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Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond
A rising economic power, Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, is poised to become a major player in the fortunes of both Third and First World countries. Abu Dhabi owns more than 8 percent of the world's oil reserves, has close to one trillion dollars to invest in sovereign wealth funds, and is about to implement a masterful set of economic initiatives that will yield even greater returns. Abu Dhabi has begun to eclipse its partner city, Dubai, in terms of sheer wealth and cultural and infrastructural development, opening the world's first Ferrari theme park and erecting satellite branches of the Guggenheim and the Louvre. Author of the best-selling The Vulnerability of Success and an expert on Gulf politics, Christopher M. Davidson tracks Abu Dhabi's remarkable growth from a modest, eighteenth-century sheikhdom to its present opulent state. He recounts the dramatic efforts made by the emirate's dynastic family to retain their power, detailing the system of "tribal capitalism" they created in order to reconcile old political allegiances with modern engines of growth. Davidson concludes with potential challenges to Abu Dhabi's political and economic success, including a weakening of civil society, invasive media censorship, an ongoing labor crisis, increasing federal unrest, and persistent underperformance in the education sector.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
1 person is currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Davidson
19 books49 followersDr Christopher Davidson, BA & MA (Cambridge); M.Litt & Ph.D (St. Andrews); FHEA
Dr Christopher Davidson read Modern History at King's College, University of Cambridge, before taking his M.Litt and Ph.D in Political Science at the University of St. Andrews. He has lived and worked in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Beirut. Before joining Durham he was an assistant professor at Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates, first on the Abu Dhabi campus, then in Dubai. He is also a fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy and in 2009 was a visiting associate professor at Kyoto University, Japan.
He is the author of five single-authored books. The latest, After the Sheikhs: The Coming Collapse of the Gulf Monarchies was published in summer 2013 by Oxford University Press in the US. A UK/Europe edition was published earlier in the year by Hurst & Co and Arabic and Farsi translations were published in 2014. Book launch lectures have been held at George Washington University , the London School of Economics , and other, shorter presentations on the book have been given at the Oxford Union and with the Project on Middle East Political Science . It has already been reviewed by The Independent, The Guardian, The Economist, Tribune Magazine, and The Huffington Post. It was listed by the Foreign Policy Association as one of the 'Most Significant Books of 2013'; listed as one of Foreign Policy's 'Top Ten Books on the Middle East from 2012'; and also as one of Al-Monitor's 'Top 15 Essential Mideast Books.' In May 2013 Foreign Policy published an excerpt from the US edition.
His 2008 book Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success was named a book of the year by both the New Statesman and the London Evening Standard, and has been reviewed, inter alia, by the Financial Times, the New York Times, the New York Review of Books, Foreign Affairs, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, the free Arabic press, and dozens of scholarly journals. It has been the subject of multiple television and radio documentaries and was cited by the New York Times, the Daily Telegraph, and the Independent as having predicted the 2009 Dubai crash.
He is co-editor of the book series Power and Politics in the Gulf. This was previously published simultaneously by Columbia University Press (in the US) and C. Hurst & Co (in the UK), and is now published by Oxford University Press. His edited book, published in December 2011, serves as the cornerstone for the series.
He is the author of more than a dozen scholarly articles, many of which have appeared in leading journals such as Foreign Affairs, Asian Affairs, Middle East Policy (1, 2, 3), and the British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies.
He is a United Nations (Alliance of Civilizations) expert on the politics and development of the Gulf monarchies. His work has also been referred to by the UN's High Commissioner on Refugees. He is also an associate fellow of the Royal United Services Instutitute (RUSI).
He has appeared on most major television and radio news bulletins, including the BBC, CNN, Sky, ABC, Al-Jazeera, Japan's NHK, Bloomberg, ITV, and NPR. He has also been a guest on a number of prime time current affairs shows including the BBC's Newsnight, Sky's Jeff Randall Show, CNN's Connect the World, Bloomberg's Last Word, Radio 4's Today and PM shows, NPR's All Things Considered, NHK's Asian Voices, and Al-Jazeera's Inside Story, Riz Khan, Counting the Cost, and Empire shows. In December 2011 he appeared on BBC World's Doha Debates, speaking for the motion 'This House has no Confidence in Bahrain's Promise to Reform'.
He has been interviewed and his work cited by the leading international newspapers and the Arabic press. His opinion editorials have appeared in the New York Times (1, 2), the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, Foreign Policy, the New Statesman, and OpenDemocracy. He has also written for Al-Akhbar newspaper, with his article 'انهيار دبي الكبي ' / 'The Great Dubai Crash' being published in Sept
Dr Christopher Davidson read Modern History at King's College, University of Cambridge, before taking his M.Litt and Ph.D in Political Science at the University of St. Andrews. He has lived and worked in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Beirut. Before joining Durham he was an assistant professor at Zayed University in the United Arab Emirates, first on the Abu Dhabi campus, then in Dubai. He is also a fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy and in 2009 was a visiting associate professor at Kyoto University, Japan.
He is the author of five single-authored books. The latest, After the Sheikhs: The Coming Collapse of the Gulf Monarchies was published in summer 2013 by Oxford University Press in the US. A UK/Europe edition was published earlier in the year by Hurst & Co and Arabic and Farsi translations were published in 2014. Book launch lectures have been held at George Washington University , the London School of Economics , and other, shorter presentations on the book have been given at the Oxford Union and with the Project on Middle East Political Science . It has already been reviewed by The Independent, The Guardian, The Economist, Tribune Magazine, and The Huffington Post. It was listed by the Foreign Policy Association as one of the 'Most Significant Books of 2013'; listed as one of Foreign Policy's 'Top Ten Books on the Middle East from 2012'; and also as one of Al-Monitor's 'Top 15 Essential Mideast Books.' In May 2013 Foreign Policy published an excerpt from the US edition.
His 2008 book Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success was named a book of the year by both the New Statesman and the London Evening Standard, and has been reviewed, inter alia, by the Financial Times, the New York Times, the New York Review of Books, Foreign Affairs, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, the free Arabic press, and dozens of scholarly journals. It has been the subject of multiple television and radio documentaries and was cited by the New York Times, the Daily Telegraph, and the Independent as having predicted the 2009 Dubai crash.
He is co-editor of the book series Power and Politics in the Gulf. This was previously published simultaneously by Columbia University Press (in the US) and C. Hurst & Co (in the UK), and is now published by Oxford University Press. His edited book, published in December 2011, serves as the cornerstone for the series.
He is the author of more than a dozen scholarly articles, many of which have appeared in leading journals such as Foreign Affairs, Asian Affairs, Middle East Policy (1, 2, 3), and the British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies.
He is a United Nations (Alliance of Civilizations) expert on the politics and development of the Gulf monarchies. His work has also been referred to by the UN's High Commissioner on Refugees. He is also an associate fellow of the Royal United Services Instutitute (RUSI).
He has appeared on most major television and radio news bulletins, including the BBC, CNN, Sky, ABC, Al-Jazeera, Japan's NHK, Bloomberg, ITV, and NPR. He has also been a guest on a number of prime time current affairs shows including the BBC's Newsnight, Sky's Jeff Randall Show, CNN's Connect the World, Bloomberg's Last Word, Radio 4's Today and PM shows, NPR's All Things Considered, NHK's Asian Voices, and Al-Jazeera's Inside Story, Riz Khan, Counting the Cost, and Empire shows. In December 2011 he appeared on BBC World's Doha Debates, speaking for the motion 'This House has no Confidence in Bahrain's Promise to Reform'.
He has been interviewed and his work cited by the leading international newspapers and the Arabic press. His opinion editorials have appeared in the New York Times (1, 2), the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, Foreign Policy, the New Statesman, and OpenDemocracy. He has also written for Al-Akhbar newspaper, with his article 'انهيار دبي الكبي ' / 'The Great Dubai Crash' being published in Sept
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 16, 2023
first part of the book is history heavy on formation of the emirates and personally it was the part I enjoyed the most. The second half is more economic as it discusses the current state of the uae etc
September 22, 2020
Similar to "Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success", "Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond" is a relatively short book that provides an overview of Abu Dhabi's history, socioeconomic and political environment. The author is a scholar well-versed in the politics of the UAE, and manages to deliver a solid book that readers interested to learn more about the UAE as a whole, and Abu Dhabi in particular, will find particularly useful.
The first two chapters deal with the pre-Zayed history of Abu Dhabi, outlining how the political fortunes of the Al Nahyan ruling family ebbed and flowed in the 19th and first half of the 20th century, as well as the role played by British colonialism in maintaining the family in power.
The third chapter is particularly noteworthy as it delves deep into who Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (who became ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966) was as well as the major role he played in establishing the UAE and ensuring its survival. The chapter also delves into some of the political disputes between Abu Dhabi and the other emirates during the 1971-1996 period, which shed light on how the federal system of the UAE was relatively fragile in its early years. Given that Sheikh Zayed was such an influential individual in the formation of the UAE, it is interesting to read about his experience prior to becoming ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966 and how a mixture of administrative competence and diplomatic skills allowed him to maneuver around different circles of power to eventually become ruler of Abu Dhabi.
The fourth chapter delves into Abu Dhabi's economy which, at the time of writing, was heavily based on oil and oil-related industries. Sub-sections dealing with Abu Dhabi's overseas investment and sovereign wealth funds are particularly noteworthy, as this gives a glimpse regarding how the ruling elites are acutely aware of the dire need to diversify the economy. The author also covers briefly the then-newly nascent attempts by Abu Dhabi to diversify into the technology, renewable energy and luxury and cultural tourism sectors (since the book was published, all of these three sectors have significantly expanded).
Chapters 5 and 6 explain how the Al Nahyan ruling family managed to ensure its longevity and survival. Strategies used include establishing a form of hybrid state whereby public offices are staffed by members of the ruling family and members of senior tribes, as well as ensuring that Abu Dhabi nationals (especially the major tribes) are not left out of the "tribal capitalism" [the author's words] that emerged in Abu Dhabi. In addition, the author briefly covers some of the legitimation strategies used by the ruling family, such as providing extensive donations to Islamic and charitable causes and promoting an Emirati identity [e.g. camel racing; poetry competitions; preserving and renovating cultural heritage sites such as old homes; building museums; building large mosques such as the Sheikh Zayed Mosque; preserving natural reserves etc.]. However, the most important legitimation strategy used is the extensive welfare state. Abu Dhabi's enormous oil reserves has allowed the ruling family to ensure that Abu Dhabi nationals are provided with all sorts of essential social services (education, healthcare, housing etc.) as well as public sector jobs.
The last chapter looks into the major challenges, both external and internal, that Abu Dhabi faces. It was interesting to read that the education system in the emirate is not well developed and is very lacking in terms of the skills it endows students. This is particularly problematic as the labor market in Abu Dhabi suffers from significant imbalances - mainly that foreigners constitute the overwhelming majority of employed, while Abu Dhabi nationals either struggle to find jobs due to the inadequate education they receive, or because employers simply find it less costly and more efficient to hire foreigners who would have lower salaries and provide better outputs. This is a problem acute in other parts of the Gulf, especially in neighboring Dubai. The author also delves into the quasi-nonexistent efforts at political reform in recent years, highlighting how the political system in Abu Dhabi remains very opaque and secretive, and that citizens do not truly have a say in policymaking.
Just like "Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success", the book suffers from several shortcomings. There are a few spelling mistakes throughout the book, and in many instances, when the author is describing the actions undertaken by specific individuals within the ruling family, it is very difficult to follow who did what. The inclusion of a family tree detailing the official positions held by the members of the ruling family would have been a much needed addition. A concluding chapter summarizing the main points made throughout the book would have also been a nice addition.
"Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond" is a solid work of scholarship that will give readers a good understanding of Abu Dhabi's history, economy and politics. Having been published in 2009, it is slightly outdated, especially given the fact that much has changed in the UAE, Abu Dhabi and the region as a whole since then. However, it gives a good glimpse into how Abu Dhabi looked like right before the 2010s.
The first two chapters deal with the pre-Zayed history of Abu Dhabi, outlining how the political fortunes of the Al Nahyan ruling family ebbed and flowed in the 19th and first half of the 20th century, as well as the role played by British colonialism in maintaining the family in power.
The third chapter is particularly noteworthy as it delves deep into who Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (who became ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966) was as well as the major role he played in establishing the UAE and ensuring its survival. The chapter also delves into some of the political disputes between Abu Dhabi and the other emirates during the 1971-1996 period, which shed light on how the federal system of the UAE was relatively fragile in its early years. Given that Sheikh Zayed was such an influential individual in the formation of the UAE, it is interesting to read about his experience prior to becoming ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966 and how a mixture of administrative competence and diplomatic skills allowed him to maneuver around different circles of power to eventually become ruler of Abu Dhabi.
The fourth chapter delves into Abu Dhabi's economy which, at the time of writing, was heavily based on oil and oil-related industries. Sub-sections dealing with Abu Dhabi's overseas investment and sovereign wealth funds are particularly noteworthy, as this gives a glimpse regarding how the ruling elites are acutely aware of the dire need to diversify the economy. The author also covers briefly the then-newly nascent attempts by Abu Dhabi to diversify into the technology, renewable energy and luxury and cultural tourism sectors (since the book was published, all of these three sectors have significantly expanded).
Chapters 5 and 6 explain how the Al Nahyan ruling family managed to ensure its longevity and survival. Strategies used include establishing a form of hybrid state whereby public offices are staffed by members of the ruling family and members of senior tribes, as well as ensuring that Abu Dhabi nationals (especially the major tribes) are not left out of the "tribal capitalism" [the author's words] that emerged in Abu Dhabi. In addition, the author briefly covers some of the legitimation strategies used by the ruling family, such as providing extensive donations to Islamic and charitable causes and promoting an Emirati identity [e.g. camel racing; poetry competitions; preserving and renovating cultural heritage sites such as old homes; building museums; building large mosques such as the Sheikh Zayed Mosque; preserving natural reserves etc.]. However, the most important legitimation strategy used is the extensive welfare state. Abu Dhabi's enormous oil reserves has allowed the ruling family to ensure that Abu Dhabi nationals are provided with all sorts of essential social services (education, healthcare, housing etc.) as well as public sector jobs.
The last chapter looks into the major challenges, both external and internal, that Abu Dhabi faces. It was interesting to read that the education system in the emirate is not well developed and is very lacking in terms of the skills it endows students. This is particularly problematic as the labor market in Abu Dhabi suffers from significant imbalances - mainly that foreigners constitute the overwhelming majority of employed, while Abu Dhabi nationals either struggle to find jobs due to the inadequate education they receive, or because employers simply find it less costly and more efficient to hire foreigners who would have lower salaries and provide better outputs. This is a problem acute in other parts of the Gulf, especially in neighboring Dubai. The author also delves into the quasi-nonexistent efforts at political reform in recent years, highlighting how the political system in Abu Dhabi remains very opaque and secretive, and that citizens do not truly have a say in policymaking.
Just like "Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success", the book suffers from several shortcomings. There are a few spelling mistakes throughout the book, and in many instances, when the author is describing the actions undertaken by specific individuals within the ruling family, it is very difficult to follow who did what. The inclusion of a family tree detailing the official positions held by the members of the ruling family would have been a much needed addition. A concluding chapter summarizing the main points made throughout the book would have also been a nice addition.
"Abu Dhabi: Oil and Beyond" is a solid work of scholarship that will give readers a good understanding of Abu Dhabi's history, economy and politics. Having been published in 2009, it is slightly outdated, especially given the fact that much has changed in the UAE, Abu Dhabi and the region as a whole since then. However, it gives a good glimpse into how Abu Dhabi looked like right before the 2010s.
February 28, 2018
The perfect introduction to how Abu Dhabi, and the Emirates, rose to power
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews