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   The simple life that people in the gulf had prior to the oil era – mainly in the thirties and forties of last century - did not deter several persons from achieving fame in various fields, including literature, trade and science. The will of man was the only motive that brought a certain degree of prosperity to the society. Pearl industry, and some dignitaries played an essential role in establishing schools, inspired by the emergence of a reform movement and supported by some Arab leaders and intellectuals.

   The only form of education in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was concentrated in Kuttabs, which flourished in mosques and taught its students some reading and writing through reciting the Holy Quran. Khalaf Bin Abdulla Al Otaiba was a famous peal merchant, but he will be mostly remembered because he opened the first semi-official school in Abu Dhabi .

   Khalaf was born in 1840, and at the age of 60, he became a famous and wealthy pearl merchant (Tawwash), in addition to being the sheikh of his tribe, Al Otaibat. It was a branch of Al Marar tribe, which in turn was one of the four major allies that composed Bani Yas. It is noteworthy that Bani Yas is the tribe of Al Nahyan, Rulers of Abu Dhabi, as well as Al Maktoum (or Al Bu Falasa), Rulers of Dubai.

   Khalaf Bin Abdulla Al Otaiba had very close relation with other famous dignitaries, such as Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Al Mahmoud, Ahmed Bin Dalmouk, Salem Bin Mussabah Bin Hamoudah. He was also a friend of Emir Abdulla Bin Jelwi, Prince of the Eastern Zone in Saudi Arabia and used to visit him frequently in Al Ahsa’a that witnessed at that time a significant progress in the field of education. Many students from the Trucial States (presently UAE), Oman and other Gulf areas used to come to Ahsa’a to attend schools there.

   The fame of Gulf pearls was one of the main attractions of the region. By the beginning of the 20th century huge fleets of pearl vessels set out to sea each year. Abu Dhabi had 410 pearling boats (mostly Sambuka type boats), Sharjah 360, Dubai 335, Umm Al Qaiwin 70, Ras Al Khaimah 56 and Ajman 40.

   Pearls continued to be a mainstay of the emirate's prosperity until the 1940s when the development of cultured pearls suddenly led to a collapse in demand for the natural product.
The pearl trade accounted for 95% of the national income, with pearl divers making up about 85% of Abu Dhabi ’s male residents. Most of the pearls were then transported to the Port of Bombay where a huge market throughout India awaited them. In all, some 80,000 men were earning their living from the pearling business.

   Pearling was mostly done in two times in the year, when it was cold and in the summer.   The divers wore a clip on their nose made from the shell of a turtle and a special cotton suit so the jellyfish wouldn't sting them. They also wore leather covers on their fingers so the sharp oyster shells would not cut them.  A basket was hung around their neck to put the oysters in.  The divers would go to dive using a stone tied to their foot.  The pearling trip usually lasts about 4 months, during which the boat would come back only to re-stock with supplies.

   The richest pearl oyster fisheries in the Arabian Gulf were concentrated between Qatar and Abu Dhabi shores. This made Delma Island a major supply center for pearl boats that would get stocked with supplies there, and then head to fisheries along the coast. This actually helped Abu Dhabi to thrive, and eventually attracted Bani Yas Alliance tribes to move from Liwa to Abu Dhabi .

   Khalaf Bin Abdulla Al Otaiba started as a diver when he was only fifteen years old, with Nokhatha (Captain) Mohammed Bin Ghanem Bin Ghanoum. After a short training period he moved to the boat of his uncle, Mohammed Bin Otaiba, where he acquired all the necessary skills that eventually qualified him to become a Nokhatha himself, of one of his uncle’s boats.

   That period was quite important in his life, according to his son, Rashid Bin Khalaf, as it broadened his knowledge of the secrets of the trade and strengthened his relations with the pearl merchants. He was too ambitious to spend his life working as a hired hand, even to his uncle. When he saved enough money, he bought his own vessel, and started to trade in pearls. His fairness and honesty earned him a brilliant rank among his colleagues, and in a short period, his one vessel venture developed into a fleet of 20 Sambukas. At the same time, he used to finance every seasons more than 100 pearling boats that belonged to other merchants, from Abu Dhabi & Dubai . One time, he financed more than 300 boats in one season.

   Khalaf also established a large store for diving equipment, tools and food supplies on the coast. This store was at that time one of the major supply venues for boat owners, as well as the people living in Abu Dhabi . He used to import foodstuff, such as rice, sugar, coffee, oils from India , and dates from Basra . In addition to that, he provided suitable accommodation to more than 500 of his relatives and aides, with their families close the houses of the Otaibat Tribe in Abu Dhabi.

   One of the reasons that made him such a popular figure was his generosity. He used to distribute supplies to the needy free, extend handsome loans in the form of supplies to the owners of boats that required extended repairs or maintenance, and many times forgetting about re-payment. He could, however, afford to do that. His trading activities were so prosperous that it is said that in one deal for the sale of a good catch of pearls, he received 18 Laakh (a laakh is 100,000) all in coins that filled 900 money sacs.

   By then, Khalaf Bin Abdulla Al Otaiba became quite famous all over the Gulf coats. He held dealings with other famous merchants, such as Shaikh Jassem Bin Hamad Al Thani, one of the most prominent pearl merchants in the region and other famous merchants in Bahrain .

   The man believed that his wealth should be properly invested to serve his country and community. Thus he undertook to build several mosques and schools, and to finance different educational projects wherever the need arose.

   His son, Rashid, recalls that Khalaf built the first mosque in Abu Dhabi, named after him. Then he built another smaller mosque, close to the Clock Roundabout in Au Dhabi, and several others. He provided mosques with well-educated Imams.

   His Majlises were well-known to guests to Abu Dhabi inhabitants as well as to visitors. One Majlis called (Bu Barjeel) earned a wide fame among Bedwins visiting the town. He also had another famous majlis in Al Ain, called al Sabil.

   Khalaf Al Otaiba established the first school in Abu Dhabi some time between 1921-1930. It was named after him, and offered free education to whoever wished to join it. It consisted of four rooms built with palm fronds and was surrounded by a fence made of fronds as well. He hired teachers for the schools from neighbouring areas, paid their salaries and provided them with accommodation and food.

   The school continued to serve the community for three decades, and was closed down after the natural pearls lost their competition with cultured pearls. It accepted only boys and taught them mainly religious lessons. At that time, it played a vital role in the advancement of the society, as several prominent figures graduated from Khalaf Bin Abdulla Al Otaiba School. Among the graduates were Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Ghanoum, Shaikh Mijrin and Sultan Bin Yousef.

   Great men will be remembered only through their deeds, long after they were gone. Khalaf Bin Abdulla Al Otaiba had died approximately six decades ago, but he will be always thought of as the far-sighted man who found the proper way to serve his country and community, and used all his means to realize his vision.