He was the grandfather and namesake of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, founder of the United Arab Emirates.

He was made Ruler of Abu Dhabi after the deposition of his cousin, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnun, in 1855.

This left the forts defending the Buraimi Oasis in permanent control of Abu Dhabi and forced the Saudis to abandon their designs on Oman.

Following several of these skirmishes was the Battle of Khannour from January to February 1889, in which Jassim's forces penetrated deep into Abu Dhabi territory.

This being upheld, to the annoyance of Zayed who had seen Al Zorah as an extension of his claim to the Northern coast, the scheme was abandoned and the decision to block it was subsequently upheld after a visit to Al Zorah by Major Percy Cox, the British Political Resident.

[14] In 1892, Zayed signed a treaty with the United Kingdom which effectively ceded control of Abu Dhabi's international commercial relations to the British.