We meet Mohammed A J Al Fahim, the author of what is considered the most important piece of historic literature in the UAE
rom Rags to Riches: A Story of Abu Dhabi is a first-hand account of life in the UAE before the discovery of oil, and the subsequent transformation of the country into the nation we live in today.
The author, Emirati businessman Mohammed A J Al Fahim, intertwines personal memories into a wider history plot – from the hardship of Bedouin life under foreign rule to the transition into a nation with the world’s highest per-capita income. This book is a great read and a compelling reminder of how much life in the UAE has changed for its people.
This best-selling book was first published in 1995, and so far it has been translated into 14 languages, including Malayalam – a language spoken in India – just last month.
Mohammed took 18 months to write the story, prompted by questions from his expatriate friends and clients who suddenly saw Abu Dhabi appear on the world stage.
“I want people reading my book to walk away knowing more about our history but also that we are a cosmopolitan society, peaceful and hospitable,” he tells us. “We appreciate all the work and achievements of every expatriate who is living among us, sharing with us the development of our country.
“I have already started writing a sequel,” he adds. “But I am waiting to finish it because I want to see a conclusion, a positive ending to the unrest in the Middle East, so I can end my story on a happy note.”
Mohammed is also helping other Arabic authors reach a wider audience by translating their work into English and helping them to get published.
“Ahmed Al Khateeb, a Jordanian-Palestinian teacher, was the first expatriate to move to Abu Dhabi in 1959 to teach in our first school,” he tells us. “He wrote a book called Adventure on Abu Dhabi Sands, which will be published soon.”
Laura Volpi
