Hamdan bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan was the ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1912 to 1922.

Biography Hamdan was the fifth son of Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi. Zayed had many sons (at least seven) by several wives. His eldest son, Khalifa, declined the succession. Since Khalifa declined to accept leadership, his next brother, Tahnoun, was selected. Tahnoun ruled for three years (1909–12) and died peacefully at age 55. Tahnoun had no sons. When he died, his brother Hamdan bin Zayed (Zayed's fifth son) seized the rulership, superseding two older brothers, apart from Khalifa.

Hamdan's rule was unpopular. While Abu Dhabi's population was violently anti-Wahhabi (a number of incursions into Buraimi had helped to cement Wahhabi unpopularity), Hamdan sent a mission to Ibn Saud in Riyadh, possibly in a bid to bolster his rule by gaining external allies, but paying tribute to Ibn Saud. He is also said to have disrupted Abu Dhabi's long-standing trade relations.

Hamdan's reign witnessed the breakdown of authority which had been entrenched during his powerful father's long reign. In Liwa and Buraimi, fighting broke out between the Bedouin tribes, with the Manasir and Bani Yas fighting a southern confederation of Awamir, Duru and Al Bu Shamis. Himself becoming an ally of the Wahhabis, Hamdan managed to broker an uneasy truce.

Assassination and aftermath In August 1922, after ruling for ten years, Hamdan was killed by his younger brother, Sultan bin Zayed, who seized the throne.

Personal life Hamdan married twice. One of his spouses was Shamsa bint Mijren Al Falasi from Dubai. They had a daughter named Latifa and a son named Hamdan who was born after his death. He was also married to Shamsa bint Ahmed Al Suwaidi, with whom he had a daughter, named Maryam. Latifa was taken to Dubai with her mother when her father was killed. Latifa was the mother of the rulers of Dubai, Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Hamdan's other daughter, Maryam was married to Hazza bin Sultan Al Nahyan until his death in 1958. Sheikha Maryam died in November 2020.