A beacon of peace in the region
“The Founding Father of the UAE faced colossal challenges, both at home and in the region. At home, Shaikh Zayed faced border disputes, conflicts of interest, and a lack of international experience, institutions, national cadres, infrastructure, constitutional order as well as a national army, to mention a few.
“Shaikh Zayed, however, worked diligently to settle emerging tribal disputes and differences. His wisdom came to the fore during talks and negotiations to settle disputes over the border area of Al Buraimi near Oman. As a result of his foresight, Zayed won the respect of all sides.
“In 1974, Shaikh Zayed decided to resolve a border dispute with Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The dispute over territory along the coast between Qatar and Saudi Arabia and Buraimi oasis area was resolved after the UAE made a trade-off that gave Saudi Arabia a 25km corridor on the Gulf called Khor Al Udaid along the coastline between Qatar and the UAE in return for Saudi willingness to give up its claims to the Buraimi oasis and territory in the area of what has become the city of Al Ain.
“Shaikh Zayed was a model of the spirit of Arab solidarity,
believing that cooperation and joint Arab action is the way to build an Arab bloc that serves Arab people, defends Arab rights and promotes Arab affairs in international forums.
“History has recorded many initiatives by the founding leader from the support of Egypt and Syria in the October 1973 war, the cutting off of petroleum from the countries that supported Israel, the Arab reconciliation initiatives and the resolution of disputes between Egypt and Libya, between the warring parties in Lebanon, between Morocco and Algeria, between North and South Yemen, between Iraq and Iran in the 1980s, and in Somalia and elsewhere.
“Shaikh Zayed was a man of conciliation.
“He also succeeded in building respectful relations with the international community, away from polarisation during the Cold War.
“Foreign challenges included border problems with neighbours, gaining international recognition of the emerging union, building a good reputation, and presenting the UAE as a modern state that benefits its territory and international security and peace.”