Who is Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al Nahyan?

His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan served as the President of the United Arab Emirates since its formation in 1971 and as the Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi since 1966.

To understand the UAE, it is important to know about Sheikh Zayed and his vision. In this blog, we will be discussing Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan’s early life and his services to the people.

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al Nahyan’s early life

He was born in 1918 in Abu Dhabi and was the youngest among four sons. His father, Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed al Nahyan was the ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1922 to 1926.

Sheikh Zayed and his brothers respected the vow made by their mother, Sheikha Salama bint Butti, to refrain from violence against one another.

When Sheikh Zayed was born, the emirate was poor, relying on fishing, pearl diving, and basic agriculture in scattered oases.

The transport was camel and boat for traveling and the education was only the basic principles of Islam. During the late 1920s and 1930s, Sheikh Zayed’s quest for knowledge led him to the desert, where he lived among Bedouin tribes.

There he learned about the environment and the way of living of the people.

Becoming Ruler’s Representative

In 1946, Sheikh Zayed assumed the role of Ruler’s Representative in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi, focusing on Al Ain Oasis.

The role involved overseeing six villages and an adjoining desert area.

Despite having little money from the government, Sheikh Zayed helped Al Ain. He paid for the first modern school and got others to help too.

Sheikh Zayed worked hard in Al Ain even though there wasn’t much money. He set up basic rules and asked for help.

Making Al Ain the greenest city in Arabia

Sheikh Zayed changed water rules, making it fairer, which helped farms grow. Al Ain became a main market again.

His planning made Al Ain one of the greenest cities in Arabia today.

Sheikh Zayed became ruler of Abu Dhabi

In August 1966, Sheikh Zayed became the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. With a clear directive to speed up development, he took on the task of transforming the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

His time in Al Ain provided Sheikh Zayed with valuable government experience and allowed him to envision progress.

When Petroleum Development parties started looking for oil in the region, Zayed helped them with their endeavors.

With the export of Abu Dhabi’s first crude oil cargo in 1962, Sheikh Zayed utilized oil revenues for public welfare.

Under his supervision, construction projects for schools, housing, hospitals, and roads began.

Call for a Federation

In 1968, the British announced their plan to withdraw from the Arabian Gulf by the end of 1971.

Sheikh Zayed and the late ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, wanted a union including more emirates like Qatar and Bahrain.

Seven states joined Sheikh Zayed to form the UAE, which officially emerged on December 2, 1971.

His hard work led to the formation of the UAE and also helped him gain the support of the other rulers.

Sheikh Zayed was elected as the first president of the UAE

Sheikh Zayed was chosen by other rulers as the first President of the UAE. He was elected president of the federation every five years until he passed away in 2004.

Gender equality 

With his leadership the UAE grew into a financial hub and focused on gender equality, especially in education, setting a regional standard.

Strong international relationships

Zayed, a respected diplomat, nurtured strong international ties, contributing to the UAE’s reputation as a valued global partner.