Shakhbut bin Dhiyab Al Nahyan

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab Al Nahyan was the Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi from 1793 to 1816, now part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Political career Sheikh Shakhbut was the eldest son (or brother) of Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa Al Nahyan who was the leader of the Bani Yas tribal confederation.

In 1761 Shakhbut's father, Dhiyab bin Isa, sent a hunting party from Liwa which tracked a gazelle to a brackish spring on the island. According to legend, the gazelle became the symbol of Abu Dhabi, and gave it its name (literally Father of the Gazelle). In 1793, Dhiyab ordered Shakbut to move to the island; he did, and built a village and fort there near a freshwater spring. The fort, Qasr al-Hosn, became the palace of the sheikhs. By Shakhbut's reign, Abu Dhabi had expanded to some 400 houses.

Legacy He has been described as legendary, and having a notable amount of sons. He was deposed by his son.