By: Er Mohammad Ashraf Fazili (Former Chief Engineer)
My experience of the United Arab Emirates during my travels there is unique. I would like to share my experiences with my readers, which are worth talking about.
The UAE comprises of seven different emirates (Abu Ghabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain) which were originally independent sheikhdoms. The total area of the country is about 83,600 square kilometers most of which lies in the emirates of Abh Dhabi. It is situated in the north-eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula with its borders touching the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the south and west and the Sultanate of Oman to the east and north. It has a coastline on both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and is south of the strategically important strait of Hormuz. Its geographic coordinates are 24 00 N, 54 00E.
The city of Abu Dhabi located on a lowlying island is a lush, modern metropolis, complete with tree lined streets, futuristic skyscrapers, huge shopping malls and international luxury hotels, surrounded by sparkling wayers of the Arabian Gulf. The famous ‘Manhattan’ skyline reflected in the azure waters along the corniche, offers a starking contrast in the large parks and green boulevards that spread across the island.
The second city of Al Ain lies in the east on the border with Oman. It is mainly an oasis town surrounded by a hostile desert, the garden city (as it is also known) portrays a vision of cool tranquility. The other main area of the emirate is the Liwa oasis, close to the western border of the UAE, at the centre of the Al Dhafa region. Liwa is the last main inhabited outpost set amid towering red dunes before the great desert of the Rub Al Khali.
Having origins in a fishing village with its rich desert heritage, Abu Dhabi city has become a truly unique and diverse destination- a symbosis of modernity and ytaditional Arabic customs.
Only a few decades back the emirates of Abu Dhabi was little more than empty desert inhabited by nomadic Bedouin tribes, with a few vilages around the more fertile oasis areas. Abu Dhabi city spread from the northern side of the island, originally consisting of two or three hundred palm huts, a few coral buildings and the Rulers Fort. It is hard to imagine the modern emirate of Abu Dhabi and its high rise capital city, with the scattered huts in 1950.
In 1761, the leader of the Baniyas Bedouin tribe moved his people to the island. The abundant wildlife provided the islandwith its name (Abu Dhabi means ‘Father of the Gazelle’). There was a little development until the discovery of oil in 1950. and, despite the opportunities for fishing and grazing, it was not until the discovery of fresh water, in 1793, that the ruling of Al-Nahyan family, based on the south of the country at the Liwa Oasis, moved to the island.
In Liwa on the edge of the stark Empty Quarter, the Nahyan family lived a traditional Bedouin life, with animal husbandry and small-scale agriculture for their livelihood. Descendants of the Al Nahyan family, in alliance with other important Bedouin tribes in the region, have ruled the emirate of Abu Dhabi ever since.
The town developed considerably by 1800s, supported by the income from pearling, which brought in important trade and revenue. Abu Dhabi rose in prominence from 1855 to 1909, under the reign of Sheikh Zayed bim Mohammad to become the most powerful emirate. His influence was profound and it was during his rule, in 1897, that Abu Dhabi and the emirates to the north accepted the protection of Britian.
The British regarded the Gulf region as an important communication link with their empire in India and wanted to prevent other world powers from extending their influence in the region. The area became known as the Trucial states (or Trucial Coast) a name that remained until the departure of the British in 1971.
Sheikh Zayed’s death led to a period of conflict and as his descendants fought for the leadership the emirates fell into decline. In the 1930s, the combination of world recession and the creation of the cultured pearl industry in Japan resulted in the collapse of the Gulf pearl trade. With its major source of income removed, Abu Dhabi slid from its position as the richest emirate to that of the poorest.
The accession of Shaikh Shakhbut bin Sultan brought a reasonable degree of stability along with the first expectation that oil may be the answer to the emirates economic problems. In 1939, he granted concessions to a British company to search the oil, but the huge offshore reserves were not discovered until 1958, by an Anglo-French consortium. Exports began four years later, launching Abu Dhabi on its way to incedible wealth.
Sheikh Shakhbut’s rule, however was considered rather idiosyncratic and in 1966 the British exerted their influence, assisting in him being replaced by his brother Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the then governor of the oasis town of Al Ain. After two years the British announced their withdrawl from the region and encouraged the separate Sheikhs to consider uniting under one flag.
The ruling Sheikhs particularly Sheikh Zayed and the ruler of Dubai realized that by joining forces they would have a stronger voice in both the Middle East region and globally. The leaders of the new federation elected Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan as their first president- a position he held till his death in 2004.
The revenue generated by Abu Dhabi’s massive oil reserves allowed Sheikh Zayed to undertake extensive development within his own emirate. From a population of only 15,000 in 1962, when there was a large amount of wealth shared amongst small number of people, the emirate has become home to an estimated 1.6 million residents (at the last census in 2003) of which only 27% are Nationals (and this inan area twice the seze of Belgium).
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Zayed’s son, was elected as president by the Supreme Council after his father’s death. Sheikh Khalifa has promised to preserve his father’s legacy, focussing on ensuring the continued growth of the UAE in order to meet the needs of the people. Apart from being an oil expert and head of the Supreme Petroleum Council Sheikh Khalifa is renowned for his love of traditional sports, and his efforts in preserving them in today’s modern times.
This is the first of a series of UAE experiences the writer will be sharing every Sunday in Ziraat Times.
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