Shaikh Zayed -- life and times

Shaikh Zayed’s father, Shaikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruled Abu Dhabi between 1922 and 1926. Then Zayed’s uncle, Shaikh Saqr bin Zayed Al Nayhan, reigned followed by Shaikh Zayed’s eldest brother, Shaikh Shakhbut in 1928. After his father died in 1927, Zayed moved to the oasis of Al Ain, approximately 160 kilometres east of the island of Abu Dhabi, where he spent the rest of his youth. There he underwent religious education, and learned the Holy Quran and was deeply moved by the biography of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

At the time Shaikh Zayed was born, the Emirates was poor and undeveloped with an economy primary based on fishing and pearl diving. His life even as a young member of a ruling family was simple. His education was based on studying the instructions and the principles of Islam from the local preacher. His transportation was either on camels or boats.

From 1920 to 1930, Zayed sought knowledge that made him go out in the desert with the bedu tribesmen to learn all he could about the way of life the people and the environment in which they lived. In 1946, he was chosen as the ruler's representative in Al Ain, he was greeted with widespread approval by the people who were already familiar with Zayed and his commitment to improving their lives.

At that time, the seven emirates, known then as the seven Trucial States, had been under British influence since 1820. Abu Dhabi was poor and undeveloped and its economy was based upon fishing and pearl diving along the coast. The economy suffered when the market for Gulf pearls
collapsed in the 1930s after Japanese scientists invented the cultured pearl. At this point, the first oil company teams came to carry out geological surveys, and Zayed was appointed to guide them around the desert.

In 1953 Shaikh Zayed along with his elder brother Shaikh Shakhbut travelled to Europe to appear at a legal hearing on an oil dispute. They also travelled to the United States, Switzerland, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, India, Iran, and Pakistan. On his return, Shaikh Zayed was convinced that it was urgent to develop the area in order to bridge the large gap between it and the rest of the world.When oil was discovered in Abu Dhabi in 1958, economic matters began
to improve. The first commercial field entered production in 1962 from the offshore Umm Shaif field, and then from onshore at Bab. On August 6, 1966, Shaikh Shakhbut gave control of Abu Dhabi to his younger brother.

After assuming rulership, Shaikh Zayed introduced a formal government structure, with departments developed to handle specific tasks. Priority was given to build basic housing facilities, schools, health services, and the construction of an airport, a sea port, roads, and a
bridge to link Abu Dhabi to the mainland. Financial resources were spent for the planting of trees in Al Ain in order to transform Abu Dhabi into a green city. Funding was also spent for the creation of a zoo in Al Ain in 1967.

When Britain announced in January 1968 that it would withdraw its military presence in the Gulf, Shaikh Zayed was the first statesman to call for a union. Zayed realised that for Abu Dhabi to prosper, it would need to co-operate with its tribal neighbours. So his first step was to meet with the then ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoom.

The two held meetings on the 19th of February 1968 at Samih and discussed border disputes. This was followed by the signing of an agreement on the 27th of February 1968, which would form a federation of nine emirates (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Bahrain, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Qatar and Umm Al Quwain). Unfortunately they had many setbacks as Zayed tried for three years to bring things together. Bahrain and Qatar wanted to seek full independence and Ras Al Khaimah also declined to join.

On the 2nd of December 1971, a federation of six emirates (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain) formed the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Shaikh Zayed was elected President and Shaikh Rashid was elected Vice-president. Shortly afterwards, Ras Al Khaimah decided to join the federation, which officially took place on the 11th of February of 1972.

Shaikh Zayed has been re-elected as president at five-year intervals by the Supreme Council Members, who are ruling members of each of the seven emirates. Shaikh Rashid was re-elected vice-president until he died in 1990, at which time his son, Shaikh Maktoum, took his father's
place. Shaikh Zayed continued to utilise the oil revenues of Abu Dhabi to fund projects throughout the UAE. Shaikh Zayed also played a major role in the formation of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC), which officially started in Abu Dhabi in 1981.