The first exploration well in Abu Dhabi had been drilled at Ras Sadr in 1950, to be followed by others in what is now the Western Region, and then with other wells offshore. By 1958, the first commercial oil-fields were discovered, first onshore, in the Bab field, and then offshore, at Umm Shaif. The first export cargo of oil left Abu Dhabi in 1962. With the oil revenues beginning to flow, the people of Abu Dhabi were eager to share in the development that they could see already taking place in other oil-producing emirates further up the Gulf. With the record of his achievements as Rulers Representative in Al Ain, Sheikh Zayed was the natural choice to preside over this process, and, in August 1966, he succeeded as Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He was a man in a hurry. The oil revenues were swelling year by year as new fields were discovered and brought on stream, while, at the same time, the rising expectations of the people meant that the development programme had to get under way equally fast. Moving quickly to establish the first formal Government structure for the Emirate, Sheikh Zayed embarked upon a large-scale construction programme, building roads and schools, housing and hospitals, not just in the capital of the Emirate, Abu Dhabi, and in Al Ain, but extending out to the Bedouin settlements in the desert, to ensure that the benefits of the new wealth taken out to the people. At the same time, Sheikh Zayed also saw clearly that Britain would not forever maintain her presence in the Gulf, and that the Emirates of the region would need to come together in co-operation and partnership if they were to enjoy a stable and prosperous future. Less than eighteen months after he became Ruler, in January 1968, Sheikh Zayed was visited by a British Minister who had come to inform him, and the other Sheikhs of the Trucial Coast, that the British military and political presence in the Arabian Gulf would cease at the end of 1971. Sheikh Zayed was ready to react. In early February, Sheikh Zayed met at As Sameeh, half way between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed al Maktoum. now the UAEs Vice President and Prime Minister. The two men agreed to establish a federation between their two emirates, and invited the other five Trucial States, as well as Qatar and Bahrain, to join them. The wisdom of the move was widely recognised, although it took nearly four years, and some hard bargaining, before the seven Trucial States agreed to form a federation. Qatar and Bahrain chose to proceed to a separate independence, but are now closely linked with the UAE through the Gulf Co-Operation Council. Sheikh Zayeds own determination, powers of conciliation, and willingness to compromise for the common good were crucial in the eventual success of the negotiations, and when the federation of the United Arab Emirates was officially formed in 1971, Sheikh Zayed was the logical choice as the President of the new state. After decades or centuries of a separate existence, the individual emirates moved into a new period of their history when the flag of the new state was raised on December 2nd 1971, facing the future as one. During the eighteen years that have followed Sheikh Zayed has continued to preside over the fortunes of his people, now extending throughout the whole of the United Arab Emirates, rather than being confined simply to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Re-elected three times as President, in 1976, 1981 and 1986, he enjoys, and deserves, the confidence of fellow Rulers and citizens alike, for since the state was established, it has successfully passed through an utter transformation from a backward country to one of the fastest developing in the world, and has done so without the accompanying social, political and economic disruption that has marred the development process in so many other countries.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 13:17:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015