The president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, died on Tuesday, according to Abu Dhabi TV. He was 86.
Sheikh Zayed, who has led the United Arab Emirates for more than 30 years, had been ailing for several years. He had a kidney transplant in August 2000, The AP reported.
His eldest son, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has been heir apparent since his father named him in 1969 crown prince of Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi TV interrupted regular broadcasting to break the news of Zayed's demise.
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Zayed was born in 1918 and named after his grandfather, Shaikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, who has the longest reign in the emirate's history, ruling Abu Dhabi from 1855 to 1909. His grandfather is also known as “Zayid The Great” and “Zayed the First”, and had played a large role in forging unity between the tribes of Oman and leading the Bani Yas tribe.
Zayed's father, Shiekh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruled Abu Dhabi between 1922 and 1926.
After his father died in 1927, Zayed moved to the oasis of Al Ain, approximately 160 kilometers east of Abu Dhabi, where he spent the rest of his youth. There he underwent religious education, and learned the Quran.
At that time, the seven emirates, were under British influence since 1820. Abu Dhabi was poor and undeveloped and its economy was based upon fishing and pearl diving along the coast.
At this point, the first oil firms came to carry out geological surveys, and Zayed was appointed to guide them around the desert.
Shiekh Zayed was assigned to govern Al Ain in 1946 and later in 1953.
When oil was discovered in Abu Dhabi in 1958, economic matters began to improve. On August 9, 1966, Sheikh Zayed was given control of Abu Dhabi by his elder brother.
After assuming rulership, Sheikh Zayed introduced a formal government structure, with departments developed to handle specific tasks. Priority was given to build basic housing facilities, schools, health services, and the construction of an airport, a sea port, roads, and a bridge to link Abu Dhabi to the mainland.
When Britain announced in January 1968 that it would withdraw its military presence in the Gulf, Sheikh Zayed was the first statesman to call for a union. Zayed realized that for Abu Dhabi to prosper, it would need to co-operate with its tribal neighbors. Thus, he met with the then-ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoom. The two held meetings on the 19th of February 1968 at Samih and discussed border disputes. This followed by the signing of an agreement on the 27th of February 1968, which would form a federation of nine emirates (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Bahrain, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, Qatar and Umm al-Quwain). Later, Bahrain and Qatar wanted full independence and Ras Al Khaimah also declined to join.
On the 2nd of December 1971, a federation of six emirates (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah, Umm al-Quwain) formed the United Arab Emirates [UAE]. Sheikh Zayed was elected president and Sheikh Rashid was elected vice-president. Shortly afterwards, Ras Al Khaimah decided to join the federation, which officially took place on the 11th of February of 1972.
Sheikh Zayed has been re-elected as president at five-year intervals by the Supreme Council Members, who are ruling members of each of the seven emirates. Sheikh Rashid was re-elected vice-president until he died in 1990, at which time his son, Sheikh Maktoum, took his father's place.
Sheikh Zayed also played a major role in the formation of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which officially started in Abu Dhabi in 1981.
In recent years, Sheikh Zayed's health has deteriorated and he used to travel to the United States for medical check ups. He travelled to the United States in 1996 for a spinal surgery and then again in August 2000 for a kidney transplant. (albawaba.com)
