The Al Nahyan Family: Abu Dhabi's Ruling House

The Al Nahyan belong to the Al Bu Falah, a leading branch of the Bani Yas tribal confederation, whose home was the Liwa Oasis on the edge of the Empty Quarter. In the 18th century the discovery of fresh water on Abu Dhabi island drew the family to the coast, where a watchtower grew into Qasr Al Hosn, the oldest stone building in the city and for generations the seat of government.

Qasr Al Hosn is now a beautifully restored museum telling the story of the family and the city. It is the natural first stop on a visit to Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan became Ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966 and, from 1971 until 2004, served as the founding President of the United Arab Emirates. He is revered as the father of the nation. He used oil wealth to build housing, schools and hospitals, greened the desert with millions of trees, and championed unity among the emirates. The United Arab Emirates was formed on 2 December 1971 by six emirates, and Ras Al Khaimah joined on 10 February 1972. Each emirate keeps its own ruling family, and the seven Rulers together form the Federal Supreme Council, the country's highest authority. Learn more in the UAE's history and culture.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, where he rests, is one of the most visited buildings in the world. His son Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed served as President from 2004 to 2022, a period of rapid growth for the capital.

The Al Nahyan have made Abu Dhabi a world center for culture. Saadiyat Island is home to Louvre Abu Dhabi, the new Zayed National Museum and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi to come; see Saadiyat Island and Guggenheim and Zayed National Museum. Leisure and sport thrive on Yas Island, while Al Ain, Sheikh Zayed's birthplace, preserves the family's inland heritage.