Sharjah Ruler Direct Line Programme Transforms Lives, Addresses Citizen’s Issues Swiftly
In a powerful demonstration of responsive governance and compassion, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, continues to personally intervene in a range of citizens’ and residents’ concerns through the popular “Direct Line” radio programme — a platform dedicated to resolving everyday problems and urgent humanitarian cases raised directly by callers.
Launched more than a decade ago as a live channel between the public and Sharjah’s leadership, the “Direct Line” initiative allows people to raise personal, social, and administrative issues on air, with Sheikh Sultan often providing immediate attention and solutions.
Immediate Responses to Real Challenges
During the latest broadcast on Thursday, February 12, 2026, several impactful interventions were announced:
- Leave and Salary Restoration: A Sharjah government employee, Amal Al-Junaibi, called in with a plea after her employer deducted her entire leave balance and salary while she accompanied her husband — a person of determination — to necessary medical treatment. After hearing her situation, the Ruler ruled that the actions taken against her were inconsistent with regulations and directed the Department of Human Resources to restore her leave and pay immediately.
- Housing and Infrastructure Solution in Kalba: Another caller, Amer from Kalba, raised concerns about sewage problems caused by nearby construction. Sheikh Sultan confirmed that affected families, including Amer’s, will be relocated to a new residential complex in the University District opposite Khor Kalba within six months, with development projects underway to improve living conditions in the area.
- Educational Support: In an appeal concerning high university fees in Australia, the Ruler instructed authorities to cover the Dh300,000 educational expenses for a student whose merit scholarship was temporarily suspended — ensuring her studies continue without financial disruption.
- Medical Assistance Resumed: For Umm Abdul Rahman, a caller suffering health issues and without insurance, Sheikh Sultan directed the Amiri Diwan to coordinate with the Friends of Patients Association to restore medical support that had previously stopped.
Humanitarian Governance in Action
At the conclusion of the broadcast, the Sharjah Ruler reaffirmed his commitment to closely follow up on citizens’ and residents’ concerns and to address humanitarian cases directly — reflecting Sharjah’s long-standing approach to social welfare and responsive leadership.
This style of governance — combining immediacy, compassion, and direct accountability — has become a hallmark of the “Direct Line” programme. Over the years, it has also tackled a variety of issues, from debt relief and education support to housing and bureaucratic challenges, often resulting in swift government action and policy adjustments.
Sharjah’s “Direct Line” stands out not just as a media programme but as an instrument of participatory governance, underscoring the Ruler’s message that citizen voices matter and that meaningful change can be achieved when leadership listens and acts.