Jesus guys, quick to judgement at all? You guys reveal your own ignorance. Perhaps you should read up on the guy before screaming down from your ivory towers with such judgement:
From the all-knowing oracle that is
Wikipedia:
His religious tolerance of Christians and the freedom given Western workers sojourning in the UAE was in marked contrast to most neighbors in the region and exposed him to criticism[/b]
Oh so look, he's an Arab friendly to the west. The evil bastard.
At the time the British withdrew from the Persian Gulf, Zayed oversaw the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Arab Economic Development; through it oil riches were channeled to some forty less fortunate Islamic nations in Asia and Africa during the decades that followed. He is also remembered as "the man who turned the desert green," because he invested oil revenues into projects to improve the harsh desert environment.[/b]
Wow, he's even helped the environment. Clearly he must be stopped.
Using the country's enormous oil revenues, Sheikh Zayed built up institutions such as hospitals, schools and universities and made it possible for UAE citizens to enjoy free access to them.[/b]
Free education and health care for its citizens, even though other Arab countries oppress their citizens and force them to live uneducated lives? Fucking nuke Dubai.
His tolerance towards other people and their faiths was evident, and he allowed the building of religious buildings such as churches and temples.[/b]
Whee, an Arab who is tolerant of other religions! He is clearly what is wrong with the world.
It does look like he was involved in some scandal through a bank he funded along with the CIA. So he's certainly not a lilly white angel or anything here. And he of course was criticized for his wealth:
Sheikh Zayed's critics point to the vast sums of the state's wealth that he accumulated for himself and his family. It was not his own wealth that he was distributing, but that of the nation's.[/b]
Sounds to me like an extremely interesting guy. I remember hearing of his death a couple years ago. Did he live a lavish lifestyle? Sure as hell looks that way. He's in Guiness for having the most expensive wedding ever. And obviously look at his home. But it looks like he did a hell of a lot of good with that money too. Either way, I don't think you guys should be so judgemental

.