Simply Abu Dhabi VI

5 5 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Abu Dhabi and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi – are set for Saadiyat Island. Developments like Masdar City – set to become the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste city – demonstrate that Abu Dhabi is a city on the very cutting edge of global trends. His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918-2004) was Abu Dhabi’s founding father – and is generally seen as the father of the whole UAE. Holding the title of President of the UAE in 1971 until his death in 2004, he wisely used his Emirate’s oil revenues to invest in schools, roads, houses and hospitals. He is known as a pillar of eternal strength for the UAE. Now: His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was elected President of the UAE by the Supreme Council on November 3, 2004. Following the principles of leadership laid down by his father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, HH Sheikh Khalifa maintains close links with the Emirati people and strongly promotes solidarity between the Arab states. His focus on the development of the country’s citizens is reflected in the UAE’s continuous programmes to create economic diversification and sustainability, as well as numerous aid initiatives. His Highness has extensive experience in running the Emirate of Abu Dhabi 's affairs as he headed its local cabinet and its Department of Defence. Dubai Dubai is the most populous emirate and has experienced huge success as part of the UAE, with a thriving economy, many international business visitors and tourists, and bold architecture. For Dubai, nothing seems impossible. Now is a particularly exciting time for the emirate, as its confidence soars and its global role as a tourism hub in the twenty-first century continues to grow. Dubai’s founding father His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (1912-1990), who ruled Dubai from 1958, was known as a man of vision. While many might have baulked at the expense of having Dubai’s creek dredged in the fifties, HH Sheikh Rashid knew that the silting would deter shipping commerce and was determined to see the project through. HH Sheikh Rashid was Vice A s this edition of Simply Abu Dhabi, sees the inaugural implementation of the new SIMPLY UAE segment of our publication, which will showcase the wow factor in Abu Dhabi’s neighbouring Emirates. We thought it would only be respectful and fitting to introduce, what are known to Jordana and I as the “Seven Shining Stars” or to rest of the world, The United Arab Emirates. How the Magnificent Seven United Through the vision and close bonds of their Rulers, seven emirates came together to produce the extraordinary success of the UAE. To mark the launch of a new Simply UAE supplement, we investigate the compelling stories behind these desert flowers. How did a territory almost entirely comprised of desert allow so many beautiful flowers to blossom? Abu Dhabi and Dubai may be the best known of the UAE, but the country is called United for a reason: all seven emirates have played a part in its phenomenal success. When in 1968 the British announced they would be leaving the Arabian Gulf three years later, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of AbuDhabi andHis Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum of Dubai saw an opportunity. They took the lead in creating a blueprint for bringing together the seven emirates and former Trucial States in order to make the best use of their combined strength on the world stage. Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai were at the forefront of the creation of the UAE, and the country’s two brightest stars continue to drive new trends to this day. Such bold plans for unification necessarily entailed a lot of discussion, but on 2 December 1971, Six Emirates - Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain - came together to form the United Arab Emirates. Ras Al Khaimah was the seventh Emirate to join in February 1972: under the skilful statesmanship of the seven founding fathers, a new country, with seven distinct parts, had been born. In the past thirty years the Emirates have cemented a hugely positive global reputation. The beautiful paradox of the UAE, though, is that the more the seven members draw strength from each other, the more they celebrate their individual identities: their rich histories, fascinating people, and welcoming cultures. We take a closer look at the seven Emirates and their founding fathers below: Abu Dhabi The UAE capital is the largest emirate, occupying about eighty per cent of the UAE. However, only about thirty per cent of Abu Dhabi is actually inhabited. Abu Dhabi’s development in recent years has been nothing short of astonishing: under the direction of the Al Nahyan family it has become an ultra-modernmetropolis with the very highest quality of infrastructure. Some of the most exciting developments are off the coast of Abu Dhabi: Yas Island hosts the stunning Viceroy Hotel and a Formula 1 track, while two art galleries – the Louvre