Shakhbut bin Dhiyab was the Sheikh

Sheikh

Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...

 of Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...

 (1793–1816).

Shakbut's father, Dhiyab bin Isa

Dhiyab bin Isa

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa bin Nahayan was the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi and the founder of the Al Abu Falah dynasty, which still rules Abu Dhabi today....

, had sent a hunting party from Liwa

Liwa

*Liwa "Liwa" means "standard" or "banner" in Arabic.*Liwa *Liwa geography*Chad**Liwa in Mamdi Department*Oman**Liwa, Oman**Liwa Province, Oman *United Arab Emirates**Liwa Oasis *Poland...

 in 1761 which tracked a gazelle

Gazelle

A gazelle is any of many antelope species in the genus Gazella, or formerly considered to belong to it. Six species are included in two genera, Eudorcas and Nanger, which were formerly considered subgenera...

 to a brackish spring on the island. Dhiyab ordered Shakbut to move to the island in 1793; he did, and built a village and fort there. The fort, Al Husn, became the palace of the sheikhs. It housed the Centre for Documentation and Research for several years, and is now being developed into a museum.

He was followed by his sons Mohammed bin Shakhbut (ruled 1816-1818) Tahnun bin Shakhbut

Tahnun bin Shakhbut

Tahnun bin Shakhbut was Shaikh of Abu Dhabi from 1818-1833. He was killed in a coup....

 (ruled 1818-1833) Khalifa bin Shakhbut Al Nahayan (ruled 1833-1845), but co-ruled throughout all their reigns.