The College of Humanities and Social Sciences at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) organized a seminar on ‘Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his role in the development of Al Ain’ on Wednesday 17^th Jan. 2018 in the information technology (IT) building at UAEU. Both faculty and students were in attendance.

Professor Fayez Al Qaisi, from the Department of Arabic Language, explained that the seminar was the first in a series of activities, including conferences and seminars to mark the Year of Zayed. These events will highlight the late Shaikh Zayed’s role in the development of the UAE’s social, cultural, educational, architectural and political development.

Discussing the seminar theme, Dr. Yehia Mohammed, from the History and Archeology Department, talked about Al Ain from 1946-66 when it was ruled by Sheikh Zayed. He also pointed that Al Ain dates back as far as 3000 B.C. he added that, “Al Ain can be proud of its regional and international prestige, having won the international Nations’ Prosperity prize in both 1997 in Mardrid and 2000 in Washington.”

Dr. Mohammed Yaqoub, representing the Department of Geography and Urban Planning, described the urban development of Al Ain under the leadership of Sheikh Zayed. “Al Ain has witnessed rapid urban development thanks to the directives of Sheikh Zayed, who oversaw developmental projects aimed at making Al Ain an attractive city.”

He presented a study on desert reclamation in the south western areas of the region. The expansion of the city relied on factors such as the availability of water and electricity, road building, geographical boundaries, legal factors and above all the determination of UAE to develop.