The most surprising architect from a famous British firm, Sheik Zayed, swiftly secured American and Canadian companies to change Abu Dhabi’s city roads. As a result of visiting abroad, he wants to build something reminiscent of Champs-Elysees. And now,  Abu Dhabi stands as a wanted global capital, providing a world-class environment for living, working, business, and investment. This transformation in Abu Dhabi shows the impact of Sheik Zayed’s determination which resonated with thunderous applause during the summer. 

During an event in Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Abdul Jalil Al Fahim, a prominent Emirati businessman and historian, recollected a dialogue that he captivated and observed. Sheik Zayed wanted a broader road inspired by Mumbai and Paris, so he urged British town planners for the best outcome. Al Fahim’s father who is a confidant of Sheik Zayed shared his transformative journey to India in 1959 and they both carried a British passport. 

Al Fahim highlighted the historical trip that they went on together and he has his father’s passport which remains evidence of their experience. He shared these things during the annual seminar of the Abu Dhabi chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).

In the year of 1959, Abu Dhabi looked like a vast desert. After seeing India, his father and Sheik Zayed cherished those memories for a decade. It was shared by Al Fahim who is the chairman of Al Fahim Family Council. Sheik Zayed visited cities like Paris in Europe in the 1950s and 60s, after that he aspired to offer better amenities to his people. 

In August 1966, Sheik Zayed assumed rulership and his commitment to rapid development was unwavering, prioritising progress without any compromise. This historical context shows the visionary leadership and global inspirations that changed Abh Dhabi’s transformation under Sheik Zayed’s rule. 

“He was so inspired by what he had seen in India and Europe that he inspired everyone around him. He was determined to build the country like he had seen it to the extent that one day, I was sitting with him in his Majlis full of people, and town planners came up with the plans to build the roads in Abu Dhabi, and then…”

He narrated all the animated conversations Sheik Zayed had with the British Company’s town planners about the width and design of the roads they planned to build in Abu Dhabi. This shows the commitment that he had planned to mirror the places that fueled his inspiration. 

Sheikh Zayed said that the roads are too small, and the architects said that the road should not be more than 10 metres both ways. Still, Zayed wants a wider road and hopes that the country will grow. But the architect replied that in 1967 the cars did not exceed more than 1200 and for that, you don’t need bigger roads and you have to build residential and institutions also. But he was very strong in his decision to have bigger roads and the architects also explained many things about the roads in England. Again, he asked for roads like Bombay, Paris, and particularly the Champs-Elysees. Finally, the architect concluded that he had only these designs and he told him to get some other architecture. Al Fahim was surprised by his determination to have wider roads that inspired Zayed.

Then there was a Bedouin who came from the desert and he started explaining the requirement that he wanted the architecture from a very popular British Company. Sheik Zayed got the top American and Canadian companies the next day. Abu Dhabi’s urban landscape now resembles the Champs-Elysees, evident in Sheik Zayed’s insistence and determination on wider roads. This revelation, shared by Al Fahim earned thunderous applause at the seminar. 

Currently, the city stands as a highly desirable global capital to live, work, do business, and investment. The legacy of Sheik Zayed’s foresight continues to mould Abu Dhabi’s prominence on the world stage.