Peter Hellyer, my former boss and long time friend in the UAE passed away on 2 July 2023. My deepest condolences go out to his family and friends. He made an immense contribution to the UAE, a country he loved so much. I learnt a lot from him during the time we worked together for the Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS) from 1994 up until 2006. Peter you will be missed but not forgotten. Your legacy remains in the numerous publications and the fact that many of the well known archaeological sites discovered in Abu Dhabi were first brought to light by the work carried out by the ADIAS team are now preserved today as internationally important heritage sites.You can read some of the obituaries written about him on the following links:
The National – 2 July 2023
Peter Hellyer: Sheikh Mohamed leads tributes after chronicler of UAE’s past dies aged 75
WAM – Emirates News Agency – 3 July 2023
WAM mourns death of Emirati media veteran Peter Hellyer
وكالة أنباء الإمارات تعزي بوفاة الإعلامي الإماراتي بيتر هيلير
The National – 3 July 2023
Peter Hellyer – Author, columnist and historian who helped to tell the UAE’s story
Gulf News – 3 July 2023
UAE President mourns death of historian and author Peter Hellyer
Gulf News – 3 July 2023
Cultural, media community in UAE mourns death of noted historian Peter Hellyer
Khaleej Times – 3 July 2023
UAE historian Peter Hellyer passes away: From 1975 to 2023, how he played integral role in nation’s development
Khaleej Times – 3 July 2023
‘Model of dedication’: UAE President condoles death of historian Peter Hellyer
Khaleej Times – 3 July 2023
UAE: Legendary historian Peter Hellyer passes away; tributes pour in
Associated Press – 3 July 2023
Peter Hellyer, prolific writer who chronicled the UAE’s rise over nearly five decades, dies at 75
Al Ittihad – 3 July 2023
رئيس الدولة: بيتر هيلير خدم الإمارات بتفان وإخلاص على مدى عقود
وفاة الإعلامي الإماراتي بيتر هيلير
The National – 4 July 2023
With Peter Hellyer’s passing, we have lost a pillar of strength
The National – 4 July 2023
Peter Hellyer: The man I knew was dedicated to his craft and country
Khaleej Times – 4 July 2023
Peter Hellyer: Colleague, friend, family
Khaleej Times – 4 July 2023
Peter Hellyer: Memories of my mentor
Khaleej Times – 4 July 2023
Remembering Peter Hellyer, a mentor and colleague
Khaleej Times – 4 July 2023
UAE: Emirati historian Peter Hellyer buried in Abu Dhabi; hundreds including top ministers attend funeral
The National – 5 July 2023
Activist, historian and archaeologist of the West and Arab world: my father, Peter Hellyer
Gulf News – 6 July 2023
Peter Hellyer: A man who proved that East and West could meet
Peter Hellyer – Publications:
Here is a selection of just some of the publications he authored:
Peter Hellyer. 1992. Fujairah: An Arabian Jewel. Motivate Publishing, Dubai. ISBN 978 1 86063 139 9.
Peter Hellyer and Rosalind Buckton. 1998. Al Ain: Garden City of the Gulf. Motivate Publishing, Dubai. ISBN 978 1 86063 192 4.
Peter Hellyer. 1998. Filling in the Blanks: Recent Archaeological Discoveries in Abu Dhabi (Editorial Consultant: Dr. G.R.D. King).
Motivate Publishing , Dubai, UAE. for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). ISBN 1-8606-3-024-3.
Peter Hellyer. 1998. Waves of Time: The Maritime History of the United Arab Emirates. Trident Press, London.
Peter Hellyer.1999. Hidden Riches – An Archaeological Introduction to the United Arab Emirates. Union National Bank, Abu Dhabi.
Ibrahim Al-Abed and Peter Hellyer (eds.). 2001. The United Arab Emirates: A new perspective. Trident Press, UK.
Daniel T. Potts, Hassan Naboodah and Peter Hellyer (eds.). 2003. Archaeology of the United Arab Emirates: Proceedings of the First International Conference on the Archaeology of the UAE. Trident Press Ltd., London. ISBN 1900724-88-X – Hardback.
Simon Aspinall and Peter Hellyer (eds). 2004. Jebel Hafit: A Natural History. Emirates Natural History Group (ENHG). Sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO). ISBN 9948-03-143-1. 221 pages.
Mark Beech and Peter Hellyer (eds.). 2005. Abu Dhabi 8 Million Years Ago – Late Miocene Fossils from the Western Region. Abu Dhabi Islands Archaeological Survey (ADIAS): Dar Al Fajr Printing Press, Abu Dhabi, UAE. 68 pages; 73 figures, maps, plans, drawings, photographs. ISBN 9948-03-188-1.
Peter Hellyer and Simon Aspinall (eds.). 2005. The Emirates – A Natural History. ISBN 1-905486-02-2 – Hardback.
Peter Hellyer and Michele Ziolkowski (eds). 2005. Emirates Heritage Vol. 1 – Proceedings of the 1st Annual Symposium on Recent Palaeontological and Archaeological Discoveries in the Emirates, Al Ain. Zayed Centre for Heritage and History, Al Ain. ISBN 9948-06-130-6. 139 pages.
Mark Beech, Peter Hellyer, Andrew Gardner, Brien Holmes and Walid Yasin Al-Tikriti. 2007. Palaeontological and Archaeological Resources in Abu Dhabi Emirate. Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) & Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD). 57 pages.
Daniel Potts and Peter Hellyer (eds.). 2012. Fifty years of Emirates Archaeology. Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development. Motivate Publishing, London.
Peter Magee, Peter Hellyer and Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak. 2019. The Emirates: Our History. Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi.