Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
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Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi since 1966, was elected first President of the UAE in 1971, a post to which he has been re-elected at successive five year intervals. A driving force in the creation of the federation, he has worked to achieve his vision of a society with high quality welfare, education, health and housing for all citizens by utilising Abu Dhabi's oil revenues to fund projects throughout the federation. Overseas, he has gained a reputation as a sagacious statesman, keen to promote conciliation where possible, but at the same time firmly on the side of justice and international law. Under his leadership, the UAE has supported the Palestinians in their struggle for their homeland, was an active member of the coalition that liberated Kuwait in 1991, and is a major contributor to the international peacekeeping force in Kosovo. The country has also been a major donor of international relief aid and development assistance, reflecting Sheikh Zayed's firmly held Moslem faith, with the duty it places on believers that they should assist others less fortunate than themselves. Now in his 80s, Sheikh Zayed continues to play a guiding role in Government.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi since 1966, was elected first President of the UAE in 1971, a post to which he has been re-elected at successive five year intervals. A driving force in the creation of the federation, he has worked to achieve his vision of a society with high quality welfare, education, health and housing for all citizens by utilising Abu Dhabi's oil revenues to fund projects throughout the federation. Overseas, he has gained a reputation as a sagacious statesman, keen to promote conciliation where possible, but at the same time firmly on the side of justice and international law. Under his leadership, the UAE has supported the Palestinians in their struggle for their homeland, was an active member of the coalition that liberated Kuwait in 1991, and is a major contributor to the international peacekeeping force in Kosovo. The country has also been a major donor of international relief aid and development assistance, reflecting Sheikh Zayed's firmly held Moslem faith, with the duty it places on believers that they should assist others less fortunate than themselves. Now in his 80s, Sheikh Zayed continues to play a guiding role in Government.
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On 6 August 2001, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan completed 35 years as Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, one of the seven emirates that together comprise the Federation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), of which he has also been President since its creation in December 1971.Having first served in government in 1946 as Ruler's Representative in Abu Dhabi's Eastern Region based in the inland oasis of Al Ain, Sheikh Zayed has now provided leadership to the country for well over half a century.
Born around 1918 (the date is uncertain), Sheikh Zayed is the youngest of the four sons of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed, Ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1922 to 1926. He was named after his grandfather, Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa, who ruled the emirate from 1855 to 1909, the longest reign in the three centuries since the Al Nahyan family emerged as leaders of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
A falconry expedition "brings together a group of men, never more than sixty and never less than ten ... each of them is animated by the prospect of an agreeable and refreshing change, away from the clamor of the city and the monotony of daily life." The companionship of a hunting party, he adds, "permits each and every member in the expedition to speak freely and express his ideas and viewpoints without inhibition or restraint, and allows the one responsible to acquaint himself with the wishes of his people, to know their problems and perceive their views accurately, and thus to be in a position to help and improve their situation." These early years taught Sheikh Zayed much about his country and his people.
In the early 1930s when the first oil company teams arrived to carry out a preliminary surface geological survey, it was Sheikh Zayed who was given the task of guiding them around the desert, giving him his first exposure to the industry that was later to have such a great effect upon his country. He performed well, and in 1946, he was the obvious choice to fill a vacancy as Ruler's Representative in the oasis of Al Ain, then a cluster of small villages, though today a thriving city with a population of around 200,000.
An early European visitor to Al Ain, shortly after Sheikh Zayed took up his post, was Edward Henderson, an oil company representative. In his memoirs, he remembered the impression the young Zayed made upon him. "He was then around thirty years old," Henderson recalled. "He was handsome, with humorous and intelligent eyes, of presence and bearing, simply dressed and clearly a man of action and resolution...Although he was young, and had only been formally in charge of the Abu Dhabi sector of the oasis and its surrounding deserts for some two years, he was experienced in the politics of the region, and was already by far the most prominent personality in the area. He had a sure touch with the Bedouin."
Another visitor, the explorer Sir Wilfred Thesiger, whose book Arabian Sands remains a classic of travel writing, wrote that he was like the head of a big family: "He was always available to listen to the problems of people, and he tried the problems of those who came to him for judgment so that they would leave quietly, content with his judgment which were distinguished by their astute insights, wisdom and fairness."
The job of Ruler's Representative not only involved the task of administering Al Ain itself, but also the whole region nearby, giving Zayed an opportunity to learn the techniques of government, and also, during the Buraimi dispute in the late 1940s and early 1950s, to gain experience of politics on a broader plane.
During that affair, he dealt closely with the Trucial Oman Scouts, a British-officered peace keeping force that had units based in Al Ain. One of the TOS officers, Anthony Shepherd, later recalled "I used to visit him -weekly in his fort, and he would always describe the local political situation to me in an excellent manner. I always came to him with great respect and I left him with even greater respect. He was one of the few great men I have met, and if we did not always agree, the reason for our disagreement was my ignorance."
A key task was that of developing Al Ain itself, where he ensured that the subterranean water channels, or "falajes," were cleaned out, and he built a new one, helping to stimulate agriculture in the area. In a foretaste of today's massive a a forestation programme Sheikh Zayed also began the planting of ornamental trees that now, grown to maturity, have made Al Ain one of the greenest cities in Arabia.
In 1953, accompanying his brother, Sheikh Zayed paid his first visit to Britain and France, recalling years later how he had been impressed by the schools and the hospitals. In the future, he decided, his own people must have the benefit of similar facilities. He remembered later: "There were a lot of dreams. I was dreaming about our land catching up with the modem world, but I was not able to do anything because I didn't have the wherewithal in my hands to achieve these dreams. I was sure, however, that one day they would become true". Yet, even lacking sufficient resources, during the twenty years he was in Al Ain, Sheikh Zayed succeeded in moving ahead with development of the area faster than anyone, except perhaps himself, would have expected. One British Political Agent, Sir Hugh Boustead, recorded his astonishment that "everything he managed to accomplish in Al Ain and the surrounding areas were all for the benefit of the people."
When, a little over thirty years ago, revenues from oil exports offered the opportunity to develop the emirate as a whole, Sheikh Zayed was the obvious choice of the Al Nahyan family, rulers of Abu Dhabi for 250 years, to tackle the challenges ahead. He was a man in a hurry. With revenues growing, he was determined to use them in the service of the people, and a massive construction programme got under way, of roads and schools, housing and hospitals.
Upon acceding to power in 1966, he called openly for the seven emirates comprising the Trucial States to come closer together. "Federation is the way to power, the way to strength, the way to well-being, a high reputation ... Lesser entities have no standing in the world today, and so it has ever been in history." As always, Sheikh Zayed followed up his words with concrete action, donating substantial funds to the Trucial States Development Council, which had been established a decade or so before to promote development projects. By 1968, Abu Dhabi was the Fund's largest donor.
Sheikh Zayed was elected the first President of the Federation, a post to which he has been successively re-elected at five year intervals, while Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoom of Dubai was elected Vice President, and remained so until his death in 1990. The UAE was formally born on 2 December 1971, and in a statement issued that day by the first meeting of the new state's Supreme Council of Rulers, it was declared:
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The United Arab Emirates has been established as an independent state, possessing sovereignty.
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It is a part of the greater Arab nation. Its aim is to maintain its independence, its sovereignty, its
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security and its stability, in defense against any attack on its entity or on the entity of any of its
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member Emirates. It also seeks to protect the freedoms and rights of its people and to achieve trust
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worthy co-operation between the Emirates for the common good. Among its aims, in addition to the purposes above described, is to work for the sake of the progress of the country in all fields, for the sake of providing a better life for its citizens, to give assistance and support to Arab causes and interests, and to support the charter of the United Nations and international morals.
When the flag of the UAE was raised on 2 December 1971, the individual emirates moved into a new period of their history, facing the future as one. In the intervening years, the UAE has been utterly transformed.
A major investment has been made in education. The youth, the "real wealth of a nation," as Sheikh Zayed terms the new generation, now has access to opportunities that their fathers, and Sheikh Zayed himself, lacked. These chances extend to both sexes. "What women have accomplished in the Emirates in only a short space of time makes me both happy and content," Sheikh Zayed has said. "We sowed our seeds yesterday, and today the fruit has already begun appear. We praise God for the role that women play in our society, and it is clear that this role is beneficial both for present and future generations."
Development has touched all aspects of life in the Emirates, from roads to airports, from health and social services to housing. One key area has been in agriculture and a forestation, with over 100,000 hectares brought under the plough, and with nearly 100 million trees planted to hold back the desert sands. Since his days in Al ain , Shiekh zayed has dreamed of making a green and pleasant land in his desert country. That dream is now coming true.
In a broader reflection of his own interest in soma, the environment, Sheikh Zayed has long displayed a concern to ensure that the country's wildlife is protected and preserved. In the 1970s, recognizing the threat that uncontrolled hunting posed to the survival of the country's wildlife, he promoted federal legislation that effectively outlawed hunting throughout the country, following this up with establishment of a Higher Environmental Council which was charged with ensuring that man's constructions do not have a damaging effect upon the land; and also with preserving the country's flora and fauna .
At a personal level, on his island reserve of Sir Bani Yas, Sheikh Zayed has created a reserve free of predators, so that endangered species like the Arabian oryx and the sand gazelle may breed freely. Sheikh Zayed believes that care for the environment is important not simply because it is held upon trust for future generations, but also because an understanding of it is an essential part of comprehending the heritage and history of the people of the UAE themselves. Only through their own recognition of the structure of the local environment and its fragility was it possible for man to survive in the harsh climate of the Emirates, but, by doing so, the ancestors of today's UAE citizens were able to create a society that did not simply survive: it also flourished over thousands of years, establishing trading links that stretched as far away as China.
Sheikh Zayed's abiding interest in the environment and in agricultural development has been marked in a variety of ways over the last couple of years. The establishment of the Abu Dhabi based Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency (ERWDA) took place with Zayed's encouragement and his firm belief that its objectives: "enhancement of sustainable development of Abu Dhabi's wildlife and environment", are as important, if not more so, than many of the major industrial projects that gain international attention.
The preservation of the national heritage, Sheikh Zayed believes, is important in helping today's generation to prepare for tomorrow, and within that context he has displayed an active interest in the country's past, supporting the establishment of research institutes and ordering the creation of the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS), which is charged with investigating the evidence of past civilizations. "The country's young people must enquire about our history, and go back to study it again and again," he stresses, "whether it be our recent history, or that of the far distant past, until they understand what has taken place in this country, and how past generations were able to cope with life here. They should do this because he who does not know his past will certainly not understand the present. If man knows the past, he will, too, understand the present, and will from that understand what lies ahead in the future."
The whole process of development has benefited substantially from the energy and devoted leadership offered by Sheikh Zayed, now involved for over fifty years in the governance of his people. He is, with due cause, satisfied with the results of the federal experiment. "Our experiment in federation, in the first instance, rose from a desire to 'increase the ties that bind us, as well as from the conviction of all that they were part of one family, and that they must gather together under one leadership. We had never (previously) had an experiment in federation, but our proximity to each other and the ties of blood relationships between us are factors which led us to believe that we must establish a federation that should compensate for the disunity and fragmentation that earlier prevailed. Our security, from the first, was important, and the federation has been a success.
"We now feel that our hopes have been realized, and that the federation has become a recognized entity with an excellent reputation both internally and abroad, and that it now occupies a significant and worthy place in the world ... That which has been accomplished has exceeded all our expectations, and that, with the help of God, and with a sincere will, confirms that there is nothing that cannot be achieved in the service of the people if determination is firm and intentions sincere ... With the help of God, we have arrived at a stage where our feet are firmly planted on the way to building a nation, and we have achieved goals that once appeared to be far away."
Much of what has been achieved can be ascribed to Sheikh Zayed's own style of government, which has always been one of direct involvement, rather than of giving orders from afar. As the process of development got under way, he embarked upon a regular programme of visits to construction sites, often appearing unannounced and unaccompanied to see for himself how work was progressing. Urged by other senior officials to leave the task of following up on projects to others, he once commented "I am the Number One responsible official in the state. Therefore how can I leave the work to those under me without follow-up. Who will make sure that the work has been done, step by step, without defects or shortcomings."
The traditional form of government among the people of the United Arab Emirates has, since time immemorial, been one where the sheikh of a tribe has led his people on the basis of consent and consultation. In the modern society that the United Arab Emirates has now become, Sheikh Zayed has been at pains both to ensure that the channels of communication remain open, and that he and his fellow members of the Supreme Council of Rulers continue to rule in the same manner. Speaking at a meeting of the Supreme Council, he told his colleagues "The most important of our duties as Rulers is to raise the standard of living of the people. I bear the prime responsibility for looking after the country and its citizens. To carry out one's duty is a responsibility given by God, and to follow up on work is the responsibility of everyone, both the old and the young. In such a way, we can do all that is within our power because the people always focus their attention on the leadership, and what that leadership is doing on their behalf ...Many things may remain concealed from a man, and there are many things that I may not know even though I am the first among the state's officials." Sheikh Zayed added: "You must tell me if there are any shortcomings. You are my aides in performing my duty, and I cannot blame anyone other than you as Rulers and as my partners who are responsible to me in dealing with shortcomings. I will accept every comment with an open mind and a capacious heart."
Consultation and mediation are the stuff of Bedouin life, and Sheikh Zayed has been a skilled practitioner of both since early manhood. Now the skills honed in Al Ain are being put to good use far beyond the borders of the UAE. Deeply committed to the long-term objective of Arab unity, Sheikh Zayed has spared no effort to build co-operation between his fellow Arabs. He was a prime mover in the establishment in 1981 of the Arab Gulf Co-operation Council, which groups the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, which he saw, not without reason, as a logical outgrowth of the successful experiment in co-operation represented by the UAE it self. Commitment to the AGCC, and to the principles of international law and brotherhood enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations saw Sheikh Zayed and the UAE first offer support to fellow AGCC member Kuwait after its invasion by Iraq in 1990, and then commit UAE troops to UNOSOM TWO, the force created to restore peace and order to strife-ridden Somalia.
Not just an Arab nationalist, but also a devout Muslim, Sheikh Zayed has ensured that the UAE adopts a policy of support for the poor and down-trodden. Peoples throughout the developing world have benefited from a steady flow of development assistance as well over five billion dollars has been provided in aid to more than forty countries in three continents, while in a further expression of his commitment to help the needy, Sheikh Zayed has created a special humanitarian fund that is offering assistance overseas. Among its earliest donations were several million dollars to help in the restoration of Muslim and Christian holy places in the city of Jerusalem. Although he has attained international status as a statesman of wisdom and moderation, Sheikh Zayed's main pre-occupation, as Sheikh, as Ruler and as President, has always been with his own people. One such concern has been the impact of the wealth now available in UAE society upon traditional values, and, in particular, the way in which those who are less wealthy are spending far beyond their means. He has been particularly critical of the growing habit of extravagant weddings and of the reluctance of some young people to contribute in a positive way towards society.
"Extremely high dowries, extravagance at wedding parties and everything else which burdens young people with debt when they are on the threshold of their lives as a family are matters for which there can be no justification," he said. "Such are in contradiction with the principles of the Islamic Sharia law, and, furthermore, they are in contradiction with the customs of our ancestors."
To counteract this trend, Sheikh Zayed ordered the creation of a special Marriage Fund to offer grants to young men wishing to marry, and also urged the country's tribes to take action to discourage expensive parties and large dowries. The response was immediate, both from tribal elders throughout the UAE, and from young nationals, who flocked to apply for help from the Marriage Fund. Unique of its kind in Arabia, the Fund seems set to make a major contribution to the stability of society and the preservation of local culture.
At the same time, he has urged young people to be realistic, and to live within their means. He urges parents to take more care to ensure that their children are properly raised. Regardless of an individual's wealth, or that of his family, it is important that young people should work, thereby contributing to society, Sheikh Zayed believes. "Work is of great importance, and of great value in building both individuals and societies, both of which are dependent on the strong arms of a country's young people. The size of a salary is not a measure of the worth of an individual. What is important is an individual's sense of dignity and self respect."
Sheikh Zayed is also keen to promote a proper understanding of Islam amongst his people. In so doing, he stands uncompromisingly against the extremist tendencies now affecting the Muslim world. Extremism, as shown, for example, by the killing of foreigners, has no place in Islam, Sheikh Zayed believes. Instead, he stresses, "Islam is a civilizing religion that gives mankind dignity ... (and) is not basically inconsistent with progress." He notes that "Islamic principles call for building progress, prosperity and raising the standard of living of society. We in our country are bound by those principles. We do not deviate by one iota from them, and nor do we abandon our heritage, customs or traditions.
"All men are equal, and social justice cannot play its (proper) role without this concept, " he adds. "It is Islamic social justice which has asked every Muslim to respect the other. To treat every person, no matter what his creed or race, as a special soul is a mark of Islam. It is just that point, embodied in the humanitarian tenets of Islam, that makes us so proud of it." With such a clear view of the essential tolerance of Islam, Sheikh Zayed has spelt out very plainly his rejection of those who would follow an extremist path.
Sheikh Zayed has called continually for a better understanding between people of the world's faiths: "A Moslem should know what are the true teachings of Christianity, and a Christian should know what are the true teachings of Islam. Sincere people from both sides should enter into dialogue, and should not leave the floor to the extremists who are there amongst both Christians and Moslems. A true dialogue between religions is the real deterrent and a strong defense against fundamentalism and extremism."
In thirty-one years as a Ruler, and twenty-six years as a President, Sheikh Zayed has shown a vision, wisdom and understanding that has not only served him and his country well abroad, but has also deservedly won him the loyalty and affection of his people.
The following extracts from the address by Sheikh Zayed, on the occasion of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the establishment of the United Arab Emirates on 2 December 1996, encapsulate his pleasure in the progress already achieved in the UAE and his hopes for the future.
... 0 sons of the United Arab Emirates,
States cannot be built upon wishes, nor can hopes be achieved by dreams. Our federation has stood firm in the face of crises. It has prospered through hard work, perseverance and sacrifice and by placing the interest of the nation above any other. Our federation could not have been established nor could it have prospered, had we not followed from the outset a clear path of mutual inter-dependence and collaboration, a path in which each part is of service to the whole, and in which each part will do all that is required in order to help the whole, the federation. Only thus can we attain our goals, strengthen the foundations of our state, preserve its stability and safeguard its achievements. Such is a summary of our past experiences, but it is, too, our path for the future if we are to achieve our hopes and dreams ...... Twenty-five years after the establishment of the federation, we can say with full confidence that the building of cities and of schools, of roads and of hospitals and the provision of a decent life for the citizens are important aspects of the state's achievements.
For us, however, the most important. Achievement of all has been the educating of an aware and conscientious individual, who knows both his rights and his duties, who respects and safeguards the heritage of his forefathers, who learns from the experiences of the past, and who is equipped to cope with scientific developments and the requirement of the modern age in order to build a bright future.
Fellow citizens, our twenty-fifth year has seen the taking of important steps in our drive to strengthen the Constitution and the structure of the state. The Constitution has been endorsed, an important, indeed a crowning, point in our progress.
This year, we have also begun the process of regulating the status of residency in our country in a legal and humane way, in accordance with prevailing rules and norms. We shall continue to do this, taking into full consideration the higher interests of our country, so that we may protect its security, stability and prosperity.
