Sheikh Zayed's great expectations are bound up with youth. Thus, on every occasion he calls upon them to bear their responsibilities in full. He considers their success as a success for his leadership. In his opinion, building individuals is a national duty, which takes priority over the construction of factories and other facilities. Without the individual no prosperity can be achieved. Sheikh Zayed has not been contented with his experience only; he has always tried to make use of other countries to bring up a new generation capable of shouldering its responsibilities, and to find the best way of living a dignified life. Therefore, work is the essence of his methodology and part of his human nature. In this respect he says: "God has given us guidance to implement things which will be useful to our people and help them to achieve fulfillment."

     The youth are like a buttress of both the present and the future, and therefore young people must be educated and brought up in the right way. His determination and strong will have played a major role in the educational development of the country. Relying on local resources, he built the first primary school in Al Ain in 1959. Then work for the sake of education followed in earnest. In fact education has always been a strategic goal which he ever seeks to achieve for the sake of young people and the development of their mental faculties.

     Sheikh Zayed says: "The best investment of money is in creating generations of educated people. God has bestowed a lot of riches upon this country, and thus there is a good opportunity to invest these riches in education. We must not let this chance slip by. In fact, we have to race against time and take faster steps in the field of education and in the acquisition of knowledge than in any other field, irrespective of how important that other field may be."

     His Highness Sheikh Zayed would not miss any opportunity to call upon youths to be the defenders of the homeland and to get as much education as they can, because education is the real wealth and the foundation of progress. Money is expendable, but building the individual is the real wealth.

     The idea of establishing a university had always been one of his cherished dreams and greatest hopes, which was realized in 1977. Youth is the real foundation of any nation, its present and its future. This is what Zayed says and, based on this principle, he has drawn up his plans for taking care of the youth. He has made young people the focus of the renaissance process because youths are the treasure of any nation. There are many incidents in the history of nations to prove this.

     Drawing from this principle, United Arab Emirates has focused on the youth. The establishment of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sport, and instructions relating to this, are just one of many examples of this policy. His Highness Sheikh Zayed thinks that, in terms of priority, the direction of the youth should be towards intellectual pursuits, culture, creativity and inventiveness, that is, an all-inclusive strategy. This should be the direction of the youth movement, because it leads to civilization. "It has always been our wish to see youths embracing cultural issues." (187)

     The most valuable part of man is his mind, his intellect. Therefore, taking care of the mind, as Sheikh Zayed thinks, is a necessity. Likewise, protecting youths from the ravaging currents that run counter to Arab solidarity is a prerequisite to achieving total Arab solidarity, and it is for this reason he has called upon youths to adhere to those manly qualities cherished by Arabs. Manliness is the adornment of youth and one of its indispensable attributes: "Adhering to manliness at an early age is one of the greatest qualities that a youth can have at the beginning of his journey into the future."(188)

     Sheikh Zayed wants to harness the experiences of youths and to make them focus their energy on building their homeland. He also wants them to be the real defenders of this country, its protective shield. Moreover, he wants them to achieve the best they can in order to build a modern State capable of keeping pace with other countries of the world.

     H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan has always measured up to his word. All his deeds reflect and embody what he says. He has given youth confidence, made them bear responsibility and delegated authority to them so that they work freely and with the kind of devotion that is conducive to achievement. He made them understand that the homeland is a very valuable and precious trust in their hands, and that the country's sovereignty and splendor are inseparable from their own self-sovereignty. They are an example to be emulated by their countrymen, a light that continues shining amid an all-engulfing darkness.

     The magnificent leadership of Sheikh Zayed has always sought to break down barriers and to combat favoritism and discrimination. This attests to the depth of his philosophy with respect to leadership and fairness to his people. In this regard he says:

     "We don't accord value to youths on the basis of genealogy and tribal ties; but on the basis of the efforts they exert for the sake of their country."

     His Highness does not forget to link youths to their past and heritage; in this respect he says:

     "Our people should not forget their history and their forefathers, how they lived and what they did for a living. The more people are aware of their history and heritage, the more they become concerned with their homeland and are ready to defend it."

     His Highness Sheikh Zayed has given top priority to the youth and urged all senior officials to keep their door open to educated youths to share in government affairs, each in the area that suits him and according to his ability. Youths have proved that they are equal to the responsibility. They have borne it well. Some of them have become statesmen and understood what is required of them.

     It is only natural that they continue to be the leader's hope in a federation that grows bigger, because the next step is to transform the federation into a unity. Their role in this process is very important. Hence, he never misses any opportunity or occasion to stir their enthusiasm in order to make them exert all their efforts to serve present issues and work for the sake of the future.

     The land is theirs and the country is theirs, and people count on them to realize the goals of dignity and esteem for the country and the entire nation. Money is of no value if it is not protected by proper education, planning, integrity, dedication and enlightened minds: "The best investment for money is in creating generations of educated and cultured people."

     Zayed has pledged himself to the cause of taking care of education and allocating funds to it because nations are in a continuous race for growth, and depth of knowledge places the homeland in the forefront of other countries. Therefore, he has attached great hope to the UAE University, wanting it to become a source of enlightenment emanating from science, knowledge and ideal values. His Highness also attaches great importance to the role played by Islam in the building the youth. Hence, he has determinedly called young people to make use of educational sources:

     "We will not have real wealth in the form of qualified and capable cadres to build the homeland, if we do not adhere to the principles of true Islam, because the Holy Koran is the basis of faith, and the essence of life and progress through generations."

     The UAE is very keen on nurturing the present generation, which aspires to higher goals, on the basis of faith, ethics and modern science. As a State, the UAE presupposes two things:
First, that the youth assimilates their age-old heritage and its civilizational content (true religion, original Arab values and traditional heritage);
Second, adhering to the elements of development in today's world in their various aspects. Zayed, the leader, has summed up all this by saying: "Faith and science represent the path that will take us to progress and prosperity, to realizing our highest objective and universal renaissance."

     His Highness has emphasized the importance of taking care of youths and providing them with work opportunities, as well as protecting them from going astray, rehabilitating those who do, and bringing them back onto the right track to take up their responsibilities as active members of the society. In this regard he says: "I pray to God Almighty to help our youth do what is right and just, and to lead those who have strayed from the right path, and embarked on doing things that undermine the well-being of their families, back to it."

     His Highness adds: "As human beings, we can only give advice to those who do wrong things. However, the guardian or leader must subject offenders to the justice of the Koran and the messenger's Sunna, provided that he does not go to excesses in doing so. May be of one hundred offenders sixty or seventy will be delivered and return to the right path."

     H.H. Sheikh Zayed has criticized some of graduates who insist on becoming directors or deputy-directors by saying: "Those who do so are ignorant and do not accept the other view at a time when their colleagues who took up posts have moved upward and been promoted."

     His Highness has called for providing job opportunities to those who have retired because they have citizenship rights even if they do more than one job and because they possess expertise and experience.

     Under the title "Sportsmen are the luckiest in the UAE" Al Sharq Al Awsat newspaper wrote: "The UAE is a young country which holds youth in the highest esteem. It gives very great care to sport. The UAE sportsmen, in all fields of sport, have proved that they deserve the kind of attention and care given to them by the State. They have also proved that they are worthy of the confidence which the President of the State, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has had in their competence."

     His Highness has always been close to sportsmen. How can he distance himself from them when he himself was once a keen sportsman, and practiced many sports in his youth? He used to climb the Hafeet Mountain, take part in racing and practice falconry, which was one of his favorite sports because it is imbued with team spirit more than most other sports.

     Sportsmen are very impressed and pleased by his sponsorship of their activities. They are proud of the kind of concern which His Highness has for sports, whether modern or traditional. He believes development must take root at the ground level. There are more than 28 sports' clubs throughout the UAE, in addition to cultural, equestrian and chess clubs.

     When speaking of youth, the topic of sport automatically comes up, and we have to ponder the fact that H.H. Sheikh Zayed himself has always been very keen on sports. He practiced sports the way he composed poetry because he believes in the saying "A sound mind in a sound body." He also believes that sports and the arts are the real nourishment of the mind. The government has given special care to youth by providing them with that they need to improve their abilities and skills in order to become the defenders of the homeland because they represent what the homeland has as an asset. In this respect, the government has built youth centers and encouraged Boy Scouts camps and built sports fields of all sorts in accordance with the requirements of development.

     The work has begun. Youth activities have spread all over the State to enable young people to acquire contemporary knowledge whether in the field of sports or the arts. The UAE is participating in all conferences, seminars and sports tournaments. In 1990, the UAE national football team qualified for the World Cup finals in Italy. Also, in 1991 the UAE under-twenty national football team qualified for the World Cup Finals in Italy.

     Development has not been limited to sports; youths in the UAE have shown a remarkable ability to deal with culture, art and literature. With respect to theatre, they have established for themselves a place in the Gulf and Arab Theatre Festivals. In the field of literature, many writers have attained fame and become prominent.

     All this has happened in record time, thanks to the leader of the march who has loved all and given everything he can. His Highness has become a beacon of light for youth, an example to be followed. They try to assimilate his values, ideas and virtues and follow in his footsteps, full of optimism and confident of the fact that he will honor his promises and confident in his ability to steer the ship safely to the shore of security and prosperity.

     The youth movement in the United Arab Emirates has always been connected with the name of H.H. Sheikh Zayed, the President of the State. This is not surprising because His Highness has based his philosophy in leadership on the individual being and considered the person as the foundation for construction and the main factor in the successful creation of a modern society. Hence, the movement has become a true expression for the connection of the present social reality with the past and the future.

     Based on this strategy many sports institutions, cultural clubs, theatres, show halls and cultural foundations have been built. The services provided by the Government, within the framework of its policy, to the youth sector are linked to a comprehensive national vision, on the basis that these services are part of the plan of the leadership to qualify youths for future tasks awaiting them.

     In addition to sports activity, the Boy Scouts movement has been foremost among the activities which have attracted youths. The State has created a suitable atmosphere for them to join the various activities of Boy Scouts in most of the Emirates. As soon as the Supreme Council for Boy Scouts was founded in 1974, all societies and commissions joined it so as to play thenceforth a significant role in taking care of youths, educating them and taking part in many celebrations, occasions and environmental programs, in addition to the participation in local camps and work gatherings in the GCC countries, Arab and Asian countries, and the world at large.

     Reference must be made to the Girl Scout Movement, founded in 1973 and officially declared in 1981 with the aim of investing women's efforts in this field, under the patronage and direction of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, wife of the President of the United Arab Emirates, President of the Women's Association. Under her patronage and directions the Girl Scout Movement played an effective role in woman's societies, service programs and conferences. Summer camps have shown that there are many benefits to be gained from these activities, especially benefits relating to awareness and knowledge; they contribute to refining the way the youth thinks, give depth to their experiences and cumulative knowledge, and help them to pass the time in a constructive manner.

     Youth centers, which have been transformed into permanent forums, played a significant role in satisfying hobbies, entertainment and pastimes. In addition to this, chess clubs have been founded and they have started organizing competitions under the guidance of qualified trainers. The UAE player, Saeed Ahmed Saeed, won the World Youth Championship, in 1985. Many victories followed this and as a result the UAE gained a good reputation in this field worldwide. The UAE has hosted many Arab and Asian championships. In 1986, the UAE Chess Association hosted the 27th International Chess Olympiad.

     Beside male chess clubs, female chess clubs have been established to enable women to play an effective role in this field. Girls clubs have also been established. Their foremost mission is to improve women's skills and develop their creative skills in handicrafts and other women's crafts.

Special Interest in Falconry

     His Highness Sheikh Zayed practiced this sport when he was young. Wajeh Abu Zikara, in his book Zayed in Focus, describes one of Zayed's most magnificent hunts, one in which he used his falcon to hunt down bustards:
"Zayed was holding his falcon, directing it towards its prey. He let the falcon loose. The falcon soared in the sky and suddenly dived down towards the prey from the height of almost one thousand feet. On his left hand, Zayed was wearing a blue and yellow glove made of wool to protect his hand from the sharp talons of the falcon. When the falcon came back from hunting, Zayed put the hood over its eyes."(199)

     His Highness also used the rifle with great skill, practiced deer hunting, and sailing as well.

     The credit goes to Sheikh Zayed in organizing the first International Falconry Conference, in Abu Dhabi, in 1976. His Highness is considered one of the top experts in falconry. He knows all its arts, origins and ethics, so much so that many people refer to His Highness when learning the secrets of falconry. This is because he began practicing this sport when he was still very young, and continued doing so till he became one the greatest international falconry amateurs. Now he owns one of the finest collections of falcons in the world.

     His thorough knowledge of this sport is well attested by the preface of the book which he wrote about falconry in Abu Dhabi, in 1976, and which was then published by the Ministry of Information and Culture in 1977.

     His Highness says: "In the hunting trips with my friends, kinsmen and falconry amateurs, and when we sit together in majlis, in the few spells of leisure time I enjoy away from the heavy burden of the responsibility of the ruler and the tasks required to run the State, we speak at great length of hunting and give accounts of different kinds of birds, hunting birds and prey alike.

     Frequently, many people come to ask about the art of falconry, its methods, tradition and value. Many young men used to come to me with some writings about falconry. Some of these were old manuscripts several hundred years old. Others were manuscripts of new books but they were so full of errors as to render them nearly useless.

     Some of my relatives and fellow amateurs requested me to write a book about falconry, which has been the favorite sport of the people in the Arabian Peninsula, even before the time of Islam. It was handed down from generation to generation and up to today it is foremost among the traditional Arab sports practiced by the people of the region. In spite of my many preoccupations with tasks intended to build our young State, I have decided to make this dream come true. By God's grace, I have managed to conduct this study about our top sport in the UAE. I hope that it is going to fill a gap in the Arabic books dealing with falconry, which is often encountered by those who want to study the real history of this ancient Arab sport and find out about its ethics and rules. Also, this study should be of benefit to those who want to know the extent of the love of the desert people for this rewarding sport. In my study I have not relied only on what was written in the past on this subject, but have also made use of my experiences and what I have practiced. I have tried to refresh my memory and go back to the days of my youth because there are many instances where I was able to draw some conclusions by referring to my experiences with all types of hunting. These experiences have in fact made me love this sport and prefer it to other types of hunting.

     A long time ago, when I was about twelve years old, I started using the rifle, firing at fixed targets. I loved hunting and began to practice it. I would often go hunting with people who were older than me and learn from them. I had learned falconry and begun to use the rifle along with falcons by the time I turned sixteen. By the age of twenty-five, I had already spent a lot of time in learning falconry and its arts. Then I grew to prefer falconry to any other sport and gave up using the rifle in hunting. I had my reasons for that change.

     One day I went out to the prairies to hunt, and there was a large herd of deer, scattered all over the place. I began to chase and shoot them. After about three hours I took a break and began to count the number of deer I had shot. There were fourteen. I thought for a long time and felt that hunting with a gun was tantamount to genocide against animals and could become a reason for their extinction. So I changed my mind and opted to stay with falconry. Another very important factor that attracted me to this sport is that, more than most, it is a sport characterized by teamwork.

     The falconry trip consists of a group of between ten and sixty men. The trip lasts long, sometimes a week or more. Within this group you would find the king, the ruler or prince, the rich merchant as well as the ordinary person. But love for their hobby, the feeling of relatedness and the desire to enjoy hunting brought them together. Each one of them would be entertained, feel a sort of spiritual purity and shed the burden of city clamor, and the routine of everyday life imposed on one's profession.

     Each would feel more relaxed and healthy and become inclined towards clearing the mind and giving his body some rest. The way these people mingle and then become at one with their guardian, be it a king or ruler or prince, and the way he sits down with them and shares with them the experience of living from day to day, eating and drinking the same things and moving together everywhere, all provides opportunities for each member of the group to speak his mind, to express his ideas and thoughts without any kind of restraint or formality. This in its turns give the guardian a chance to learn about the wishes of his people, to know what goes on in their minds and to come to grips with their real opinions. This will eventually lead the guardian to take initiatives to reform the life of his people; such initiatives would derive from an awareness and understanding, and from true and broad knowledge of the circumstances of the people.

    In these falconry trips the qualities of people would emerge revealing noble attributes and ethics as well as bad tempers and lack of ethics. This intermingling gives ample room to test men and to distinguish between the good and the bad ones. Moreover, the hunter enjoys exercising both body and soul, as well as the unforgettable moments of friendly chatter. He, who is smart, gains a lot from the frankness which characterizes the trip; he also learns a lot from those who have sound ideas and avoids the nonsense he hears spoken between fellow trippers.

     For instance, the fisherman is alone at sea, far away from the kind of community sustained by hunting trips. The man who hunts with the gun does not have the same amusement and fun as that enjoyed by the falconer in these group hunting trips, which last for days and nights, and during which hunters acquire great experience in desert life. The fisherman or hunter who uses a gun spends only a few hours hunting alone and with no one to help him bear his loneliness or share with him his thoughts and joys.

     And here lies the difference. These trips teach us how to be patient and we find happiness in learning this. With great eagerness we wait for this chance and try to strike a balance between living in the wilderness and living in cities. The simplicity we feel when we practice this sport provides us with a powerful stimulus to understand what taking action requires. It also provides us with momentum to face the duties awaiting us, and with foresight relating to our future aspirations and hopes, and what needs to be done in order to realize them. As the proverb says: "One's nature determines the way one sees other people." This could be right or wrong but I think that it is close to being right.

     To conclude, I must say that this sport makes us remember our genuine Arab traditions and prompts us to adhere to virtue and high ethics. As far as man is concerned, these are perpetual values. If man has them, he will have the greatest degree of happiness during his life and even after his death since the best inheritance to leave to one's successors is high ethics."
God is the Guardian of all.
Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan

     The poet Dr. Man'ie Saeed Al Otaiba speaks of the experience of H.H. Sheikh Zayed in this sport that is part of the Arab heritage. In his introduction to the book of H.H. Sheikh Zayed referred to above, he says:

     "No doubt, falconry is one of the most important Arab sports which had been practiced by our forefathers for hundreds of years and was then inherited by their sons and grandsons, especially in the Arabian Peninsula. The people in this region are very proud of this sport and consider it as a way of learning how to be patient and to build-up strength. It is also considered as a sort of cunning employed to defeat opponents by means of cleverness and skill. This sport shows the ability of the desert man, using innate capabilities bestowed on him by God, to tame this bird of prey and to use training methods that enable him to impose obedience on the bird and elicit prompt response to the stimuli of its trainer. It also demonstrates that when the desert man releases his falcon to hunt the prey, the falcon flies and locks on its prey and brings it back as delicious food for both its trainer and itself.

     Arabs in the old days were the first to know this sport and practiced it as a favorite hobby, especially kings and sultans. Then it spread as far as Europe and America. Falconry as a hobby has its own art that relates to falcon training, dealing with it, feeding it and treating it when it is ill.

     Falconry also has its own literature and poetry, in which poets describe their falcons and falconry trips. Hunting poetry is diverse. There are light poems and others which are intended to describe, others still are said in boast while some poems may be written to encourage or ridicule.

     The Falcon is a symbol of power and pride. Arabs always liken strong men to falcons. The most famous example in Arab history is Saqr Quraish [The Falcon of Quraish, an Arab military leader who conquered Spain and extended the domain of the Omayyads rule to Andalusia]. A number of Arab countries embellish their flags with the falcon.

     H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan is considered as an important expert in this traditional Arab sport, and he considers it as a heritage which must be preserved and taken care of and one that youths must be encouraged to take up as sport so that it can be handed down from generation to generation. Sheikh Zayed is an expert in this sport in terms of its origins, arts and literature.

     I am one of those who are very fond of this sport. I owe my knowledge of this sport to H.H. Sheikh Zayed. I remember in 1970, His Highness gave me a falcon of the "Al Har" type as a gift, and it was the first falcon I had ever owned. I was barely twenty-four years old at the time. I took up training it by myself and when it was tamed and knew how to hunt, Sheikh Zayed took me along with him in my maiden hunting trip to the Sind Desert in Pakistan, where bustards, which the falcon knew how to hunt, were abundant. Then I brought another falcon of the "Shaheen" type. Two of Sheikh Zayed's team, at his instruction, joined my group with their falcons to form a team of five men and His Highness provided us with a Land Rover car.

     On the first day, Sheikh Zayed took me deep into the desert where we found three bustards. His Highness caught the first one and asked me to catch the other in an attempt to encourage me. Thanks to God, I passed the first test by catching the first prey in my life.

     On the following day Sheikh Zayed allowed us to go hunting by ourselves. Since then, falconry has become my favorite sport, which I would not miss for the world, and I await its season with eagerness.

     Sheikh Zayed has taught me a lot about birds; their habits and manners, what is known about them, ways of dealing with them, training, and treating them when they are ill.

     It is a great honor for me to introduce Falconry by H.H. Sheikh Zayed. The author is well known in the region, the Arab World and internationally. In fact, he does not need to be introduced. When he writes about falconry, he does not write like a writer who has just read a few books and references about his subject. He writes about a hobby, which he has practiced for many years and is so well aware of its arts and origins that he has himself become an authority in this field.

     I hope that the book of His Highness the President will become a useful reference for readers, especially those who are fond of this sport.

     I would like use this opportunity to thank H.H. Sheikh Zayed for the care he has given to this sport, and for calling for an international conference on falconry to be held in Abu Dhabi; this conference will be the first of its kind in the world.
May God grant all of us success."
Mani'I Saeed Al Otaiba

Horse Riding
     Horse riding is one of the types of sports that Sheikh Zayed has always promoted and encouraged. The United Arab Emirates has taken great strides in this sport, not only within the State or the Arab World, but also worldwide. Genuine Arabian horses have, on many occasions, surpassed other horses and won prizes and trophies in European and Arab countries, as well as the world at large.

     The year 1998 was considered the Equestrian Year in the UAE, as it witnessed many great successes for the Equestrian and Racing Association and other related clubs. These successes are due to the attention which this heritage sport has been receiving. The most outstanding event in this sport was the Seventh World Endurance Race held in the UAE, where more than 177 international equestrians participated. This event was covered by more than 300 media reporters from all over the world.

     His Highness Sheikh attended the closing ceremony and saw 'The Arab Equestrian' operetta in which many Arab artists participated side by side with school students. The audience was enthralled by the show, which was also transmitted live via satellite.

     The champions of the race were given trophies in the ceremony. The UAE equestrians, who excelled in the race and achieved the best results of the season, were also honored at the closing ceremony. H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Minister of Defense, was declared the winner of the local and international endurance races, because of his great achievements in a number of races of this kind. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed received the champion's cup from H.H. General Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, who was the first one to congratulate him for this great achievement. The second position was taken by H.H. Sheikh Rashid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum who did well in these races, especially in Germany and Switzerland, and in races that were held in the summer. He was honored during the ceremony. The third prize went to Hassan Bin Ali. The fact that the UAE had organized an important and significant equestrian event, namely the Dubai International Derby Cup, which was held on 28 September 1998 in the presence H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This sport has gained more reputation by the UAE organization of one of the most important horse racing events, which was held on March 28 last year, in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, strengthened the position of this sport worldwide.

     The UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation under the chairmanship of H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Court of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, has contributed to energizing this sport by organizing races in France, England and Germany, local races on the tracks of clubs in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, and through the participation of our champions in races held in Germany, Jordan and New Delhi.

     Ghantoot Polo Club is also another institution that has drawn attention. It has done so by taking care of a new sport in the UAE - Polo.

     All these great achievements and successes in horse racing were made under the direct support of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the leader of development and growth in the United Arab Emirates, the man who has loved Arab heritage and identified himself with it in order to confirm the true identity of the citizen and tie him up with his past and tradition, after having led him along the path of civilization and development. This is something that we always look at with pride.

     H.H. Sheikh Zayed was also very fond of volleyball and used to play this game along with other traditional sports, thus blending the past with the present in his sport hobbies.

     Now we have to highlight the camel racing which has been strongly supported by H.H. Sheikh Zayed who considers this sport as part of our heritage, and because the way we deal with this sport represents a feature of the Arab-Islamic culture.

Camel Racing
     Camel racing is one of the most popular sports in the United Arab Emirates. These races are always accompanied by sale and purchase activities around the requirements of the sport.

     What really enriches these races is the coming together of camel owners, trainers and their friends who normally speak about their memories, work, activity, expectations and ambitions. The fact that H.H. Sheikh Zayed is keen on encouraging the youth to adhere to the heritage of their fathers and forefathers, has made camel races one of the most important sports in the UAE.

     There are certain times allocated to camel races. These activities are sponsored by the members of the Supreme Council, Rulers of the Emirates and their Highnesses the Sheikhs. The annual event which is held under the patronage of His Highness President of the United Arab Emirates, carrying the name "Zayed Grand Trophy for Camel Racing", and whose prizes amount to ten million dirhams, confirms the interest of His Highness in this heritage sport and his keenness in supporting it. This sport in fact embodies his notable remark: "A nation with no past, has no present or future."

     The ever-increasing support for this sport has encouraged youths to take an interest in it and preserve it. This is manifest in the following:

1. The establishment of the Camel Association, which organizes and supervises camel races. This association supervised the final race on March 25, 1998 at the camel racetrack in Wathba.

2. The Camel Racing Federation also organized a heritage race and festival for the original Arabian camel at Rondeck Track in Sydney, Australia, on August 22, 1998. This race was preceded by H.H. Sheikh Zayed's Cup Race held at Brandenburg - Berlin, Germany, in August 1998, where many racers from Germany and the UAE participated. This race was very successful.

     H.H. Sheikh Zayed expressed his love and care for camels by saying: "Out of our loyalty and gratitude to camels for their great favors and services to our forefathers at the time when they were completely dependent on them in their life, travels and journeys, we take care of camels and respect them for those favors. We should not forget that the camel was the only means of transport we had at that time."

     It is to be noted that His Highness personally follows up these races and encourages support for them, both morally and financially. The Government has provided many tracks, rest houses and other services such as water and power supply, food and medicine. Many medical and media centers were established throughout the State. There are monthly aid allocations for camels along with free medical care. His Highness Sheikh Zayed invited all other Sheikhs, Ministers and top officials from other GCC countries, who are fond of camel racing, to participate in this heritage sport, which is fully supported by His Highness through the allocation of prizes and trophies.

     In the United Arab Emirates, there are other popular sports such as bicycle and car races, golf, swimming, snooker, billiards, athletics and rowing. H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAE President, ordered the establishment of Sport City to be a complex for all kinds of sport and to be an outlet for Arab, Asian and International fields. Zayed Sport City, which is considered as one of the most advanced sport cities in Asia, was built in 1979.

     One should not forget the football games, which attract thousands of fans.

     Sheikh Zayed believes that sport is a means of communication with other societies and nations, and a way to get acquainted with new civilizing developments, in addition to its contribution in building up individuals. Hence, he supported the sportsmen and supervised their activities directly. He also directed the building of sports stadiums, indoor halls, tracks and swimming pools.

     The sport activities have been expanded and developed. His Highness Sheikh Zayed offered 4 million dirhams as a donation for the national teams participating in the Arab Tournament, in August 1999.

     There are some marine sport activities such as traditional and modern boat races. There is also the desert rally, as well as tennis, golf, cricket, chess, swimming, squash, diving, water skiing, rugby, hockey, rifle shooting and other individual or team sports.