In Sharjah, an Emirati man named Saeed Musbah Al Ketbi lives under one roof with his four wives and a family of 144 children and grandchildren — a household bound by love, discipline, and deep-rooted Emirati traditions.
Al Ketbi, a researcher and storyteller of national heritage, has spent years teaching his children the authentic Emirati values of respect, generosity, and loyalty. He says:
“I raised my children according to the noble principles of our society, and today they pass those same values on to their own children. This is our way of life — Al-Sunna Al-Emiratiya.”
The 78-year-old proudly says:
“My four wives live together peacefully. Justice brings harmony, not harshness.”
His home in the Umm Faneen area has now become a family village, where his children and grandchildren gather every week to learn lessons of patience, hospitality, and life from him.
Having served many years in the army, Al Ketbi has instilled military discipline and order into his family life. With a smile, he adds:
“My daughter Salma is a prominent lawyer, and my sons serve in the army, police, and government. Their success is the result of the patience and upbringing they learned from me.”
Today, Al Ketbi continues to preserve Emirati heritage through social media, where he shares stories about Arabic coffee traditions, Bedouin life, and authentic cultural values.
Last September, Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, honored him as one of the distinguished traditional storytellers at the Sharjah International Narrators Forum.
Al Ketbi has performed Hajj 41 times and Umrah 129 times, saying:
“Each journey is for the heart, not the body — a lesson in gratitude and contentment.”
