| Spouses: |
|
| Issue: | 2 sons and 4 daughters |
| Succession: | Ruler of Abu Dhabi |
| Reign: | 1928–1966 |
| Predecessor: | Saqr I bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
| Successor: | Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan |
| Father: | Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
| Mother: | Salama bint Butti Al-Qubaisi |
| Birth Date: | 1905 6, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Abu Dhabi, Trucial States |
| Death Place: | Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| House: | Al Nahyan |
| Religion: | Sunni Islam |
Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan (Arabic: شخبوط بن سلطان آل نهيان; 1 June 1905 - 11 February 1989) was the ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1928 to 1966. On 6 August 1966, Shakhbut was deposed by members of his family with assistance from Britain in a bloodless coup. His younger brother, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan succeeded him as the ruler of Abu Dhabi.[1]
Shakhbut was born in 1905.[2] He was the eldest son of Sultan bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan. His mother was Sheikha Salama bint Butti.[3] [4]
Sheikh Shakhbut succeeded his uncle Sheikh Saqr bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 1928, becoming the ruler of the emirate of Abu Dhabi. During his reign, he adopted an aggressively mercantilist strategy, keeping his reserves in gold.[5]
After the discovery of oil in Abu Dhabi in 1958, Abu Dhabi's elites were frustrated by Shakhbut's refusal to spend the petroleum royalties. At the request of Abu Dhabi's elites, the British carried out a bloodless coup against Shakhbut, installing Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the ruler of Abu Dhabi in his stead.[6] [7] Shakhbut's reign lasted until 6 August 1966 when he was deposed in the bloodless coup by the Trucial Oman Scouts to the benefit of his brother Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.[1]
Shakhbut married twice. His first wife was his first cousin, Sheikha Fakhera bint Hazza Al Nahyan, and she was the mother of all his children. They had two sons, Saeed and Sultan. Both of his sons predeceased Shakhbut; they died in their youth while living in exile with their father. The elder son, Saeed, was married to his cousin, the daughter of his uncle Sheikh Zayed in Buraimi in 1963. He has a son named Tahnoun. Saeed's daughter, Fakhra is married to Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.[8] Sultan also had a son, Khalifa. [9] Their descendants continue to live in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. In addition to his two sons, Sheikh Shakhbut also had four daughters, Osha, Mozah, Qoot and Rawdha. Shakhbut's second wife was Mariam bint Rashid Al Otaiba.[9] They did not have children together.
After being deposed, Shakhbut and his family went into exile to Iran under his brother Zayed's orders. They resided in the Khuzestan province of Iran. They were hosted by Sheikh Abdulkarim Al-Faisali of the Banu Tamim tribe.
On 24 April 1966 King Hussein of Jordan awarded him the Nahda Order, then the highest Jordanian honour.[9]