Simply Abu Dhabi XXIX

4 7 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I T his year marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, forever remembered as the founding father of the United Arab Emirates. In honour of this historic national milestone, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, has declared 2018 to be the Year of Zayed. A series of celebratory and educational events are planned, within the UAE and internationally, to honour the man to whom we all owe so much. In this special Simply Abu Dhabi feature, we’ll share information about the Year of Zayed, and tell you more about this great man: his life, his values, and his legacy. One of Sheikh Zayed’s greatest lessons was about the importance of cross-cultural education as a means to achieve peace and understanding. We hope that in our own way, by telling the story of this remarkable leader, we can help inform and inspire readers to learn more about him and the history of the UAE. Nowmore than ever, it seems, tolerance and mutual understanding are virtues that must be nourished and encouraged if we are to prosper together in peace. There’s no doubting that the lessons of Sheikh Zayed are more relevant to the world than ever before. The Year of Zayed 2018 will celebrate the life, values and achievements of the late Sheikh Zayed as an inspirational world leader, and encourage future generations to honour his legacy and fulfil his vision of prosperity, tolerance and peace. The scheduled events are being coordinated by the Founder’s Office and Local Committees for the Year of Zayed established in each Emirate, all under the guidance of the Higher National Committee for the Year of Zayed. Background Photography:MuhammadAbuBakar, ACCA