Peter Hellyer, a British author who dedicated nearly five decades to documenting the history, environment, and modernization of the United Arab Emirates, has passed away at the age of 75. Local news sources reported his peaceful passing on Monday.
Hellyer, who became a UAE citizen and received the nation's highest civilian honor, played a crucial role in establishing the state-run WAM news agency and its English-language service. His contributions extended to archaeology, where he helped create a group that unearthed numerous significant historical sites.
UAE Culture Minister Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi paid tribute to Hellyer on Twitter, stating, "(Hellyer’s) dedication to this nation and its people will continue to inspire us to preserve our environment, monuments, and history."
Hellyer's journey in the UAE began in 1975 when he arrived to film a documentary about Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding president of the federation. He remained in the country, witnessing its remarkable evolution from a sparsely populated desert region into a modern hub of tourism and commerce, featuring the iconic cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and boasting the world's tallest skyscraper.
His written works encompassed numerous articles and books detailing the UAE's progress, including an official history of the country's crucial oil industry and a comprehensive maritime history of the Gulf nation. Alongside the late Palestinian journalist Ibrahim al-Abed, he co-founded WAM and subsequently held the position of director of external information and research at the National Media Council.
From 1991 to 2006, Hellyer co-founded and directed the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeology Survey, contributing to several discoveries that illuminated the history of the Persian Gulf. Among these was a 1,400-year-old Christian monastery found on Sir Bani Yas Island.
A passionate advocate for the UAE's desert ecosystem, Hellyer chaired the Emirates Natural History Group in the early 1990s, launched its journal, Tribulus, and served as its long-time editor. He also founded a local birdwatching society.
In recognition of his contributions, Hellyer was honored with the Abu Dhabi Medal in 2013, the nation's highest civilian award. He was described as a "self-taught polymath" whose "commitment to this land and its people is evident in his dedication to preserving the country’s delicate ecosystems and history amidst rapid development."
Hellyer continued to share his insights on the UAE through regular columns for The National, an English-language newspaper he advised in its early stages. The National was among the media outlets that reported his passing.
Mina Al-Oraibi, editor-in-chief of The National, emphasized Hellyer's invaluable contribution to documenting the UAE's history, stating, "Peter’s significant role in recording the UAE’s past and present cannot be overstated."
In his final column for The National, published in December 2022, Hellyer expressed his awe at what he termed a "golden year" for UAE archaeology, highlighting the discovery of artifacts predating Homo sapiens. He concluded with the prescient observation, "Most exciting of all? There’s still much more to learn about the history of this land."
