I was teaching engineering courses in Abu Dhabi. Near the end of the 4 month class, an advisor was passing out the student’s passports which he had collected to get visas for a work-related trip the students were taking. I had never seen an Emirati passport and ask Ali if I could see his.

On the first page where the photo, name, and number is located the passport stated “Member of the Royal Family”. He was a Prince, but to me and all of his fellow students he was Ali.