‘WHEN THEY DECIDED TO FORM THE UNION, THE PEOPLE REJOICED’
Fifty years ago, a new nation began to take shape as nine leaders met to talk of unity, writes Shireena Al Nowais
Exactly 50 years ago yesterday, in a small tent in Dubai, a group of tribal leaders met under the leadership of one man to decide the shape of their future and that of their people.
Most of these leaders have since passed away but what they leave behind is a nation that reaps the fruits of a decision that took that man, Founding Father Sheikh Zayed, six years of negotiations to realise it – the formation of the United Arab Emirates.
Yesterday, a generation of Emiratis, some of whom were in their twenties at the time, came together to reminisce.
“The federation is Zayed. The Union is Zayed. Everything is Zayed,” said one of the group of elderly Emiratis gathered in a coffee shop in Sharjah, plastered with historical pictures of the Emirates’ Rulers.
“Have you heard of Sheikh Zayed?” Saeed Al Sajwani said.
“Why does everyone around the world know of him? Why does everyone still remember him and always speak of him, even though there are many leaders who have come before and after him? It is because he built everything and his charity extends to the furthest country. There isn’t an area in the entire world where his charity hasn’t extended to.”
When the UAE was formed in 1971, Mr Al Sajwani was studying in Kuwait. “We were all convinced of the union,” he said. “Even the old man in his home was looking forward to a union because there is strength in unity. On December 2, 1971, we all heard about it and chanted ‘Union, union, union’.” He said most people do not realise that preparations for the UAE began earlier than this date. “They didn’t just meet once but several times, and it was the fathers of the current Rulers who met, may God rest their souls.”
On February 18, 1968, Sheikh Zayed, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed, Ruler of Dubai, met in Seih Al Sedira on the border near Al Sameeh and reached a formal agreement that would bind the two emirates and eventually lead to the UAE. Ten days later, a larger gathering took place in Dubai where all seven emirates were represented, along with Bahrain and Qatar. After two days of meetings and discussions, a broader agreement was reached. A new country would be created from the nine territories, to be called the Union of Arab Emirates, while preparations would begin for a draft constitution. A statement was issued: “The Union of Arab Emirates comprises one people and has one policy, one diplomatic representation, one army and one economic and social structure. The organisational structure of the Union is democratic, its official religion is Islam, the source of its legislation is Islamic Law, its official language is Arabic and its people is part of the Arab nation.”
Bahrain and Qatar eventually decided to go their own way, and Ras Al Khaimah – despite initial hesitation about joining the new country – became the seventh emirate, in early 1972.
Ali Al Qaseir worked at the Ministry of Education for 35 years. “Before the union it was seven separate emirates each with its own ruler who was in charge of managing their own affairs,” Mr Al Qaseir said.
“We were geographically close but every ruler was concerned with the affairs of their emirate and could not interfere with the affairs of the other emirates.
“In 1971, the union was established and gradually all the emirates were brought together under one name, and from then on, life began in the era of Sheikh Zayed. With oil, development began and schools and hospitals were built.”
These existed before the federation but on a much smaller scale, he said. “The union started with the Rulers’ meeting in 1968 but the regular person in the street didn’t know what a union was. But when they decided on forming the union, the people followed and rejoiced. They began raising flags and marching.”
Rashed Al Meheri was 15 when the union was announced. He said: “I remember that day. We don’t say ‘Abu Dhabi before’ and ‘Abu Dhabi now’. Before Zayed ruled in 1966, there was no Abu Dhabi. And from the day he ruled he was actively negotiating for the formation of the union.”
Ismail Al Zamani worked on the UAE’s first British naval base in Sharjah before unification. “After the union, everything changed, we suddenly had salaries, pensions, and widowers received financial support. Life became easier for everyone,” he said. “Now I don’t need any documents to go anywhere in the UAE. This is all because of Zayed and his vision of a union.”
After the union, everything changed ... Life became easier for everyone ISMAIL AL ZAMANI UAE senior citizen