Page 76 - The Origins of the United Arab Emirates_Neat

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5* The Origins of the United Arab Emirates

Sultan bin Salim’s long rule of Ras al-Khaimah (until 1948,
when he was deposed by Saqr, the third son of his brother Muham­
mad) was stormy and far from peaceful. In 1927 he had a major
clash with one of his younger cousins, as a result of his discontinuation
of his relatives’ allowances. Sultan was angry when one of his
younger cousins pressed him for money, so he attempted to have
him murdered. The Bani Qitab bedouin together with the notables
of the shaykhdom managed to save the young man’s life, but
were unable to prevail on Sultan to pay him a salary. The ruler
was firm in his refusal, and agreed to spare his cousin only if
he left the shaykhdpm.57
Having established his right to disregard the members of his
family, and not to share his income with them, Sultan embarked
on a course that was ultimately to weaken his position. The fact
that his income was not very great (especially during the world
depression) helped to protect him, but in 1945, when he granted
an oil concession to Petroleum Development Ltd, he became exposed
to the dangers of a coup d'etat. This occurred in 1948, when he
was overthrown by Saqr bin Muhammad, his nephew, with the
concurrence of others of his relatives who had received no share
in the concession income.
The one Trucial shaykhdom that has not experienced the violent
overthrow of its ruler is, as noted earlier, Dubai, one of the most
distinctive features of which is the existence of a loyal opposition
within its ruling family. Indeed, before Sa‘id bin Maktum succeeded
Butti bin Suhayl in 1912, Dubai had never even experienced a
serious movement to depose its ruler. (See Table 4 and Figure
4.) Sa‘id’s long rule of forty-six years was characterised by his
reputation along the Coast as an excellent arbitrator in disputes
that without his help would have erupted into full-scale wars (and
that he no doubt recognised might have had a detrimental effect
on the pearl trade), but also by his marked inability to command
the members of his family, the Al-bu-Falasah, in Dubai affairs.
f He was an affable man whose hospitality made him popular with
the bedouin of the Manasir and the Bani Yas; and as a peacemaker
•1
his wisdom and patience were usually rewarded with success, and
he was always treated with respect. His relations with the British
' authorities were generally cordial, and in 1937 the Political Agent
in Bahrain remarked that he was ‘one of the pleasantest persons
,1 on the Coast with whom to have dealings as he always behaves
as a gentleman’.58
Yet, though Sa’id’s abilities were constantly acknowledged abroad,
I at home his authority was periodically threatened. He was dominated
* by a clever and forceful wife, Hussah bint Murr (Umm Rashid),
whose talents as a busi ness-worn an were uncontcstcd. She owned