Rashid Abdullah Al Nuaimi was Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 1977 until 1990, and the Foreign Minister from 1990 until 2005.

He was appointed Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs in 1976, and held numerous positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including director of the Directorate General of Political Affairs in 1975. He was an ambassador in 1974 and Undersecretary for Media and Tourism in 1972. He was also director of the Abu Dhabi Department of Media and Tourism in 1971.

He held various posts at the Department of Oil and Industrial Affairs, from deputy director for oil affairs to director of the directorate of oil in 1970. The first petroleum engineer in the country, Mr Al Nuaimi was also the first to publish a novel in the UAE, and he has contributed to various publications.

* Shireena Al Nowais