Fahd's legacy receives wide acclaim

The death of King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia has cast a shadow over the lives of Dubai residents whether they are Arabs, Westerners or Asians.

People have described King Fahd as a leader of the Arab world who turned Saudi Arabia into one of the world's most prosperous nations.

UAE national Juma Isamil, 38, a government employee, said he was sad at the death of "a great leader."

"He controlled the country well and he was very much respected in the Arab world. He was someone the other countries in the GCC were able to follow," he said.

Indian general manager V.J. Shenoy, was also impressed by the way King Fahd ruled after he assumed the Saudi Arabian throne in 1982.

"I think he achieved a lot. He had some good liberal policies," he said.

Housewife Hassa Mohammad, 50, a UAE national, described King Fahd as "a very kind man."

"I am very sad. He helped the whole of the Arab world and I liked him a lot. He was a good friend of the UAE," she told Gulf News.

Praise also came from Babli Nag, 49, an Indian housewife, who said King Fahd had helped to ensure Saudi Arabia was "a very prosperous kingdom."

"He was a progressive man and he educated women, which is a good thing. I am sad to hear he died, it is always sad when someone passes away, however old or young they are," she said.

There were fewer people sadder than Abdul Salam Al Qudaimi, a 45-year-old Saudi national, who said there were a string of achievements King Fahd would be remembered for.

"One of the major things was his participation in the liberation of Kuwait along with the improvements he created in the Saudi economy and the education system.

"Although we knew he was sick, it's always a shock when the leader of your country dies. It is similar for us as it was for the people of the UAE when Shaikh Zayed died," he said.

Valerie Wood, a British national who has lived in the Middle East for the past 50 years, said King Fahd would be remembered as a towering figure in the Muslim world.

"As the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques he made a big impression on most Muslims and he was a figurehead for the Muslim world. The whole of the Arab world will be in mourning now that he has died.

"He was in power for a long time so he was one of those figures, like Shaikh Zayed, who was always there. It will be strange for him not to be there any more," she said.

King Fahd's role as a leader of the Muslim world was also highlighted by Khalid Abdullah Al Quabandi, 70, a Kuwaiti who was on a visit to Dubai when he spoke to Gulf News.

"He was a great man a leader for Islam. He was also very, very important because Saudi Arabia leads the oil-producing countries. He will be remembered for many things, including helping the poor and those in need, including people in Africa," he said.

King Fahd helped to transform Saudi Arabia, according to Mark Filby, 31, an insurance broker from South Africa.

"He turned Saudi Arabia into one of the richest countries in the world. While he was King, many of the Arab nations went from being trading posts to the multi-billionaire countries at present. He will be remembered as a very significant figure," he said.

Mike Mutch, 41, from England, who regularly travels to Saudi Arabia, was also full of praise for the late king.

"Saudi Arabia is a great country and King Fahd was a great leader. He was a very proud family man. Under him, Saudi Arabia was very much a land of opportunity," he said.

Essam Al Beer, 49, an Iraqi who owns a company in the UAE, said King Fahd's death was a great loss for the entire Gulf people.

"He managed to achieve unity of the Gulf, and just as Shaikh Zayed created the UAE, King Fahd is considered to be the founder of the new Saudi Arabia.

"As well as the growth and prosperity he gave to Saudi Arabia and the Saudi people, he helped lots of poor countries financially and morally," he said.

Nasma Ahmad, a 35-year-old Egyptian, was very sad after hearing of the death of King Fahd.

"He was a very religious man and loved Islam. What I liked most about him was his role as Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. He provided Muslims coming for Haj to Saudi Arabia with lots of facilities. God have mercy on his soul," she said.

Khalid Abdul Kader, a 24-year-old Jordanian, said all the Arabs were grieving for King Fahd.

"He had a long history in supporting his fellow Arabs by the good deeds he did for them and the Islamic nations. He helped people in Palestine and Afghanistan and other countries. He made Saudi Arabia the destination for all Arabs," he said.

Rahul Mishra, 29, a project manager from India, said he had lots of respect for King Fahd and felt very sad to hear of his death.

"He gave a lot to his country. He made Riyadh a metropolis, he brought progress to the country."