The Founder In 1918, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan , may God bless his Soul, was born into the Al Nahyan family, who had ruled the emirate of Abu Dhabi for hundreds of years. He was the youngest of the four sons of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed, who ruled Abu Dhabi from 1922 - 1926. When Sheikh Sultan's successor died in 1928, Sheikh Zayed's eldest brother, Sheikh Shakhbut, was elected by the family to be ruler.