born July 1, 1939
Ruler of the emirate of Al-Shariqah (Sharjah) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 1972.
He succeeded his brother, who was assassinated. A political moderate, he favoured strengthening the federal government of the UAE. In the wake of a failed coup attempt by another brother, he agreed to implement financial and administrative reforms and to make his brother crown prince, with the right to succeed him, but he changed his mind and exiled his brother in 1990.