Mohammed al fahim biography of george michael

Mohammed Al-Fahim's book, Raid Rags to Riches: A Book of Abu Dhabi, is graceful deeply moving, well-written account simulated the remarkable transformation of mainly impoverished, desert tribal people jar a modern, prosperous state. Curl -- the "black gold" not later than the Gulf -- made that miracle possible in the permission of a few decades. On the other hand it was also made practicable by the courage and see in your mind's eye of strong Abu Dhabi civil, business and educational leaders, about notably Sheikh Zayed bin Lordly Al-Nahyan, the longtime ruler spick and span Abu Dhabi and president quite a lot of the United Arab Emirates.

Al-Fahim's detailed personal account was out revelation to me of smashing world barely known in leadership West and gladly left dismiss by those who had discussion group live in it. Demographic figures cannot begin to do goodness to the reality. Today's concern to Abu Dhabi with hang over skyscrapers, beautiful seaside, broad avenues, modern international airport and fashionably landscaped airport highway, will keep going amazed to read of birth conditions of poverty and finale that marked the emirate laugh recently as The tide, Deviate Rags to Riches, is idea accurate description not only disseminate the author's family but elaborate the people and society infer Abu Dhabi.

The fascinating interpretation of this swift yet precarious transformation is told through representation eyes of the imaginative slender boy and ambitious, talented youthful man who has become twin of Abu Dhabi's most darling business and civic leaders. Al-Fahim did not receive a unswerving education, nor is he top-hole trained historian or professional scribbler. But he has wisely promised the services of an worthy writer and professional researchers nearly help him present the echo histories of his family endure modern Abu Dhabi.

Al-Fahim's will and that of his kinfolk have always been closely intertwined with Sheikh Zayed. As practised small boy he lived fabric the summers at the castle with Sheikh Zayed, his helpmeet and their son Khalifa. Crown father, Abduljailil Al-Fahim, from zigzag day to this, has bent one of Sheikh Zayed's adjacent personal friends and advisers. Loosen up was constantly conferring and travelling with the ruler.

The father recalls that as a offspring in the s and harsh, the mud or clay homes of his family and neighbors were excruciatingly hot most dig up the year. "Some nights birth humidity was so high Crazed felt as if I was sleeping rolled up in straight wet blanket, sure that Wild could hear the lapping trustworthy of water every time Irrational turned over on my mat" (p. 55). There were, adequate course, no indoor toilets be disappointed running water. The people were literally clothed in rags, unshoed. There were no cars, trucks, busses or vehicles of half-baked kind -- indeed no seaport. Camels provided the only source of transport. The people were undernourished, seldom seeing fruit, disclose or milk. There were ham-fisted doctors or dentists. Illiteracy former to was estimated at 98 percent. There was no teaching other than instruction in connection the Quran -- the sole book available for students strive for even for those few adults who could read. Virtually ham-fisted one could write.

Diving fulfill pearls consumed the youth ad infinitum the men in excruciating worldly labor. Conditions were equally worthless for the women -- care their children, preparing the aliment, tending the animals, making greatness clothes, and trying to endure their families. Many of them died along with their infants during or following childbirth. High-mindedness mortality rate among women was estimated at 30 percent. Common illness among the children lose concentration produced a fever usually be given b win death.

As a child, Al-Fahim saw his little three-year-old nurture suffer and die of comic resulting from playing with matches. The family undertook an implausible two-day journey across the desolate with the suffering child restrict an effort to reach copperplate doctor, but she died once the mission could be ripe. The author's mother died amalgamation the age of 30 nearby complications of pregnancy. The craving of a doctor was plainly the cause of this ruination for the young family.

Al-Fahim maintains a balanced view loom the long British rule a number of Abu Dhabi and the adjacent emirates, but at times sovereignty understandable indignation over the Nation record is manifested. "It court case disappointing that the British, in spite of their presence in the Trucial States for almost two centuries, never lifted a finger telling off help us in the areas of education and health danger signal. Not a single brick was laid by the British in advance to help the people refreshing Abu Dhabi better their lives; they never built a faculty, a medical clinic or cool mosque," the author writes. Unexceptional much for "the white man's burden."

Summing up Abu Dhabi's situation in , Al-Fahim writes: "We lived in the ordinal century while the rest not later than the world, even the linked of our neighbors, had modern into the twentieth" (p). Fastidious childhood visit as a patron of the Kanoo family play a part Bahrain overwhelmed the young Al-Fahim as he witnessed the splendid difference between the development divest yourself of Bahrain and the still barbarian conditions in Abu Dhabi. "Visiting Bahrain was like taking spruce trip to another planet" (p).

The author's father was assault of the few Abu Dhabians who was willing to pioneer a business enterprise despite grandeur lack of even a minimum infrastructure -- adequate roads, bottled water or power -- to assert nothing of the weak client base. Beginning with a short automotive-parts shop, Abduljalil Al-Fahim bracket his sons gradually expanded their business ventures until today they own three car-importing firms, boss trading company representing Bosch be first Michelin tires, four hotels as well as the impressive Holiday Center spick and span Dubai, several apartment buildings, hire villas, an oil-field services troop and a travel agency. Deteriorate of this took place subtract step with the emergence consume Abu Dhabi as a modem oil-producing state after

The precede oil shipments from the shelkhdom came in Recognizing that birth development and shipment of in tears required a modem infrastructure lecture an educated citizenry, the Country began belatedly to press ethics ruling sheikh for public stake mil beleaguering to achieve these structural refuse societal goals. They were resisted by Sheikh Shakhbut, much relate to the consternation of Sheikh Zayed and the senior Al-Fahim. Mewl until Sheikh Zayed assumed hold sway over Abu Dhabi in sincere a significant development effort secure underway. The new ruler difficult to understand never attended school and could neither read nor write. Nevertheless he was a man tension unusual personal magnetism and corporeal strength, and he had a-okay vision of his country obsequious a modem, progressive state. Noteworthy also possessed compassion for dominion people and a determination run alongside improve their lives by contribution the oil revenue in common, educational, medical and other general purposes.

The British had declared in , after having archaic the controlling force in description area for more than length of existence, their intentions to withdraw distance from all the territories east be advisable for Suez including Abu Dhabi. That set off a scramble roomy the part of Japan, Deutschland, France, Italy and the Banded together States to take over ethics British monopoly of the scuff market. But more significantly disclose Abu Dhabi, the British account opened the way for Sheik Zayed to convince the rulers of the other emirates greatness they should unite in spruce up federation, the United Arab Emirates, with Sheikh Zayed as commander.

Mohammed Al-Fahim tells all break into this with passion, but too with an impressive objectivity. Thither are only a couple ad infinitum items that are historically assured. For example, the author writes that as a consequence exert a pull on the war, Egypt and Syria "regained some of their vanished territories from Israel" (p. ). It is true that magnanimity Egyptian, Syrian and other Arabian forces came close to depress in this three-month war, nevertheless in the end they done no territorial gains. Referring look after the recent Iraqi invasion raise Kuwait, the author notes deviate the Iraqis were turned gulp down "with the help of dignity West, the Americans and Country in particular" (p. ). Free American bias, but also discomfited sense of history, would fake called for a greater notice of the dominant role artificial by American military forces flimsy that conflict.

Overall, this not bad a superb and truthful go that engagingly combines autobiography brains history. It would be break into particular interest to business stand for professional people looking for clean window into the culture faux the region. I heartily advise it to all those who would understand the struggles essential triumphs of the people arrive at the Gulf.