Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan First President of the UAE Date of Birth: 03.11.1918 Country: UAE

1. Biography of Zayed ibn Sultan Al Nahyan
2. Early Life and Education
3. Governorship and Development
4. Formation of the United Arab Emirates
5. Legacy and Philanthropy
6. Death and Succession

Biography of Zayed ibn Sultan Al Nahyan

Zayed ibn Sultan Al Nahyan, the first President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), played a crucial role in the formation of the country. He served as the President for over 30 years, from 1971 to 2004. Zayed was born on November 3, 1918, as the youngest son of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1922 until his assassination in 1926. He was named after his grandfather, Zayed the Great, who governed the emirate from 1855 to 1909.

Early Life and Education

Zayed grew up in Abu Dhabi, which was one of the seven regions along the lower Persian Gulf coast under the rule of sheikhs. During his childhood, there were no modern schools on the coast, so Zayed received his primary education based on Islamic principles. He lived in the desert with Bedouin tribes, experiencing their way of life, traditions, and their remarkable ability to survive in harsh conditions.

Governorship and Development

In 1946, Zayed was appointed as the governor of the eastern part of Abu Dhabi and settled in Al Ain, in the Muwaiji fortress. At that time, the eastern region of Abu Dhabi was impoverished and prone to outbreaks of disease. When the search parties of the Petroleum Development company began oil exploration in the area, Zayed supported them. His arrival brought a period of relative stability to the region.

Zayed showed great interest in restoring the network of water channels that allowed for the irrigation of once fertile lands. In 1958, oil was discovered, and in 1962, its extraction began. Some members of the ruling family were disappointed with the lack of progress under Sheikh Shakhbut's rule. As a result of a bloodless palace coup on August 6, 1966, Shakhbut was removed from power and left the country.

Formation of the United Arab Emirates

After lengthy negotiations with rulers of the other six emirates of the Trucial States, the United Arab Emirates were formed in 1971, and Zayed was elected as the first President of the new state. Zayed was considered a relatively liberal leader. He allowed the establishment of private press in the country, although it still had to practice self-censorship to avoid criticizing him and the ruling family. The country even declared freedom of religion, which contrasted with Zayed's role as a Muslim head of state, leading to sharp criticism from more conservative Arab countries.

Legacy and Philanthropy

Sheikh Zayed was one of the wealthiest people in the world, with Forbes estimating his personal fortune at around $20 billion, primarily attributed to oil production. Despite his wealth, Zayed maintained a traditional lifestyle he was accustomed to since childhood. He enjoyed horse riding and falconry and gave up hunting with firearms to set an example for preserving wildlife in the fragile desert ecosystem.

Zayed was widely remembered as the man who "made the desert green." Under his initiative, hospitals, schools, and universities were built, providing free education and healthcare to UAE citizens. He also established charitable hospitals in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Land plots were distributed for free, benefiting numerous landless families. Non-Muslim temples were built, which was enthusiastically received by the foreign workers who made up about three-quarters of the UAE's population. Women were granted certain rights within the framework of traditions, such as access to education and employment.

Death and Succession

In his later years, Zayed's health declined, and in 2000, he underwent a kidney transplant in an American clinic. While undergoing treatment, his subjects wrote a letter of gratitude to Sheikh Zayed, accompanied by one and a half million signatures.

Zayed ibn Sultan Al Nahyan passed away on November 2, 2004, at the age of 86. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.