Page 77 - The Origins of the United Arab Emirates_Neat

The Challenge lo Power: Brother, Nephew and Son 53
land in Dubai, was engaged in trade, and also took an aetive
interest in the affairs of the shaykhdom. In a society whetc
position or the woman was unspeakably inferior, and where a woman
was obliged not only lo cover her face but also to live in almost
total seclusion, Hussah bint Murr was clearly outstanding, and
..... continues to be remembered on the Coast today, one
her name
convention by entering public affairs, and she even held
defied
MAKTUM BIN BUTTI
(1833-52)

HASHAR RASHID Suhayl
(1859-86) (1886-94)

MAKTUM Mani‘, Hashar Makium BUTTI
(1894 1906) m. daughter (1906-12)
of Muhammcd
Dalmuk

SAiD JurrTah Hashar Sa'id Suhayl
(1912-58),
m. Hussah bint Murr

RASHID
C958- )

Figure 4 Dubai, ruling family

her own majlis—hr men, rather than for women—in competition
with her husband’s.59 She did not, however, act against her husband’s
best interests, but tended rather to bolster his weakening financial
and political position whenever necessary. This was not the case
with his relatives, who often challenged his authority and position.
The movement against Sa‘id was led by his cousins Mani‘ and
Hashar bin Rashid, who had returned to Dubai after a period
of exile in Sharjah, and also by the sons of Sard’s predecessor
Suhayl and Safid bin Butti.