The late Sir Wilfred Thesiger

A British explorer who famously lived with the Bedouins for five years, the late Sir Wilfred Thesiger photographed and told the story of Abu Dhabi and its people during the pre-oil era of the mid 20th century. In spite of cultural differences and difficult living conditions, Thesiger lived the life of a true Bedouin to experience the culture first hand, and was embraced as an equal. Known by the locals as Mubarak bin Landan, his writings give a unique account of the life of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the sheikhs and tribes of Abu Dhabi, and the history of a time that would have otherwise been lost. Over the years he photographed an incredible 35,000 images of Abu Dhabi and the surrounding areas, including those of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Thesiger crossed the Empty Quarter twice in his life, in 1946 and 1948. Thesiger’s celebrated works include: Crossing the Sands (Dedicated to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan), The Life of the Great Explorer, My Life and Travels, Arabian Sands, and The Last Nomad.