Page 190 - The Origins of the United Arab Emirates_Neat

! 5<> The Origins oj the United Aral) Emirates

was not lo be renewed. Weightman assumed that it was a face-saving
device on the part of the majlis, and thought that negotiations
for the renewal might be successful after a delay of two months.21
Just three months later, however, a recrudescence of trouble, much
more serious than any ol the previous outbreaks, resulted in a
considerable weakening of the position of Shaykh Sa‘id.
Once again, the trouble was based on the conflict between the
two opposing branches of the ruling family. It is significant that
the conflict revolved around yet another matter that affected the
financial position of the Al-bu-Falasah. Rashid bin Sa‘id, son of
the ruler, had, in effect, a monopoly of the taxi service in Dubai,
but Maktum bin Rashid ran a taxi service between Dubai and
Sharjah. Rashid, incensed at what he saw as open rivalry, collected
thirty armed men and on 26 May attacked Maktum’s car on
its way to Sharjah. Rashid wounded Maktum’s driver and put
some of Maktum’s men in stocks, where they remained until they
were released by members of Maktum’s party.22 Maktum was furious,
and threatened to stop all cars belonging to Rashid. The dispute
soon began to assume serious proportions. The ruler, a mild man
by temperament, but dominated by his wife and son, ineffectually
tried to reach some form of settlement with his cousins, who by
that time had local opinion on their side.23 The Al-bu-Falasah
banded together and presented a unified front in opposition to
Sa‘id. Strengthened by the support of the people of Dubai, who
welcomed the opportunity to weaken the position of the ruler,
the Al-bu-Falasah formulated their demands and presented them
to Sa‘id in a letter. These included: a budget and civil list; proper
arrangements for health care and sanitation in the town of Dubai;
a police service; reorganisation of the Customs Department; fixed
allowances for members of the ruling family; and abolition of the
monopolies held by the ruler, his wife and son (of ferry services,
motor services, the unloading of ships’ cargoes, and so on).24
To enforce their demands, the Al-bu-Falasah occupied certain
towers of the town with armed men. A truce was later arranged
when a conciliation committee, presided over by the Residency
Agent, K. S. ‘Abd al-Razzaq Al-Mahmud, forced Sa‘id to agree
to some of the demands. However, outside interference upset the
truce. Shaykh Sultan bin Saqr of Sharjah sent a message to Sa‘id
promising to send him 200 men to help him against the insurgents.
The men did not appear, and the Political Agent in Bahrain sent
Sultan a message advising him to tend to his own affairs. Then
bin Salim of Ras al-Khaimah, described by the Political
Sultan
Agent in Bahrain as ‘having an incurable habit of interfering in
matters which do not concern him’,25 arrived in Dubai. He blamed
both parties for allowing an outsider like the Residency Agent