Simply Abu Dhabi VI

President of the UAE from its founding until his death in 1990. He invested in and nurtured his country’s development, building a first-class infrastructure using the proceeds of oil resources. Now: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum became the Ruler of Dubai following the death of SheikhMaktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum On January 4th, 2006. The next day on the 5th of January, the members of the Supreme Council elected Sheikh Mohammed the UAE Vice President. On February 11th, 2006 UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan nominated SheikhMohammed for UAE PrimeMinister; the Council approved this nomination. Sheikh Mohammed and the members of his Cabinet took their oaths in front of Sheikh Khalifa at Al Bateen Palace in Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mohammed embodies energetic and successful leadership. He is a man who has made promises and kept them; he has insisted on excellence and achieved nothing less; he has defined the role of leadership and fulfilled it. Thanks to his vision, Sheikh Mohammed has competently authored the Dubai success story in record time and put the United Arab Emirates on a unique course, which nations around the world compete to replicate. Fujairah The 130,000 population of Fujairah may be outnumbered by other emirates, but they certainly make their voice count. And they have a lot to shout about: situated in the Gulf of Oman in the East of the UAE, Fujairah boasts a beautiful coastline which has in turn attracted a roster of luxurious hotels. A major attraction for visitors to Fujairah’s beaches is the area’s varied underwater wildlife, while many also take advantage of the opportunities for watersports. Beguiling Fujairah also has a fascinating history – it is home to the UAE’s oldest mosque, the Al Bidyah mosque, which dates from 1446, when it was built using bricks and mud. Founding Father His Highness SheikhMohammed BinHamad Al Sharqi (1908- 1974) ruled Fujairah from 1937 until his death in 1974 – for three years as part of the UAE. His forward-thinking creation of a free trade zone - in this emirate with crucial access to the Indian Ocean - has allowed commerce to flourish. Umm Al Quwain UmmAl Quwain means ‘Mother of two powers’, referring to the old inhabitants of this territory who held dominion over both land and sea. It’s a fitting description for an Emirate which despite its size - it has the smallest population of all the Emirates, and it’s the second smallest in terms of area - boasts a rich variety of different landscapes. Within UmmAl Quwain you can travel from the mangrove forests of the Arabian Gulf to the inland oasis at Falaj Al Moalla within a surprisingly short space of time. Fascinating reminders of Umm Al Quwain’s history are clear for all visitors to see: the museum at the UmmAl Quwain Fort, the Old Harbour - where wooden dhows are still made in the traditional way – and the ancient pre-Islamic trading port of Al Dour. Umm Al Quwain’s founding father, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Mualla (1908-1981), became its Ruler aged just eighteen, when his cousin, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Ibrahim Al Mualla, was killed. One of HH Sheikh Ahmed’s key projects was taking forward his Emirate’s interests in the Mubarak Oilfield, which lies off the UAE’s western shore. His development of health and education services helped bring a vital stability. Ajman The name Ajman means ‘small city’ – but the favourable position of the smallest of the emirates (by land area) next to Dubai and Sharjah, its port, and its strong infrastructure have created an opportunity for Ajman to build a key role as a centre for trade. The planned airport at Ajman will surely also help to achieve these aims. Ajman is renowned for its annual three-day camel festival in February, where rural tribes from across the UAE gather. Founding father His Highness Sheikh Rashid binHumaid al Nuaimi (1902-1981) – who became Ajman’s Ruler in 1928 and held the position for over half a century until his death – created a police force and a science institute for his Emirate as 5 6 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I

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