Simply Abu Dhabi XXIX

5 5 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I Despite being born into the ruling family, life was not easy then, even for the most privileged. Abu Dhabi at this time remained poor and undeveloped, and the harsh desert climate made economic prosperity challenging. People travelled primarily by camel or by boat, and sustained their families with fishing, pearl diving or the limited agriculture available on the inland oases. Schools and formal education were rare, but Sheikh Zayed’s father had ensured his young son had a tutor in the fundamental teachings of Islam. Growing up in Qasr al-Hosn, the Palace Fort, the residence of the ruling family since the 1790s, the young Sheikh studied his Holy Quran, and come to see it as more than the holy book – in it, he found instruction and inspiration for how to live a just life. He also spent time in Majlis, the private meeting rooms of his father, the ruling sheikh, where he absorbed the history and customs of Arabic culture from the respected elders who met with his father. Here too he began to hear of the political issues of the time, as the elder leaders discussed how to resolve them. Thus, by the time of his father’s passing, the nine-year old Sheikh Zayed was already growing familiar with the responsibilities of leadership in a disparate and sometimes contentious group of separate Emirates. His mother, Sheikha Salama, also played a significant role in shaping the man he was to become, teaching him the importance of treating others with respect. The Sheikh’s thirst for knowledge increased as he matured. He developed a keen interest in the history of Arabia, its culture, and poetry, as well as a passion for hunting, falconry, and horse riding. He joined the Desert Knights and went into the vast desert with Bedouin tribesmen, absorbing every aspect of the nomadic culture. In the Arabian Desert, Sheikh Zayed gained experience and knowledge of the desert environment which played a significant role in shaping his worldview. It’s no surprise then, that when the