Page 153 - Historical Summaries (Persian Gulf - Vol II) 1907-1953

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between 1922 and 1928. Shakhbut was born m 1904. During the 25 years since
his accession he has been consistently friendly to the British but apart from this
has not been a very satisfactory Ruler. He is mentally ill-balanced, and cavalier
in his treatment of his relations and tribesmen. He is reported to be generally just
in his dealings with his people but his meanness causes resentment. He has brought
up his two sons Sa’id (born 1926) and Sultan (born 1934) badly and both
are illiterate and thoroughly debauched. His brothers Hazza and Zaid, the latter
of whom represents him in Buraimi, are far superior to him in ability and
judgement and have much influence with the tribes. Shakhbut visited Paris in
1951 for the arbitration proceedings in respect of the oil concession for the Abu
Dhabi sea-bed and London in 1953 ostensibly for medical treatment and has also
paid visits to India for medical treatment although it is believed that there is
nothing seriously wrong with him. While in London he was invited to attend Her
Majesty’s Coronation but left the country without notice before that event took
place owing to a quarrel with his doctor.
11. The question of the succession is likely to prove a difficult one. In the
past it has usually been settled by assassination. Shaikhbut was born in 1903 and
may live for many years yet but his life cannot be regarded as a very good one. He
hopes that his elder son Sa’id will succeed him, but the latter, unless he mends his
ways, is likely to prove a most unsuitable Ruler, and the same is the case with most
of the rest of the younger generation in the ruling family. Hazza and Zaid are the
best candidates if they survive their brother.
12. Shakhbut has been bitterly hostile to the Saudis since they began to claim
his territory and tribesmen and did not share the veneration of the other Trucial
Coast Rulers for the late King Ibn Saud. He is on the worst possible terms with
the ruling family of Qatar but very friendly with the Sultan of Muscat and the A1
Khalifah of Bahrain. He likes Shaikh Sa’id of Dubai but is on bad terms with the
rest of the latter’s family and regards the other Trucial Coast Rulers with a mild
contempt.
13. The Abu Dhabi Shaikhdom is at present regarded as extending along the
coast from the Khor al Odaid at the base of the Qatar peninsula to Hasian about
35 miles west of Dubai. Inland it includes the Liwah oasis and the greater part
of the Buraimi oasis. Shakhbut’s claims in the direction of Qatar extend a
considerable distance north of the Khor al Odaid and include the port of Umra
Sa’id (Chapter 4, paragraph 24), and he has not accepted the boundary between
Abu Dhabi and Dubai which was defined by the Political Agent, Bahrain in 1949
(Appendix A), although he had previously undertaken to be bound by that officer’s
decision and a slight amendment of it in his favour was made in 1952. This
boundary runs from Hasian on the coast to Tawi al Ashush about 40 miles inland.
The whole of the western and southern boundaries of the Shaikhdom are the
subject of a dispute with Saudi Arabia which is dealt with separately (paragraphs
96-104 below). The boundary claimed by the Ruler at the Dammam Conference
in 1952 is as follows: —
(i) A line from Sauda Nithil (on the southern border of Qatar) to the
southermost tip of the Sabkhat Matti (Lat. 22° 50' N., Long. 51° 4(X E.)
including within Abu Dhabi Aqlat al Rinth and Batn al Tarfa.
(ii) A line from the southernmost tip of Sabkhat Matti to Al Qaraini
(Lat. 22° 05' N., Long. 53° 40' E.).
(iff) A line from Al Qaraini to Umm al Zamul (Lat. 22° 35' N., Long.
55° 25' E.).
The nomad Bani Yas, the bulk of the Manasir, and the Dhawahir tribes are
regarded by Shakhbut as his subjects and he also claims a predominating influence
over the Awamir nomads south-west of Buraimi. Before the Saudi aggressions ol
1949 and 1952 he made no attempt to assert his authority in the outlying parts ol
his Shaikhdom, other than Buraimi, beyond sending a representative to Liwan
annually to collect the tax on dates, but since then has readily responded to all
suggestions made to him by Her Majesty’s Government for action in support ol ms
claims. Zaid has done much to consolidate Abu Dhabi authority in and arouna
Buraimi, and in 1951 entered into agreement with some of the Shaikhs ordinarily
regarded as owing allegiance to Muscat to negotiate with the oil company«on heir
behalf. He was discouraged from proceeding with this proposal for fear ol causing
trouble with the Sultan of Muscat.