ABU DHABI // Two main streets on Reem Island and Al Maryah Island have been named after two Emirati men who contributed to the UAE’s development under Sheikh Zayed.
Abdullah Omran Taryam, former chairman of the board of Al Khaleej Publishing and Printing, and Hamouda Ali Al Dhaheri, an adviser to the founding father, were honoured. New signposts with their names were unveiled on both streets on Tuesday.
Hamouda Ali Al Dhaheri
Born: 1940
Last position held: Adviser to Sheikh Zayed
Died: 2001
Al Dhaheri joined Abu Dhabi Police in 1958 and was attached to the Police College in Kuwait until he graduated in 1961 as a lieutenant. He then joined the Administrative Affairs and Criminal Investigation Department, where he held several positions, including assistant to the Commander of Police, Deputy Commander of Police and Security in 1969, and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior in the Abu Dhabi Government in 1971. In 1972, he became State Minister of Internal Affairs in the Federal Government, and was appointed in 1990 as Minister of Interior, a position he retained until 1992. Thanks to his academic background and practical experience, Al Dhaheri contributed to realising the vision of the UAE, which guarantees citizens and residents peace and security. The systems he introduced at police headquarters and the Ministry of Interior led to key improvements in procedures. During the sixth GCC Leaders’ Summit held in Muscat, he was decorated with the GCC Order for his role in boosting the security cooperation between Arabian Gulf countries.
Dr Abdullah Omran Taryam
Born: 1948
Last position held: Chairman of the Board of Al Khaleej Publishing and Printing Establishment
Died: 2014
Taryam was a prominent Emirati politician and journalist, and an intellectual who became a leading Arab journalist through managing and steering Al Khaleej daily newspaper. He held many key posts, such as consultant to the late Sheikh Zayed, Minister of Justice and Minister of Interior. Schooled in Sharjah and Kuwait, he obtained a bachelor's degree in history from Arts College, University of Cairo, Egypt and a PhD from Exeter. Taryam was Director of Education from 1968 to 1971. He was a member of the negotiating team for establishing the UAE Federation and the Minister of Justice in the first Federal Government during 1971 to 1972. Taryam was then appointed Minister of Education and held that portfolio until 1979.
