ARSHANI, Awad.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Hayat Zayid al-Faris Alladhi Qahara al-Sahra' ("The Life of Zayed, the Knight Who Conquered the Desert"). First edition of this authoritative biography of Sheikh Zayed, simultaneously a history of the conception and development of the United Arab Emirates, lavishly illustrated throughout with monochrome and colour photographs of the nation's founding father. We locate copies in just seven institutions globally.The work draws together each of the Emirates and shows how they unified under Sheikh Zayed. The section on Abu Dhabi recounts the history of the Bani Yas and the legendary discovery of a well of sweet water there in 1769.The following chapters are each devoted to elements of Sheikh Zayed's character, showing his family life, his intelligence in promoting education and the oil industry, his positive relations with other Arab states and the wider world, and the benefits of collaboration and unity. The many images of the ruler - some candid, some official - show him engaged in pursuits as diverse as hunting with falcons, entertaining foreign dignitaries, and performing hajj. A particularly arresting colour picture captures Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed on the occasion of the latter's graduation from Sandhurst military academy.

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