Sheikh Humaid bin Abdullah Al Qasimi was Ruler of

Ras Al Khaimah Ras Al Khaimah (; ), often referred to its initials RAK, is the largest city and capital of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the U.A.E. The city had a population of 191,753 in 2025, and is the sixth-most populous city in UAE after Dubai, Abu ...

from 1869 to 1900. He survived an attempt to unseat him by the Ruler of

Sharjah Sharjah (; ', Gulf Arabic: ''aš-Šārja'') is the List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, third-most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, after Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is the capital of the Emirate of Sharjah and forms part of the D ...

, with whom he later allied. He re-united Ras Al Khaimah with its secessionist dependencies.

Accession

On the accession of Salim bin Sultan Al Qasimi as Ruler of Sharjah in 1868, following the death of his brother Khalid bin Sultan, Salim's nephew, Humaid bin Abdullah, assumed the role of ''

wali The term ''wali'' is most commonly used by Muslims to refer to a saint, or literally a "friend of God".John Renard, ''Friends of God: Islamic Images of Piety, Commitment, and Servanthood'' (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008); John ...

'' of

. In the following year he proclaimed independence from Sharjah. The machinations of the Saudi Agent resulted in an attempt to establish Humaid as Ruler of Sharjah, but this attempt ultimately failed, resulting in violence in Sharjah and the death of the gentleman concerned.

Coup attempt

In May 1869, Salim bin Sultan and his brother Ibrahim moved together against Humaid bin Abdullah with the intention of establishing Ibrahim as Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, landing 1,500 men from 32 boats. Humaid was supported by a force of some 500 men landed from Umm Al Qawain and fighting took place both at Jazirat Al Hamrah and in Ras Al Khaimah town. The

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

Resident, Colonel

Lewis Pelly Lieutenant General Sir Lewis Pelly (14 November 1825 – 22 April 1892) was a British East India Company officer, and then an imperial army and political officer. At the end of his life, he was a Conservative Member of Parliament for Hackney N ...

, on hearing of this breach of the maritime truce (the embarkation of troops in an act of war by sea breached the treaty) sailed from Lingeh in the ''Dalhousie'' with the gunboat ''Hugh Rose''. Arriving at Ras Al Khaimah on 12 May, Pelly then ordered Salim and Ibrahim to withdraw their forces from Ras Al Khaimah by sunset the next day. Alliances shifted quickly, however, and in 1871 Humaid bin Abdullah, together with the Ruler of Umm Al Qawain, supported Salim bin Sultan when he took advantage of Ibrahim's absence on a journey to

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most popu ...

and cemented his ascendancy by retaking total control of Sharjah. At the same time, Humaid bin Abdullah retook the dependencies of

Sha'am Sha'am is a village in Northern Ras Al Khaimah Ras Al Khaimah (; ), often referred to its initials RAK, is the largest city and capital of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the U.A.E. The city had a population of 191,753 in 2025, and is the ...

Rams In engineering, reliability, availability, maintainability and safety (RAMS)Shimal, which had managed to secede from his rule. An attempt by Sha'am to secede in 1885 resulted in Humaid extracting a fine of 1600 Marie Theresa Dollars. He died in 1900, his death resulting in the Ruler of Sharjah, Saqr bin Khalid Al Qasimi, taking over Ras Al Khaimah that same year.

References

{{Rulers of Ras Al Khaimah House of Al Qasimi 19th-century monarchs in Asia Sheikhs of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah 19th-century Arab people