His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,
1918 - 2004

An Inspiration to the Arabian Horse Industry and to the World

HH. Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan passed away on Tuesday Nov. 2, 2004 after a long illness. He was 86. His spirit and the fruits of his extraordinary life will of no doubt live on for years to come. We exhault him for his love of the Arabian horse, the successes of the Royal Stables, and his immense generosity and support of Arabian horse events all over the world. HH. Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan will not only be remembered for this, but for his unbelievable accomplishments for the people of the middle east.

The theme through all of Sheikh Zayed's efforts was to preserve and revive the heritage of the Emirates. He had a special love for the purebred Arabian horse and its historical significance to the people of the UAE. Sheikh Zayed’s private stables began in 1969 for horses and other animals gifted to him. Twelve of these were Arabian horses. Sheikh Zayed developed an intense breeding program for Arabian horses that evolved into one of the most impressive quality herds in the world. Monarch AH currently calls the Royal Stables his home, and the Royal herd contains more than 125 young Monarch get.

HH Sheikh Zayed came from a long line of royalty, tracing back to rulers of Bedouin tribesmen in the 18th century. When Sheikh Zayed was a child, education was scarce, but he was on a quest for knowledge. This led him to accompany the Bedouin tribesmen into the desert to absorb the life and heritage of the people. He learned falconry, to hunt, ride, search for water... he fully experienced Bedouin life. He began to develop a love and understanding of the natural environment and the need to ensure sustainable use of its resources. Perhaps most crucially though, it was here that he began to gain the trust and respect of the Bedouin tribesmen, which later enabled him to garner their support on issues that were essential to the establishment of unity.

Later the wealth brought by the discovery of oil forever changed the fortunes of people in the region. Sheikh Zayed was ahead of his time in sponsoring and promoting social programs, human rights and equality. He managed and distributed the wealth of the UAE for the benefit of all the citizens, and furthermore extended support to over 50 underdeveloped countries.

The history of the UAE as a Federation is short but unmatched in growth and presence. The area was formerly known as the Trucial States or Trucial Coast. Since 1820, Britain had maintained their presence in the region. In 1968 Britain announced plans to withdraw from the Gulf. Realizing the need for political and military stability in the region, Sheikh Zayed, just beginning his rule of Abu Dhabi, reacted quickly. He met with the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum for resolution of border disputes and made an agreement of unity. The two Sheikhs invited other emirates to join them.

On the 25th February 1968, the rulers of Qatar, Bahrain and the seven emirates that now make up the UAE, met in Dubai. They agreed to set up a federation of Arab emirates, and they established a Ruler’s Council. For the next three years, Sheikh Zayed worked tirelessly in countless meetings in efforts to unify the federation. His fellow rulers recognized his natural leadership, and elected him President of the new federation. Originally joining the seven emirates were Qatar and Bahrain, but in the end, they opted for separate statehood. On December 2, 1971 the UAE was officially founded.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan united the new kingdom through wise policies and an unparalleled respect and affection from the people. A crucial factor in the prosperity enjoyed by the UAE is the ability of its government and its people to accommodate radical change while retaining their traditional values. This was a central concern in all of Sheikh Zayed’s decisions and projects. He gracefully transformed the UAE into a modern and influential kingdom, while preserving and fostering the culture and heritage of the Emirati people.

With a humble beginning in 1969 operating from an apartment in Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi chamber of commerce began with a membership count of 27. The ADCCI has now expanded to well over 50,000 members, and obviously, the Chamber no longer operates out of an apartment. The UAE under leadership of Sheikh Zayed accomplished large-scale economic development programs. The area's economic security and capital for growth is based in its recoverable oil reserves of around 92.2 billion barrels- the fourth largest reserve in the world and sufficient to permit production past the year 3000. Modern UAE is filled with sports and leisure facilities and high end hotels, cultural centers, Universities and Colleges, broadcasting facilities and a major port and an International Airport- and tourism has flourished. Sheikh Zayed was conscientious in preserving and restoring older buildings including mosques, and the establishing parks and gardens including wildlife refuges.

The revenues from oil have enabled Sheikh Zayed to develop other industries to diversify the economy of the region with unequalled growth in manufacturing and production seen anywhere. Commercial success has been enhanced by support of free trade zones, where 100% foreign ownership is allowed, imported materials and equipment are exempt from corporate tax and customs duty, and there is no levy on imports or exports. The UAE government recently (1999) established a formal stock exchange with two trading floors, in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This step strengthened the already healthy financial sector of the Emirates.

However dramatic, these accomplishments pale in comparison to the human development programs that Sheikh Zayed set in motion.

Sheikh Zayed’s first step towards enriching cultural life was the drive to eliminate illiteracy. Always recognizing the power of knowledge and learning, he established schools throughout the UAE to provide free education to all citizens, regardless of age or sex. Uniforms, books, equipment and transport are all free. With a great concern for people with extra needs, he provided a Special Education Department. One of the most successful ventures has been a self-financing farm run by physically and mentally challenged people, called the Zayed Agricultural Centre for the Disabled, which have garnered international praise and recognition. The Special Education Department also includes a section devoted to the needs of talented and gifted students.

Sheikh Zayed always showed great commitment in supporting the role of women in UAE society. He ensured that the UAE constitution entitles women to enjoy equal legal status, claim to titles, access to education and career opportunities including politics. His vision of a modern society, which remained structured around Arabic and Islamic traditions, demanded that women be actively involved in all areas of that society. To achieve this goal, the President looked to his wife, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, for assistance. Sheikha Fatima has since received international recognition and awards for her service to humanitarian issues.

The development of youth was also among the top priorities of his duties. Sheikh Zayed’s main concern was to ensure that young people realize they have a duty to play a part in the future, despite the relative luxury of life. The UAE government introduced nationalization of employment in which Sheikh Zayed instructed the Minister of the Interior to identify and offer employment to unemployed young people. Over ten thousand job seekers were soon registered for employment. The government has also attempted to discourage UAE youth from expecting unrealistic salaries at the start of their careers. As Sheikh Zayed has said, “The size of a salary is not a measure of the worth of an individual. What is important is an individual’s sense of dignity and self-respect.”

Sheikh Zayed also had a policy of sharing wealth with less fortunate countries. He offered aid to Third World Countries, believing it to be a humanitarian duty. Sheikh Zayed established the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development in 1971. The Fund is dedicated to providing needy countries with the means to establish sustainable development. It has helped to set up health and education services, as well as infrastructure developments like housing, roads and airports in around 50 countries. The UAE also provides financial and humanitarian aid to victims of natural disasters.

Throughout his life, Sheikh Zayed strove to deal with all issues and all countries in a just and balanced way. He gained international recognition and respect by using the wealth and good fortune of the UAE for the good of humanity. By maintaining an unwavering commitment to the cultural history and a personal interest in the welfare of people, he became well loved by multitudes. Sheikh Zahyed's life is an excellent example of how visionary leadership can achieve dramatic success for a nation and positively influence the world.

Encouraging Growth of the Arabian Horse Industry.
TABA. P.O. Box 215.  Forney, Texas 75126. 972-564-9430. Fax 972-552-3613