Simply Abu Dhabi XXIX

6 5 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I one of us.” Captain Anthony Shepherd, in his book ‘Adventure in the Arabic Peninsula’, wrote, “Sheikh Zayed was loved and respected by all who knew him, especially the Bedouins living in Al Buraimi Oasis. No doubt he was the most powerful personality in the region. I used to visit him weekly at his fort. He had a particular and admirable way of informing me about current political issues. I entered with respect and left with even more respect for him. Sheikh Zayed was definitely one of the few great men I ever met.” Colonel Hugh Boustead, the British political representative to the region, was one of Sheikh Zayed’s greatest admirers, writing “I was amazed by the crowds that constantly surrounded him, showing interest and respect for him. He was an extremely kind and generous man. I was also amazed by the number of developments he initiated in the city of Al Ain, including the construction of canals for a better irrigation system, the digging of wells and the construction of cement buildings within traditional Emirati communities. Everyone who visits Al Buraimi notices that the people living here are truly happy.” The admiration was reciprocated: in 1953, the year after the Al Buraimi dispute, Sheikh Zayed visited Europe for the first time. Years later, he recalled what an impression the United Kingdom had made upon him, and that he resolved to provide similar hospital and educational facilities to his own people, when AbuDhabi became more prosperous. In Paris, the Sheikh and his brother were successful in a court hearing regarding oil rights in the region – a decision with momentous consequences.