In issue (21) recently published by the National Archives

(Liwa) Celebrates Coexistence and Tolerance and Highlights Sheikh Rashid's Efforts in Establishing Dubai Airports



The 21st issue of the National Archives’ Liwa Magazine celebrated coexistence and tolerance in the UAE society, which is an excellent model of security and peaceful social coexistence among the world's contemporary societies. The study, written by Dr. Fatima Al Sayegh and published by Liwa magazine, confirms that this pioneering model draws its values from the historical, cultural and social heritage of the UAE, dating back thousands of years.

The study highlights the roots of tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the UAE since the ancient times.   The contemporary measures the UAE took to make the country safe for all, the policy and visions of the Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which were based on tolerance, and calls for peaceful coexistence among races. This policy has become deep-rooted for the UAE in the country and abroad, has made UAE a safe haven for the millions of people living in it. The article concludes with an analytical view of the importance of coexistence and tolerance in making our modern world free from all forms of violence and terrorism.

“Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the establishment of Dubai airports” is the most important headline in this issue of (Liwa). This article was written by Dr. Alia Mohammed Najib Saqr, who pointed out that the end of the 1950s was a turning point in the Emirate of Dubai; as Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum began to establish the emirate’s infrastructure. Thus, Dubai had institutions appropriate for the development in the economic and demographic sectors, and that initiated the need for establishing a civil airport.

This study points to the role of Dubai airport in attracting airlines from all over the world at that early stage of the developing Emirate, the most important projects that had made progress and it documents Sheikh Rashid’s efforts to establish the airport and the British opposition, his executive efforts prior the inauguration of the airport followed by the opening of the asphalt runway in 1965, and its promotional measures. The study confirms that Dubai Airport led to a series of upturns in the Emirate. Establishing airports in Dubai was a need to absorb the rise in trade movement there. Sheikh Rashid took all measures to improve Dubai trade interests in order to establish the pillars of trade and provide the necessary services to traders and businessmen.

The new issue of Liwa sheds lights on topics pertaining to the history and archaeology of the UAE and the Arabian Gulf region. The first study in this issue was written by Khalid Hussein Salih entitled: “History in Mleiha and Southern Arabia; Contacts and Influence). The study shows Mleiha’s strategic central position in Sharjah, where many evidences proved that Mleiha exchanged trade with several Arab and foreign trade centers between late third century BC and mid fourth century BC. Due to its strategic position, Mleiha participated in the culture at the time. It had a great role in trade exchanges. The study lists the most important characteristics of Mleiha and the evidences of its contacts with southern Arabia in ancient times.

Liwa Magazine also documents in its new issue aspects of the life of Sheikh Zayed Bin Saif Bin Mohammed Al Falahi by Saeed Al Suwaidi who derives information from British documents (1820-1825), the oral history of the Al Bu Falah clan and their genealogy in general and the genealogy of Al Nahyan in particular.  Sheikh Zayed Bin Saif Al Falahi was known to have signed a peace treaty in 1820 on behalf of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hazza Bin Zaal. The study deals with the lineage of Sheikh Zayed Bin Saif Al Falahi and his term as acting ruler of Dubai, the reality of Dubai at his time, in addition to some of the events happened during his reign and the rise of Sheikh Tahnun Bin Shakhbut to power. The study informs about the life of Sheikh Zayed Bin Saif Al Falahi to the end, and deals with the various aspects of his character during his term of rule, which has witnessed a lot of turmoil and challenges.

The English part of Liwa Magazine included two studies: the first entitled: “Three Portuguese Documents on the Arabian Gulf and an Appendix on Trade and Taxes), and the second entitled: “Sheikh Zayed Bin Saif Bin Mohammed Al Falahi” in British documents 1820-1825.