has not yet been revealed how he died.
Fashion photographer Mariano Vivanco paid tribute on Instagram with the words “Will always be my Angel” along with a photograph of Al Qasimi.
His father Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi has ruled Sharjah since 1972.
The ruler’s eldest son from his first marriage, Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi died of a drug overdose aged 24 in 1999.
He was found on the floor of his bathroom at the family’s home in East Grinstead.
The royal was surrounded by syringes and a tie strapped as a tourniquet around his arm, it was reported at the time.
Sheikh Dr Sultan announced his other son’s death on Instagram, saying: “Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi is in the care of God.”
According to Qasimi company website, Khalid Al Qasimi was educated at Tonbridge School, where he was awarded an art scholarship.
He went on to read French and Spanish at University College London, then completed a degree in architecture.
‘IN THE CARE OF GOD’
Al Qasimi then moved to Central Saint Martins, winning a place on the college’s prestigious BA Womenswear course, before launching his label Qasimi Homme in 2008.
An inquest into his brother’s death heard how their father told of how he found his son’s body.
“My security guard broke the window of the bathroom. I went into the bathroom and I found him on his knees on the bathroom floor,” he said.
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The UK’s ambassador to the UAE, Patrick Moody, said the UK sent its “deepest condolences” to the Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi and his family.
It recently emerged the wife of Dubai’s ruler Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum has left him — and taken £31million to start a new life, it is understood.
Princess Haya, who had not been seen since February, is said to have fled to Germany with her son and daughter.She is understood to have immediately requested asylum and filed for divorce from her husband.
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