A glimpse into the UAE's past

Author's name: Hamad Khalifa Abu Shahab

The book contains information about the history of the Emirates that has never been covered in any other book before, in the chapter entitled “The Groups That Make Up Emirati Society.” The late writer completed a large part of it in the second half of 1989, and then added to it in the years that followed. He was unable to publish it in book form, so the manuscript of his book “A Glimpse at the Emirates’ Past” remained preserved in his private library with the manuscripts of other books that had not been published, and which the Academy will publish according to a schedule, as stated in the book’s introduction. The book is considered a valuable literary and historical publication in its field. Its content provides a useful summary of the UAE's past from literary, social, economic, historical and political perspectives. The author's narration and analysis are based on his extensive knowledge of the UAE's history and his experience of the various stages through which society has passed. It also provides evidence of the unity of the roots of the UAE's tribes and ruling families in its seven emirates. For the first time, we find before us an intimate, intertwined network of ancient and new kinship and marriage relationships between the rulers of the UAE and their families, sons and daughters. The author documents this network with the names of fathers, sons, mothers, wives and daughters, who formed a close bond that was not apparent to our eyes before this book. This is in addition to the kinship and marriage ties between them and the families of society in general. This cohesion and rapprochement, which led to the inevitable establishment of the United Arab Emirates under the leadership of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his brothers, the rulers of the Emirates, on December 2, 1971, is considered the culmination of this cohesion and rapprochement between them in the unity of the past, present and future.