Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

At a glance

Source: UAE Government Portal: Founders of the Union¹

Early life and Al Ain

Sheikh Zayed was the youngest of the four sons of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1922 to 1926. Through the late 1920s and 1930s he spent long periods in the desert with Bedouin tribesmen. In 1946 he was appointed the Ruler's representative in the Eastern Region, based in Al Ain, and led its development in the 1950s.¹

Building the Union

After Britain announced its withdrawal from the Gulf in January 1968, Sheikh Zayed met Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum of Dubai. On 18 February 1968 the two agreed on a federation. Six emirates formed the UAE on 2 December 1971 and the Rulers elected Sheikh Zayed President; Ras Al Khaimah joined on 10 February 1972.¹

He also worked for the founding of the Gulf Cooperation Council, whose charter was signed in Abu Dhabi on 24 May 1981 by Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.¹

Legacy

As oil revenues grew, he funded schools, houses, hospitals and roads across the country. His foreign policy rested on dialogue, moderation and balance, and he supported humanitarian causes around the world. He died in 2004 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Sheikh Khalifa.^1,2