Page 65 - The Origins of the United Arab Emirates_Neat

The Challenge to Power: Brother, Nephew and Son 4>

house murdered ‘Abdallah in October 1923. Hamad then skilfully
out-manoeuvred ‘Abdallah’s younger brother, Ahmad, and his guards
by occupying the government house immediately after ‘Abdallah
had been buried. But the hatred within the Al-‘Ali was not yet
at an end. Hamad now had to defend himself against the enmity
of Ahmad bin Rashid and his brothers, and also his own uncles,
who had previously acted against ‘Abdallah. Hamad’s father advised
him to leave Umrn al-Qaiwain to avoid being killed, but this
he refused.10 In a short time he succeeded in making peace with
his cousin Ahmad bin Rashid, after which the people of Umm
al-Qaiwain accepted him as ruler.11 When the Political Resident
visited Umm al-Qaiwain in March 1924, he noted that Hamad
was still friendly with the various members of his family, and
he observed of him, ‘He is not a very imposing or prepossessing
person, but the Agent reports he is doing well. . . ,’12
The goodwill within the ruling family did not last, however,
for on 9 February 1929 Hamad was shot and killed by a slave
at the instigation of his blind uncle ‘Abd al-Rahman bin Ahmad,
who lived in the same house. ‘Abd al-Rahman had plotted the
murder with Ahmad bin Rashid and certain notables of Umm
al-Qaiwain, and, according to the Residency Agent, had also solicited
the secret collaboration of Shaykh Sultan bin Saqr of Sharjah.13
‘Isa substantiated the latter claim by reporting that when Sultan
had heard of the death of Hamad he had sailed to Umm al-Qaiwain—
ostensibly to offer his condolences, but really to congratulate Ahmad
bin Rashid on his succession, and to urge him to expel the former
ruler of Sharjah, Khalid bin Ahmad, who was living there.14
The day after Hamad’s death, the fort of Umm al-Qaiwain
was attacked by the people of the town, who set fire to it; during
the ensuing chaos both ‘Abd al-Rahman bin Ahmad and the slave
who had murdered Hamad were killed. Johnston, the Political
Resident, was inclined to accept the Residency Agent’s theory that
the death of these two men had not been accidental and that
the fire was a convenient way of burying all evidence of the plot
that had brought Ahmad to power. The Resident was also deeply
suspicious of the role played in the affair by Sultan bin Saqr
of Sharjah, and was afraid that he would begin to exercise some
form of control over the young ruler.15 Ahmad, however, managed
to keep his alienated family at bay and then gradually made his
peace with them; he also showed little sign of being influenced
by Sharjah. A while later, he was duly recognised by the British
Government, and he has kept his position till the present day.16
When he first assumed power, he did not seem to impress the
British authorities who met him. In 1929 Johnston said of him,
1 he new Shaikh is a heavy irresolute looking individual . . ’ 17
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