When Abu Dhabi looks to the future, it is expressed in projects such as the Louvre and Guggenheim on Saadiyat, the Formula One track on Yas Island and Masdar. Half a century ago, a debate was taking place that was just as crucial to the development of the capital. In those days, Abu Dhabi was little more than a collection of palm leaf dwellings clustered around the Ruler's Fort, and while the projects being considered were less grandiose, their impact on civil society would be just as momentous.
On Oct 25 1955 a confidential memo sent by Her Majesty's Political Agency, the British presence in what were then known as the Trucial States, set out the plans in full. Talks had taken place with the then ruler, Sheikh Shakbut, and his brothers Sheikh Zayed, later to become President of the UAE, and Sheikh Hazza. According to the author of the memo, JP Tripp: "These projects were extremely costly and, in the case of drilling, uncertain to produce results and that HMG (Her Majesty's Government) would not, therefore, be likely to finance.
"After a little thought, the Ruler replied that he could not, at present, spare anything more for development. Once oil was discovered, however, he would take on the entire financial burden of development himself. "It did not take long to rule out road development. None of the three brothers could see any great need for it at present and I agree with them. The Dubai-Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi-Tarif roads are in good condition, the Oil Company grader having levelled out most of the corrugations.
"Shakbut, Hazza and Zaid agreed that a school and small dispensary were prime necessities. Zaid was keen to see a police force created and Shakbut said that he would welcome our suggestions for improving his courts ? they feel, and I agree, that we should plan in terms of the following projects. "Water development ? a small dispensary to be constructed in Abu Dhabi town, manned by an Arab and a Pakistani ? a school to be built on the lines of that at Sharjah, staffed if possible, by local teachers. A small police force of, say, 60-80 men ? the possible construction of a proper courtroom, or, at least, the provision of equipment for such a courtroom, proceeded by advice on court procedure generally.
"If no oil is discovered in Abu Dhabi this year, I feel that Shakbut should receive prior consideration in our allocation of development funds. Sharjah has its school, Dubai its hospital? Ras al Khaimah its wells and agriculture scheme which will presumably benefit Ajman and Umm al Qaiwain. But for Abu Dhabi we have done absolutely nothing. The time has surely come to start." * The National