write a short biography about sheikh zayed

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Known as the Father of the Nation for his role in forming the United Arab Emirates, the late HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was the first President of the UAE. He served in this position since the formation of the UAE on 2 December 1971 until he passed away in 2004. He also served as the Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi from 1966 to 2004. Born in the city of Al Ain, Sheikh Zayed was the youngest of the four sons of HH Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, from 1922 to 1926.

Sheikh Zayed was a good listener and an unbiased dispute mediator. He was also renowned for his patience, vision and wisdom, qualities that earned him the title of 'the wise man of the Arabs.' He ensured that all UAE citizens were involved in the nation's collective success. His vision led the UAE becoming the GCC's second-biggest economy after Saudi Arabia and the third-largest in the Middle East, according to many international major reports, as well as the most important financial and economic centre in the region. The process of establishing the Federation started with the late Sheikh Zayed paving the way for unity to ensure the Trucial States' survival and eventually establish a federal authority when faced with serious threats.

On 16 January 1968, after the announcement of Great Britain’s withdrawal from east of Suez and the Gulf, Sheikh Zayed established closer ties with the other emirates. He went immediately to Dubai to discuss the next steps with the then Ruler of Dubai, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Finally, on 18 February 1968, both Sheikhs agreed on a federation. They envisioned a Federation that would include the seven emirates that made up the Trucial States and Qatar and Bahrain.

Three and a half years later, with the end of British withdrawal, Sheikh Zayed again engaged Sheikh Rashid and the other Rulers in the Trucial States in decisive discussions, which determined the vital role of the UAE. Sheikh Zayed's enthusiasm was a critical factor in the formation of the UAE, he also won support for  the way he sought consensus and agreement among his fellow Rulers.

Eventually, six Emirates, except Ras Al Khaimah, followed Sheikh Zayed united to establish the UAE, which formally emerged on the international stage on 2 December 1971. The Rulers of the other Emirates unanimously elected Sheikh Zayed as the President of the UAE. Ras Al Khaimah acceded to the new Federation on 10 February 1972.

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Shaikh Zayed: A tribute to the UAE and its visionary leader

Entertainment arts+culture.

French photojournalist Jack Burlot talks about his historic photographs of the UAE

French photojournalist Jack Burlot was 18 when he began his career by covering the Vietnam War. He later covered various conflicts in the Levant. So it was quite a change for him to come to a quiet, peaceful country like the UAE. He arrived in Abu Dhabi in 1974 on an assignment from the Gamma Agency to cover the oil boom here.

Curious to learn about a country that had been formed just three years ago, he walked around Abu Dhabi capturing scenes of daily life and visited the other Emirates that had become part of the Federation. He also got the opportunity to photograph the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE.

Burlot’s images of the oil fields in the desert were published around the globe and went on to become iconic images of the early years of oil exploration in this region. But neither he, nor anyone else, realised the importance of the photographs of the UAE and its visionary leader that he had taken in its formative years. His historic photographs are now part of the archives of the Zayed National Museum.

I have photographed many leaders... but Shaikh Zayed was unique. He was a charismatic and wise leader, and I can never forget his powerful gaze which reflected his strong personality and his humanity. - Jack Burlot

A selection of those photographs is on display at an exhibition titled Time of Zayed organised by Alliance Française Dubai in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority. The show commemorates the Year of Zayed and marks the culmination of the Year of Emirati French Cultural Dialogue during which the strong historical ties of friendship and cooperation between France and the UAE were celebrated through various events.

The show features powerful portraits of Shaikh Zayed, iconic images of Abu Dhabi’s earliest oil fields, street photographs and pictures of the celebrations of the country’s third National Day, as well as a few images from Burlot’s earlier visit to Abu Dhabi in 1965.

The artist, now a sprightly 72, was back in the UAE for the opening of the show and spoke fondly about his experiences and memories from 1974.

What was Abu Dhabi like in those days?

It was the new capital of a new country and in a period of transition but nobody could have imagined how rapidly the city and country would transform from a tribal bedouin society to the modern, multicultural place it has become today. There was sand everywhere, a few low-rise buildings and no roads, with a policeman standing on an oil barrel directing the traffic. The beautiful corniche you see today was just a stretch of sand, where families would picnic by the sea. I think there were three hotels and one fast food restaurant. There was no television in my room at the Hilton and the only entertainment available was a theatre that showed Indian films. But the people were warm and friendly, and I always felt comfortable here and still do.

What kind of moments did you capture with your camera?

While I was waiting for my permit to visit the oil fields, I spent my time walking around the city taking pictures of the markets, fishermen, dhow builders and even farmers working on a farm in the desert. I attended boat and camel races and visited Sharjah and other cities to capture the landscape and way of life of the people. I regret that I did not understand the value of those pictures and some of them have been lost. In the oil fields, I caught a moment when an Emirati and a Western oil executive were standing beside their four-wheel-drive vehicle watching the flares rise high over the desert. That image made it to the cover of 250 publications worldwide because there was global interest in the region’s oil industry.

Is it true that you did a fashion shoot on the streets of Abu Dhabi in 1974?

The idea came to me when I met a French model who was also staying at the Hilton. She agreed to pose for me and we shot at various places around the city such as the port and at Qasr Al Hosn. At a time when we hardly saw any women on the streets, people were astonished to see her posing for photographs on the streets, but nobody stopped us and many onlookers readily agreed to be in the pictures.

How did you get those close-up pictures of Shaikh Zayed?

It was at a camel race organised in honour of the Sudanese president. Security was quite relaxed those days and I worked my way closer and began taking pictures of Shaikh Zayed. He noticed this young, long-haired western photographer and looked at me, giving me the chance to get some good portraits. I have photographed many leaders such as Charles de Gaulle and Richard Nixon, but Shaikh Zayed was unique. He was a charismatic and wise leader, and I can never forget his powerful gaze which reflected his strong personality and his humanity.

Did you get other opportunities to photograph him or talk to him?

I made friends with members of his entourage and got accreditation to photograph events at the palace. They also invited me, but without my camera, for a falconry trip to the desert where I watched Shaikh Zayed at close quarters. I was young and only spoke French, so I hesitated to approach him but today I regret that I did not try to speak to him. Yet, I felt a connection with him. I do not know if he ever saw my photographs, but incredibly every time I returned to Abu Dhabi there was always a gift from him waiting for me in my hotel room.

Jyoti Kalsi is an arts-enthusiast based in Dubai.

Time of Zayed will run at La Galerie, Alliance Française Dubai until January 12.

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Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan facts for kids

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan ( Arabic : زَايِد بِن سُلْطَان آل نَهْيَان , romanized:  Zāyed bin Sulṭān Āl Nahyān ; 6 May 1918 – 2 November 2004) was an Emirati politician, statesman, and philanthropist who served as the first president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 1971 until his death in 2004. He is credited as the founding father and the principal driving force behind the formation of the UAE , uniting seven emirates . He was also the ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1966 until his death.

Zayed replaced his older brother Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan as the ruler of Abu Dhabi on 6 August 1966 after Shakhbut was deposed through a bloodless coup by members of the ruling family with British support.

Family and early life

Career and reign, policies and charity, zayed centre, founder's memorial, marriage and children.

Zayed was the youngest of four sons of Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan. His father was the ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1922 until his death in 1926. Zayed was the youngest of his four brothers. His eldest brother, Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, became ruler of Abu Dhabi after their uncle, Saqr bin Zayed Al Nahyan. His mother was Sheikha Salama bint Butti. She extracted a promise from her sons not to use violence against each other, a promise which they kept. Sheikh Zayed was named after his grandfather, Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan ("Zayed the Great"), who ruled the emirate from 1855 to 1909. At the time of Sheikh Zayed's birth, the sheikhdom of Abu Dhabi was one of seven Trucial States along the lower coast of the Persian Gulf . He also showed interest in falconry .

It is normally held that he was born at Qasr al-Hosn in Abu Dhabi , with some sources stating that he was born in Al Ain , particularly at Sultan Bin Zayed Fort on the edge of Al Ain Oasis. He is at least known to have moved from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain in 1927, after the death of his father. As Zayed was growing up in Al-Ain, there were no modern schools anywhere along the coast. He only received a basic instruction in the principles of Islam, and lived in the desert with Bedouin tribesmen, familiarising himself with the life of the people, their traditional skills and their ability to survive under the harsh climatic conditions.

Zayed was appointed the governor of the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi in 1946, and was based in the Muwaiji fort in Al Ain. At this time, the area was poor and prone to outbreaks of disease. When parties from Petroleum Development (Trucial Coast) began exploring for oil in the area, Zayed assisted them.

In 1952, a small Saudi Arabian force led by Turki bin Abdullah Al-Otaishan occupied the village of Hamasa in the Buraimi Oasis (the 'Buraimi Dispute'). Zayed was prominent in his opposition to Saudi territorial claims and reportedly rejected a bribe of about £30 million to allow Aramco to explore for oil in the disputed territory. As part of this dispute, Zayed and his brother Hazza attended the Buraimi arbitration tribunal in Geneva in September 1955 and gave evidence to tribunal members. When the tribunal was abandoned amid allegations of Saudi bribery, the British initiated the reoccupation of the Buraimi Oasis through a local military force, the Trucial Oman Levies . A period of stability followed during which Zayed helped to develop the region and took a particular interest in the restoration of the falaj system, a network of water channels which kept the plantations of the Buraimi Oasis irrigated and fertile.

The discovery of oil in 1958, and the start of oil exports in 1962, led to frustration among members of the ruling family about the lack of progress under Sheikh Shakhbut's rule. Shakhbut was seen as averse to spending revenue from oil money to develop the emirate by other members of Al Nahyan and hence they requested British help to install Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the ruler of Abu Dhabi in his stead through a bloodless coup. On 6 August 1966, Shakhbut was deposed in a bloodless palace coup. The move to replace Shakhbut with Zayed had the unanimous backing of the Al Nahyan family. The news was conveyed to Shakhbut by British Acting Resident Glen Balfour-Paul who added the support of the British to the consensus of the family. Shakhbut finally accepted the decision and, with the Trucial Oman Scouts providing safe transport, left for Bahrain . He subsequently lived in Khorramshahr , Iran before returning to live in Buraimi.

In the late 1960s, Zayed hired Katsuhiko Takahashi, a Japanese architect, to design and plan the city of Abu Dhabi. Takahashi, working to instructions from Zayed, often marked out in sand with a camel stick, was responsible for a number of key buildings, while also introducing wide roads, the construction of corniches and also greening the city. Another architect, Egyptian Abdulrahman Makhlouf, also worked to render Zayed's instructions into city plans and infrastructural projects following Takahashi's departure.

Between 8–11 January 1968, the UK's Foreign Office Minister Goronwy Roberts visited the Trucial States and announced to its shocked rulers that the United Kingdom would abrogate its treaties with them and intended to withdraw from the area. In a seminal meeting on 18 February 1968 at a desert highland on the border between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum of Dubai shook hands on the principle of founding a Federation and attempting to invite other trucial rulers to join in order that a viable nation be formed in the wake of the British withdrawal.

In 1971, after occasionally difficult negotiations with the other six rulers of the Trucial States , the United Arab Emirates was formed. Zayed was appointed to the presidency of the UAE in 1971 and was reappointed on four more occasions: 1976, 1981, 1986, and 1991.

In 1974, Zayed settled the outstanding border dispute with Saudi Arabia by the Treaty of Jeddah by which Saudi Arabia received the output of the Shaybah oilfield and access to the lower Persian Gulf in return for recognising the UAE.

In 1976 he founded the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which grew to be the world's third-largest sovereign investment fund by 2020, with nearly a trillion US dollars ' worth of assets under management.

Sheikh Zayed was determined to unite the Emirates into federation . His calls for cooperation extended across the Persian Gulf to Iran . He advocated dialogue as the means to settle the row with Tehran over three strategic Persian Gulf islands which Iran seized from the (future) UAE Emirate of Sharjah in 1971. The islands remain in Iranian hands, despite over three decades of UAE diplomatic initiatives.

The attitude of Zayed towards his neighbors can best be seen in his position regarding the "Umm al Zamul" dispute (1964), when he expressed a genuine wish that his brother Sheikh Shakhbut would accept "the Sultan's proposal for a neutral zone". He said in that regard: "... it was ridiculous to squabble over a [water] well so bitter that few bedouin could stomach its waters, or to split hairs over a tiny area of barren, almost totally unfrequented desert. And even if there happened to be oil in the area, Abu Dhabi had so much already that she could well afford to spare some for her less fortunate neighbours".

Furthermore, during the negotiations between Abu Dhabi and Dubai that resulted in forming the Abu Dhabi — Dubai Union (which preceded the formation of the United Arab Emirates), Sheikh Zayed was extremely generous with the Sheikh Rashid of Dubai. Kemal Hamza, Sheikh Rashid's envoy to the meeting between Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid in Sumeih remarked that "Zayed was extremely 'karim' (generous) throughout the negotiations and seemed prepared to give Rashid whatever he wanted". This amounted to Zayed giving Rashid "oil rights in the sea-bed that might be worth milions a year" even at the risk of criticism "at home for giving so much..." It also gave rise to comments that such concessions constituted "an alienation of territory by Abu Dhabi". But the future course of events proved, none of these arguments stood the test of judgment in light of the much higher goal that Sheikh Zayed had in mind, and which in the ultimate analysis amply justified the sacrifices incurred by him. Such concessions are rare in the records of history and news of this generosity travelled far and wide.

He was considered a relatively liberal ruler , and permitted private media. However, they were expected to practice self-censorship and avoid criticism of Zayed or the ruling families. Freedom of worship was permitted, and to a certain extent allowances were made for expatriate cultures, but this did not always sit comfortably in the eyes of the wider Arab world with Zayed's role as a Muslim head of state.

Zayed did not shy away from controversy when it came to expressing his opinions on current events in the Arab world. Troubled by the suffering of Iraqi civilians, he took the lead in calling for the lifting of economic sanctions on Iraq imposed by the United Nations in the aftermath of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, despite Kuwaiti displeasure and opposition.

Zayed was one of the wealthiest men in the world. A Forbes estimate put his fortune at around US$20 billion in 2004. The source of this wealth was almost exclusively due to the immense oil wealth of Abu Dhabi and the Emirates, which sit on a pool of a tenth of the world's proven oil reserves. In 1988, he purchased, for £5m, Tittenhurst Park at Sunninghill, Berkshire as his English home.

At the time the British withdrew from the Persian Gulf in 1971, Zayed oversaw the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Arab Economic Development; some of its oil riches were channeled to some forty less fortunate Islamic nations in Asia and Africa during the decades that followed.

Using the country's enormous oil revenues, Zayed built institutions such as hospitals, schools and universities and made it possible for UAE citizens to enjoy free access to them. He was also known for making donations to the tune of millions [pounds sterling] for worthy causes around the Arab World as well as in the neighbouring countries and in the world at large.

Land was also often distributed gratis (free). However, while this policy benefited many landless families, enormously wealthy clans and individuals were given free land grants in proportion to their status and influence with the royal family. His majlis (a traditional Arab consultation council) was open to the public. He allowed non-Muslim religious buildings, such as churches and a temple, to be built. Zayed was also in favour of certain rights for women, such as access to education and women's labour rights, within traditional parameters. His views regarding women's rights were considerably more liberal than his counterparts in the GCC nations.

Zayed was one of the founders of the Dar Al Maal Al Islami Trust which was initiated by Saudi royal Mohammed bin Faisal Al Saud , King Faisal 's son, in 1981. After floods ravaged Yemen 's Ma'rib Governorate in 1982, Zayed financed the construction of the current dam of Ma'rib in 1984. This was to replace the historical one that was damaged in antiquity, and support the country's agriculture and economy. The area of Ma'rib is reportedly from where his ancestors migrated to what is now the UAE.

Controversy over the opinions of the Zayed Centre caused the Harvard Divinity School to return Sheikh Zayed's $2.5 million gift to the institution in 2000 as "tainted money." Former United States president Jimmy Carter accepted the Zayed International Prize for the Environment in 2001. The award included a monetary prize of $500,000 from the Zayed Centre, and Carter stated in his acceptance speech that the award carried extra significance to him, since it was named after his personal friend.

There was similar controversy when the London School of Economics accepted a large donation by the Zayed Centre, to build a new lecture theatre in the New Academic Building in 2008. Despite student protests, the gift was accepted with the Sheikh Zayed Theatre being the second largest lecture hall on the campus.

Harvard's equivocation, the Carter controversy, and the engendering negative publicity, prompted Sheikh Zayed to shut down the centre in August 2003, stating that the Zayed Centre "had engaged in a discourse that starkly contradicted the principles of interfaith tolerance."

On 2 November 2004, Zayed died at the age of 86. He had been suffering from diabetes and kidney problems. He was buried in the courtyard of the new Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. His eldest son, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan , took an increasing role in government beginning in the 1980s. Directly after his father's death, he became the Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and was ratified as the president of the United Arab Emirates by his fellow rulers in the Supreme Council.

Memorials and legacy

• Zayed University , a government-sponsored higher education institution with campuses in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
• Shaikh Zayed University, located in Khost , southeastern Afghanistan. It was built with the aid of Sheikh Zayed.
• Sheikh Zayed City in Greater Cairo, Giza Province, Egypt, built depending on a donation from Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, on directions of Sheikh Zayed.
• The Zayed International Prize for the Environment and Zayed Future Energy Prize are named in his honour.
• The Kukës International Airport "Zayed-Flatrat e Veriut" in the northern city of Kukës, Albania, was named after him.
• Shaikh Zayed International Airport (Rahim Yar Khan) located in Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab , Pakistan , is named in his honor.
• Shaikh Zayed Medical College and Hospital located at Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan, was named in his honor.
• Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's Mosque, also known as Stockholm Mosque, in Stockholm, Sweden.
• A lecture theater was named in his honor at the London School of Economics .
• A Hafiz School in Gudermes, Chechen Republic , was named in the Sheikh's honor.
• The Sheikh Zayed Arab Falconry Heritage Wing at The World Center of Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho which was set up through a donation from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, son of Sheikh Zayed.
• The current dam in Ma'rib is also called "Zayed Dam".
• Zayed Town, located in Central Bahrain , was financed by Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and named in his honour. The first phase of this township project was inaugurated in 2001.
• A street in Montenegro was named for his memory in 2013.
• Shaikh Zayed Hospital for children and another for women in Larkana Sindh Pakistan.
• Shaikh Zayed Hospital Lahore Punjab Pakistan, Shaikh Zayed Medical Complex Lahore.
• The 5th ring road in Kuwait is now named in honor of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
• The Sheikh Zayed Tower at the Johns Hopkins Hospital is named in his honor.
• Sheikh Zayed Hospital located at Vučitrn, Kosovo, was named in his honor.
• One of the main streets of the Berges du Lac neighborhood of Tunis is named in his honor.
• Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC.
• Sheikh Zayed Professorship of Cardiovascular Diseases at the Mayo Clinic .
• Sheikh Zayed Children Welfare Centre, a centre for orphaned children located in Mombasa, Kenya.
• 2018, during the Dubai Light Show, is called that year "Year of Zayed", to celebrate 100 years since his birth.

In 2018, a year dedicated in the UAE to the celebration of Zayed's life and legacy, the Founder's Memorial was opened in Abu Dhabi. The memorial consists of an open Heritage Garden and Sanctuary Garden at the centre of which is a cubic pavilion housing The Constellation, an artwork dedicated to Zayed's memory.

Zayed bin Sultan married seven times and has 18 sons. His children are as follows:

• Champions of the Earth, 2005 award by United Nations Environment Programme
• This page was last modified on 13 May 2024, at 18:06. Suggest an edit .

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Sheikh Zayed - A true visionary

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Dubai/Abu Dhabi - It is Sheikh Zayed's vision that has made UAE what it is today - a happy land full of opportunities

By staff reporter.

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Published: Thu 18 Jan 2018, 8:44 PM

Last updated: Thu 18 Jan 2018, 10:59 PM

The year 2018 has been marked as the Year of Zayed, to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of the late, great leader Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and to allow the people of the UAE to celebrate his remarkable life and achievements. A man who dedicated his life to improving his country and humanity in general was born in 1918. In 1946, he was handed over the reins of Al Ain. He became the ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966 and on December 2, 1971, after he actively led the unification of the seven emirates and the formation of the UAE, he was elected President of the new Union. His name, reputation and the nation he built have earned him a reputation that very few leaders of the world can boast of. A visionary leader - is what he is and will always be known as - starting from his foresight in unifying the seven different emirates and the set the course for the country's stratospheric growth. It is said that one cannot understand the UAE without understanding the life of Sheikh Zayed and his vision, the way he devoted his life to the service of his people and his success at being a leader of men and a country. Famously known to be one of the world's most approachable leaders, it was Sheikh Zayed's vision that has made UAE what it is today - a happy land full of opportunities. Among his many visions, the most important one was the unification of seven emirates into a single federation and transforming it into a modern nation. A voice for modernism, he relentlessly worked to develop cooperation between the seven Trucial States (as the UAE was called before the unification). It was thanks to his vision that the modernisation of the UAE was achieved without any loss of social, traditional and cultural values. On one hand, he promoted equestrianism, camel racing and hunting and on the other hand he encouraged nationals to seek out and develop themselves through education. He wanted the youth to be highly learned, seek employment and benefit the society. Sheikh Zayed once said: "Knowledge is the only weapon to guarantess a future. cultivate your manners, be obedient to your teachers. The state places all its hopes in you and believes that it is investing in our most important natural resource." As he became the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed remained at the heart of every plan and decision that transformed the UAE and ensured its people's prosperity. In one interview, he had said: "It is my duty to provide the basics of a decent life for every citizen in the country. our goal is to prepare the next generation to carry the responsibility of building the future." In 1972, he also told the Federal National Council: "The future of the United Arab Emirates depends on sincerity, effort and sacrifice, yours and mine." Taking a remarkable demarcation from old ways and thinking, the great ruler was farsighted enough to see that ignoring the value of women - half the population - would be wasting a natural valuable asset. Therefore, he decided to give his wife Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak a key role in his administration and support her. Since 1966 until now, Sheikha Fatima has taken charge of innumerable programmes to emancipate Emirati women. These include women's-only cultural and social centres all over the UAE and numerous other programmes and initiatives. Today, she is rightly hailed as the "mother of the nation" for her efforts. Sheikh Zayed encouraged women to seek education and become productive. "I completely approve of women in the workplace. How could I possibly say otherwise when our Islam sanctions it? I subscribe to this completely, with one condition, that any work should correspond to a woman's nature and safeguard her dignity." Believing that it is important to pursue development that meets the needs of the present and future generations, Sheikh Zayed laid out a vision that would ensure the sustainable development of the UAE. He formed official institutions such as the Federal Environment Agency and Abu Dhabi's Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency. Stressing the responsibility the government must assume in conserving the natural environment, he also called upon individuals to play a role in ensuring that the region developed sustainably. In a speech he delivered to mark the UAE's first Environment Day in February 1998, Sheikh Zayed said: "We cherish our environment because it is an integral part of our country, our history and our heritage. On land and in the sea, our forefathers lived and survived in this environment. They were able to do so only because they recognised the need to conserve it, to take from it only what they needed to live, and to preserve it for succeeding generations." Also, part of the country's heritage is its flora and fauna and keeping that in mind, the late Sheikh Zayed also created a sanctuary for endangered species such as the Arabian Oryx and the sand gazelle. He also reintroduced traditional methods of desert agriculture, ensuring that Abu Dhabi will be greener and more fertile. Falconry, a traditional part of the emirates' heritage, was also preserved and promoted. The late Sheikh Zayed's vision continues to inspire leaders of today and all generations, not only in the UAE and the Gulf region, but across the world. (Compiled by Saman Haziq)

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Sheik Zayed in Psychobiography: A Transformational Intercultural Competent Leader

• First Online: 18 June 2022

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• Claude-Hélène Mayer 3  

Part of the book series: Future of Business and Finance ((FBF))

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This book chapter presents a psychobiographical account of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918–2004), who was the ruler of Abu Dhabi for more than 30 years. Sheikh Zayed, who was the driving force behind the formation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its first President (Ra’is) from 1971 to his death in 2004, is an extraordinary example of inclusive and mindful leadership and intercultural competence. This psychobiography explores the life of Sheikh Zayed from a transformational leadership and cultural and intercultural competence perspective. The chapter’s aim is to provide an psychobiographical account of a leader in the context of the Middle East who is honored for his leadership and intercultural ability to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in words and actions throughout his life.

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Mayer, CH. (2022). Sheik Zayed in Psychobiography: A Transformational Intercultural Competent Leader. In: Marques, J., Dhiman, S. (eds) Leading With Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Future of Business and Finance. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95652-3_25

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International Historical Biographical Institute

World History: Famous Personalities

Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Biography

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan   was the ruler of Abu Dhabi for more than 30 years (6 August 1966 – 2 November 2004). He was the founding father and the principal driving force behind the formation of the United Arab Emirates, becoming the Union's first Raʾīs (President), a post which he held for a period of almost 33 years (1971 until his death in 2004). He is popularly referred to in the UAE as the Father of the Nation.

Zayed was the youngest of four sons of Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan. His father was the ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1922 until his death in 1926. Zayed was the youngest of his four brothers. His eldest brother, Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, became ruler of Abu Dhabi after their uncle, Saqr bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His mother was Sheikha Salama bint Butti. She extracted a promise from her sons not to use violence against each other, a promise which they kept. Sheikh Zayed was named after his grandfather, Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan ("Zayed the Great"), who ruled the emirate from 1855 to 1909. At the time of Sheikh Zayed's birth, the sheikhdom of Abu Dhabi was one of seven Trucial States along the lower coast of the Persian Gulf. He also showed interest in falconry.

It is normally held that he was born at Qasr al-Hosn in Abu Dhabi, with some sources stating that he was born in Al Ain, particularly at Sultan Bin Zayed Fort on the edge of Al Ain Oasis.He is at least known to have moved from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain in 1927, after the death of his father. As Zayed was growing up in Al-Ain, there were no modern schools anywhere along the coast. He only received a basic instruction in the principles of Islam, and lived in the desert with Bedouin tribesmen, familiarising himself with the life of the people, their traditional skills and their ability to survive under the harsh climatic conditions.

Zayed was appointed the governor of the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi in 1946, and was based in the Muwaiji fort in Al Ain. At this time, the area was poor and prone to outbreaks of disease. When parties from Petroleum Development (Trucial Coast) began exploring for oil in the area, Zayed assisted them.

In 1952, a small Saudi Arabian force led by Turki bin Abdullah Al-Otaishan occupied the village of Hamasa in the Buraimi Oasis (the 'Buraimi Dispute'). Zayed was prominent in his opposition to Saudi territorial claims and reportedly rejected a bribe of about £30 million to allow Aramco to explore for oil in the disputed territory. As part of this dispute, Zayed and his brother Hazza attended the Buraimi arbitration tribunal in Geneva in September 1955 and gave evidence to tribunal members. When the tribunal was abandoned amid allegations of Saudi bribery, the British initiated the reoccupation of the Buraimi Oasis through a local military force, the Trucial Oman Levies. A period of stability followed during which Zayed helped to develop the region and took a particular interest in the restoration of the falaj system, a network of water channels which kept the plantations of the Buraimi Oasis irrigated and fertile.

The discovery of oil in 1958, and the start of oil exports in 1962, led to frustration among members of the ruling family about the lack of progress under Sheikh Shakhbut’s rule. On 6 August 1966, Shakhbut was deposed in a bloodless palace coup. The move to replace Shakhbut with Zayed had the unanimous backing of the Al Nahyan family. The news was conveyed to Shakhbut by British Acting Resident Glen Balfour-Paul who added the support of the British to the consensus of the family. Shakhbut finally accepted the decision and, with the Trucial Oman Scouts providing safe transport, left for Bahrain. He subsequently lived in Korramshahr, Iran before returning to live in Buraimi.

In the late 1960s, Zayed hired Katsuhiko Takahashi, a Japanese architect, to design and plan the city.

Between 8–11 January 1968, the UK's Foreign Office Minister Goronwy Roberts visited the Trucial States and announced to its shocked rulers that the United Kingdom would abrogate its treaties with them and intended to withdraw from the area. In a seminal meeting on 18 February 1968 at a desert highland on the border between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum of Dubai shook hands on the principle of founding a Federation and attempting to invite other trucial rulers to join in order that a viable nation be formed in the wake of the British withdrawal.

In 1971, after occasionally difficult negotiations with the other six rulers of the Trucial States, the United Arab Emirates was formed. Zayed was appointed to the presidency of the UAE in 1971 and was reappointed on four more occasions: 1976, 1981, 1986, and 1991.

In 1974, Zayed settled the outstanding border dispute with Saudi Arabia by the Treaty of Jeddah by which Saudi Arabia received the output of the Shaybah oilfield and access to the lower Persian Gulf in return for recognising the UAE.

  Sheikh Zayed was determined to unite the Emirates into federation. His calls for cooperation extended across the Persian Gulf to Iran. He advocated dialogue as the means to settle the row with Tehran over three strategic Persian Gulf islands which Iran seized from the (future) UAE Emirate of Sharjah in 1971. The islands remain in Iranian hands, despite over three decades of UAE diplomatic initiatives.

The attitude of Zayed towards his neighbors can best be seen in his position regarding the "Umm al Zamul" dispute (1964), when he expressed a genuine wish that his brother Sheikh Shakhbut would accept "the Sultan's proposal for a neutral zone". He said in that regard: "... it was ridiculous to squabble over a [water] well so bitter that few bedouin could stomach its waters, or to split hairs over a tiny area of barren, almost totally unfrequented desert. And even if there happened to be oil in the area, Abu Dhabi had so much already that she could well afford to spare some for her less fortunate neighbours".

Furthermore, during the negotiations between Abu Dhabi and Dubai that resulted in forming the Abu Dhabi — Dubai Union (which preceded the formation of the United Arab Emirates), Sheikh Zayed was extremely generous with the Sheikh Rashid of Dubai. Kemal Hamza, Sheikh Rashid's envoy to the meeting between Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid in Sumeih remarked that "Zayed was extremely 'karim' (generous) throughout the negotiations and seemed prepared to give Rashid whatever he wanted". This amounted to Zayed giving Rashid "oil rights in the sea-bed that might be worth milions a year" even at the risk of criticism "at home for giving so much..." It also gave rise to comments that such concessions constituted "an alienation of territory by Abu Dhabi". But the future course of events proved, none of these arguments stood the test of judgment in light of the much higher goal that Sheikh Zayed had in mind, and which in the ultimate analysis amply justified the sacrifices incurred by him. Such concessions are rare in the records of history and news of this generosity travelled far and wide.

He was considered a relatively liberal ruler, and permitted private media. However, they were expected to practice self-censorship and avoid criticism of Zayed or the ruling families. Freedom of worship was permitted, and to a certain extent allowances were made for expatriate cultures, but this did not always sit comfortably in the eyes of the wider Arab world with Zayed's role as a Muslim head of state.

Zayed did not shy away from controversy when it came to expressing his opinions on current events in the Arab world. Troubled by the suffering of Iraqi civilians, he took the lead in calling for the lifting of economic sanctions on Iraq imposed by the United Nations in the aftermath of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, despite Kuwaiti displeasure and opposition.

Zayed was one of the wealthiest men in the world. A Forbes estimate put his fortune at around US$20 billion in 2004. The source of this wealth was almost exclusively due to the immense oil wealth of Abu Dhabi and the Emirates, which sit on a pool of a tenth of the world's proven oil reserves. In 1988, he purchased, for £5m, Tittenhurst Park at Sunninghill, Berkshire as his English home.

At the time the British withdrew from the Persian Gulf in 1971, Zayed oversaw the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Arab Economic Development; some of its oil riches were channeled to some forty less fortunate Islamic nations in Asia and Africa during the decades that followed.

Using the country's enormous oil revenues, Zayed built institutions such as hospitals, schools and universities and made it possible for UAE citizens to enjoy free access to them. He was also known for making donations to the tune of millions [pounds sterling] for worthy causes around the Arab World as well as in the neighbouring countries and in the world at large.

When asked by The New York Times in April 1997 why there is no elected legislature, Zayed replied,

Why should we abandon a system that satisfies our people in order to introduce a system that seems to engender dissent and confrontation? Our system of government is based upon our religion and that is what our people want. Should they seek alternatives, we are ready to listen to them.

We have always said that our people should voice their demands openly. We are all in the same boat, and they are both the captain and the crew. Our doors are open for any opinion to be expressed, and this well known by all our citizens. It is our deep conviction that Allah has created people free, and has prescribed that each individual must enjoy freedom of choice. No one should act as if they own others.

Those in the position of leadership should deal with their subjects with compassion and understanding, because this is the duty enjoined upon them by Allah, who enjoins upon us to treat all living creatures with dignity. How can there be anything less for mankind, created as Allah's successors on earth? Our system of government does not derive its authority from man, but is enshrined in our religion and is based on Allah's Book, the Quran. What need have we of what others have conjured up? Its teachings are eternal and complete, while the systems conjured up by man are transitory and incomplete.

Land was also often distributed gratis. However, while this policy benefited many landless families, enormously wealthy clans and individuals were given free land grants in proportion to their status and influence with the royal family. His majlis (a traditional Arab consultation council) was open to the public. He allowed non-Muslim religious buildings, such as churches and a temple, to be built. Zayed was also in favour of certain rights for women, such as access to education and women's labour-rights, within traditional parameters. His views regarding women's rights were considerably more liberal than his counterparts in the GCC nations.

After floods ravaged Yemen's Ma'rib Governorate in 1982, Zayed financed the construction of the current dam of Ma'rib in 1984. This was to replace the historical one that was damaged in antiquity, and support the country's agriculture and economy. The area of Ma'rib is reportedly from where his ancestors migrated to what is now the UAE.

On 2 November 2004, Zayed died at the age of 86. He was buried in the courtyard of the new Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi. His eldest son, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, took an increasing role in government beginning in the 1980s. Directly after his father's death, he became the Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and was ratified as the President of the United Arab Emirates by his fellow rulers in the Supreme Council.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan: The Great Man Research Paper

Executive summary, leadership assessment, sheikh zayed bin sultan al nahyan, assessment of sheikh nahyan leadership, sheikh zayed and micee, recommendation.

Leadership refers to the act of mobilizing people to pursue a mutual goal. Kouzes and Posner devised five practices that define an excellent leader. According to them, an excellent leader sets the way for his or her employees.

Besides, the leader encourages employees to pursue a common goal, challenges organizational processes, empowers the employees, and inspires them to pursue the set goals. Sheikh Zayed is an exemplary leader who many people admire.

During his tenure as the leader of the Eastern region of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates president, he mobilized people to improve the economic status of the Emirates. Sheikh Zayed went to the extent of sacrificing a number of privileges that his family enjoyed encouraging people to participate in developmental projects.

Competition in the business world is prompting organizations to conduct leadership assessment as a way of identifying and nurturing their future executives.

As the majority of the baby boomers retire, organizations are turning to identifying various talents in their employees and working to prepare the employees to assume future leadership of the organization (Day, 2000).

Organizations use different leadership assessment models based on the nature of the organization and the leaders they require.

One of such leadership assessment models is MICEE, which is an abbreviation for Model, Inspire, Challenge, Enable, and Encourage.

According to the model, an effective leader identifies the business strategies, inspires employees to pursue the strategies, challenges the employees, and gives them the capacity to work in their different areas (Kouzes & Posner, 2007). Furthermore, the model asserts that an effective leader encourages employees to continue working hard.

This paper will use MICEE model of leadership assessment to evaluate Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s leadership. The main reason why the paper uses this model is that it is easy to remember and remarkably comprehensive.

The model identifies leadership qualities that are easy to remember when evaluating a leader. Besides, the identified qualities comprise of the factors that contribute to organizational growth. Hence, if a leader possesses all these qualities, his or her organization is sure of succeeding.

Sheikh Zayed was born in 1918 and assumed his grandfather’s name. In 1966, he was elected to rule the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This marked the beginning of his leadership, which culminated with him becoming the president of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. He held this position until his death in 2004.

His experience in the desert with the bedu tribesmen led to him initiating an afforestation program, which helped to stop desertification. Besides, he worked hard to ensure that his people have access to quality education, health, and social services.

During his tenure as the president, UAE made significant development in oil, communication, and non-oil industries (Kechichian, 2010). He achieved this by encouraging people to work towards reviving economy of their country. Other achievements included building indoor skiing city in the desert and building the highest tower in the world.

Sheikh Zayed was influential not only in UAE but also in the entire world. Through his leadership, UAE became popular and respected internationally. Messages of condolences delivered by numerous international figures displayed his influence.

His political policies were entrenched in Islamic religion and he maintained that people had a voice in steering leadership of the country. To establish strong ties with other nations, Zayed made sure that UAE played a role in humanitarian aids across the globe.

The use of national revenue to lay infrastructural development demonstrated his determination to change the country from a desert to an economic hub. Besides, he encouraged all people to participate in environment conservation programs.

Despite his success, Sheikh Zayed encountered numerous challenges such as changing the global perception that majority of the terrorists came from UAE (Kechichian, 2010). Below are photos of Sheikh Zayed and the UAE.

According to Kouzes and Posner (2011), a leader is effective if he or she is capable of setting the pace for others to follow, mobilizing his or her staff to pursuing a common vision, and challenging the processes that an organization follows.

Moreover, an effective leader is capable of equipping staff with requisite skills to pursue organizational goals. For Zayed to be an effective leader, he ought to meet all the qualities set out in IMCEE model.

Kouzes and Posner (2007) posit that an effective leader models the way for his or her subject to follow. A leader can hardly model the way without confirming his or her values. The leader then strives to inculcate these values in the minds of employees.

To marshal support from the workforce, the values ought to be in line with organizational goals and vision (Valda, 2003). Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan gained popularity because of his ability to model the way and to marshal his people to help in economic development of their country.

Determination to help the people of the United Arab Emirates started while Sheikh Nahyan was still young. He accompanied the bedu tribesmen to the desert to study how his people live and environmental factors that inhibit their ability to develop economically.

The time he spent in the desert made him understand the importance of conserving the environment and promoting economic diversification (Kechichian, 2010). During his reign as president, he worked towards helping the UAE establish other sources of revenue rather than depending entirely on oil and gas.

A leader cannot succeed without drawing all people towards a common vision. Bommer, Rubin and Baldwin posit, “To inspire a shared vision, a leader requires envisioning the future by imagining and believing in an exciting, highly attractive future for the organization” (2004, p. 197).

Leaders need to be certain that they have the capacity to make the envisioned future a reality. Once leaders identify the latent future of their countries, they need to recruit their followers into a mutual vision that would help to make the future a reality.

Leaders have to do it a manner that makes their followers realize that they are conscious of their interests (Dorfman & Howell, 1997). The main reason why Sheikh Zayed managed to help UAE gain its glory was his capacity to mobilize people behind a common vision.

After assuming leadership of the Eastern region of Abu Dhabi, he abolished confrontation in decision making and installed a system that promoted consensus and consultation (Kechichian, 2010). Sheikh Zayed positioned himself as a person that had an unambiguous vision for his people and led them in pursuing the vision.

One of the remarkable initiatives that he started in Al Ain was to revive the agricultural economy. He helped to clean water channels and, at one point, he participated in construction of new water channels without considering the exhaustive labor (Kechichian, 2010).

Leaders require challenging the existing processes to make significant progress (Kouzes & Posner, 2007). No leader can achieve organizational growth by maintaining the status quo. Leaders need to look for possible innovation, improvement, and growth to challenge the existing processes.

One can achieve this by paying attention to customer feedback, taking heed to advices from clients, and accommodating employee opinions (Druskat & Wheeler, 2003). In addition, leaders need to monitor their environment to identify novel processes, products, and services.

Taking a risk to implement the identified processes would go a long way towards helping the organization increase its revenue. Sheikh Zayed sought to challenge the existing process by reviewing the region’s water ownership rights.

According to Sheikh Zayed, equal supply of water would help increase acreage of cultivation in the region. To set an example, he relinquished the family’s rights. The initiative contributed to increase in revenue for people living in Al Ain (Kechichian, 2010).

Eventually, the city became a dominant market for the whole of the United Arab Emirates. Apart from reviewing the water ownership rights, Sheikh Zayed also conducted a tree planting campaign in the region. Kechichian states, “Today, Al Ain is the greenest city in Arabia” (2010, para. 6).

Organizational success depends on teamwork. Hence, organizational leaders ought to enable other staffs to act on organizational goals (Kouzes & Posner, 2007). They attain this by promoting teamwork and building trust.

Moreover, coming up with modalities that help employees to pursue organizational goals would aid in achieving the goals (Snow, 2001). As the UAE president, Sheikh Zayed believed in human capital as the ultimate source of economic empowerment.

Hence, he used the Emirate’s resources to develop human capital. He believed that people were the main source of wealth and, therefore, both men and women required getting educated. Indeed, he helped women in the country to acquire leadership positions (Kechichian, 2010).

Once a leader lays down strategies that empower cohorts to pursue organizational goals, he, or she acts in ways that inspire the cohorts (Kouzes & Posner, 2007). For instance, the leader ought to acknowledge contributions that the employees make and to reward them according to their performance.

Moreover, a leader may encourage the followers by establishing a system that promotes public recognition of employees that perform. This would encourage all employees to work in line with the established organizational values (Riggio & Reichard, 2008).

Sheikh Zayed encouraged the young generation to assume leadership positions in the country to continue witnessing the development their parents initiated. To set an example, he encouraged his sons to assume leadership in government institutions.

Besides, when young men complained about unemployment in the country, Sheikh Zayed gave them jobs in the agricultural sector, “so that they might learn the dignity of work” (Kechichian, 2010, para. 9).

Based on research, communication plays a significant role in promoting organizational growth (Druskat & Wheeler, 2003). Besides what Sheikh Zayed did to succeed in improving the economic status of UAE, one would require embracing communication.

Through communication, a leader would identify challenges affecting employees and organization in general; therefore, address them before they become severe.

One would recommend other business people to set standards for their employees. Setting a standard for each employee encourages a healthy competition among the employees. In return, it promotes organizational growth since employees strive to meet their targets.

Kouzes and Posner posit that an effective leader models the way for his or her staff, inspires the staff to pursue a common vision, and challenges organizational processes. Moreover, they argue that an effective leader enables and inspires staff to work towards realization of organizational goals.

Sheikh Zayed helped the United Arab Emirates achieve significant economic growth during his reign as the leader of the Eastern region of Abu Dhabi and the president.

He led by setting examples and encouraging his people to participate in projects that promote economic development. Besides, he made sure that people gain adequate skills to help them assume leadership positions in the country.

Bommer, W., Rubin, R. & Baldwin, T. (2004). Setting the stage for effectively leadership: Antecedents of transformational leadership behavior. Leadership Quarterly, 15 (2), 195-210.

Day, C. (2000). Effective leadership and reflective practice. Reflective Practice: International and Multidisciplinary Perspectives, 1 (1), 113-127.

Dorfman, P. & Howell, J. (1997). Leadership in Western and Asian countries: Commonalities and differences in effective leadership processes across cultures. The Leadership Quarterly, 8 (3), 233-274.

Druskat, V. & Wheeler, J. (2003). Managing from the boundary: The effective leadership of self-managing work teams. The Academy of Management Journal, 46 (4), 435-457.

Kechichian, J. (2010). Shaikh Zayed: The making of a great leader . Web.

Kouzes, J. & Posner, B. (2007). The Leadership Challenges (4th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Kouzes, J. & Posner, B. (2011). The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership (2nd ed.). New York: Pfeiffer.

Riggio, R. & Reichard, R. (2008). The emotional and social intelligences of effective leadership: An emotional and social skill approach. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 23 (2), 169-185.

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IvyPanda. (2019, July 2). Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan: The Great Man. https://ivypanda.com/essays/sheikh-zayed-bin-sultan-al-nahyan-the-great-man/

"Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan: The Great Man." IvyPanda , 2 July 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/sheikh-zayed-bin-sultan-al-nahyan-the-great-man/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan: The Great Man'. 2 July.

IvyPanda . 2019. "Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan: The Great Man." July 2, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/sheikh-zayed-bin-sultan-al-nahyan-the-great-man/.

1. IvyPanda . "Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan: The Great Man." July 2, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/sheikh-zayed-bin-sultan-al-nahyan-the-great-man/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan: The Great Man." July 2, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/sheikh-zayed-bin-sultan-al-nahyan-the-great-man/.

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On Sheikh Zayed’s poetry: 'he was always thinking of the big picture'

Takeaways from the sharjah international book fair session examining the poetry of the founder of the nation.

The Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan's Portrait. (Courtesy Al Ittihad) Portrait of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. (Courtesy Al Ittihad)

The poetry of Sheikh Zayed, the nation's founder, was one of the key talking points of the Sharjah International Book Fair over the weekend. In a packed session, titled Zayed's Poetry, at the Expo Centre Sharjah on Friday night, Abu Dhabi Poetry Academy manager Sultan Al Amimi and Jordanian cultural adviser Ghassan Al Hassan analysed Sheikh Zayed's poetry and explored how it covered both the universal and personal.

For example, Al Hassan recalled, how in 1987, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, sent an invitation to Sheikh Zayed to a horse race in the emirate. “He sent that invitation in the form of a poem,” he said.

“Now, as per custom, the invitation was replied to by Sheikh Zayed also in the form of a poem, that was of the same length.”

Hassan pointed out how this reply, as was often the case with his writing, was imbued with multiple meanings. “He was always of thinking of the big picture,” he says. “On the surface, it is a reply to the invitation. But if you read it deeply, what he is really talking about is unity and it shows how that was always important to him. That’s the beauty of his poetry. Not only are they accessible and can be understood, but they are always layered with multiple meanings”

Sheikh Zayed’s poetry has been documented through books and recordings since the early 1980s, and Al Amimi describes this as a treasure trove that reveals the various sides to Sheikh Zayed’s personality.

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Al Amimi says that, through his poetry, Sheikh Zayed’s humanity is crystallised. “From the poems that I read one of the key threads is how Sheikh Zayed valued his friendships,” he says. “He respected the value of friendships and he did that in various ways through his poetry.”

Al Amimi provided four examples of how Sheikh Zayed expressed his love for his friends. “One was in the gentle way he expressed his concerns to another. It was always expressed from the viewpoint of a dear friend,” he said.

“Another way is in the tone of how he responded to the poetry which stated the concerns of others. Thirdly, there was his responses to particular pieces of poetry. Sheikh Zayed would write a poem to another poet to express how that’s poet’s work impressed him or how it made him feel a certain emotion.”

“A fourth way was how Sheikh Zayed would send a poem to a friend to enquire about them, how he missed their company and how he cared about them.”

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Another session: best-selling authors on why they write

The best way to overcome doubt as a writer is to simply get on with your work, that was one of the key takeaways from the Genre Studies panel session, held on Saturday. “That concern is constant. Those questions whether you have anything left to write or whether you can do it again. It never ends,” admits Kuwaiti crime and sci-fi author Abdul Wahab Al Sayed Al Refai.

“I been asking myself those questions since 2004 and I have written over a dozen pieces since then, so you just learn to keep going.”

When it comes to their readership, both Al Refai and British romance novelist Katie Forde said they were encouraged by who picks up their titles. “My readership is mostly women who can be from 16 to 60 years old. While all my readers are not the same, I always feel that if they met they would get along with each other,” she said.

“One women also told me that her husband started reading my books after he was experiencing depression after recovering an accident. He started reading my books because he knew nothing bad will happen in them.”

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As for the often gritty novels of Al Refai, he says that a majority of his readers across the Arab world are youth. “And from that, I would say that 70 percent are women, which makes me happy,” he says.

“I didn’t intend to do that but I always made sure my books had strong and independent female characters and I think they noticed that.”

The Sharjah International Book Fair closes tonight at 11pm. For details, go to www.sibf.com

The Arts Edit

A guide to arts and culture, from a Middle Eastern perspective

Sheikh Zayed Books

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