The formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971, under Shaikh Zayid Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, is one of the most significant milestones in recent Gulf history. Against the backdrop of the British withdrawal from the Gulf region, it was the new Ruler who accomplished the complex task of unifying the former Trucial States, creating the only thriving federal state in the Middle East. Shaikh Zayid strengthened the new nation by uniting disparate tribal groups and sustained it against formidable challenges. He pioneered the modernization of the country and ultimately created an effective framework for collaboration with neighbouring Gulf states. This full-length biography - completed shortly before Shaikh Zayid's death in 2004 - adopts a scholarly approach in analysing the UAE's unique federal experience over its three decades of existence. It is an in-depth study based largely on unpublished historical records and documents. The archival research behind the book and its meticulous documentation make it a valuable record of an important era in the modern history of the Middle East.