Simply Abu Dhabi XXIX

5 0 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I The aim behind the programme is to create greater awareness of the life and achievements of Sheikh Zayed for local, regional and international audiences alike, and raise his profile to that of one of the world’s most significant and inspirational leaders. What’s more, the Year of Zayed is intended to reinforce Sheikh Zayed’s standing as an eternal source of national pride and a powerful symbol of the UAE around the world. For an entire year, the UAE will celebrate and honour the legacy of its founder, through projects and initiatives that are consistent with his vision and values. The importance of the role Sheikh Zayed played in creating the UAE as we know it today cannot be understated. Simply put, there is no aspect of life in the country that doesn’t derive in some way from his wisdom and values. As a spiritual inspiration and the visionary leader of a new country, Sheikh Zayed was a man of peace, wisdom, and courage, whose legacy will live for generations to come. In order to truly understand the United Arab Emirates, we must first understand more about its beloved Founding Father. The young scholar and sportsman Sheikh Zayed was born in 1918, the fourth and youngest son of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed bin Khalifa, the 14th ruler of the Al Nahyan family. He was named after his grandfather, known as The Great Zayed, the governor of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi from 1855 to 1909. When the young Sheikh was four years of age, his father became the ruler of the Emirate Abu Dhabi. Like Sheikh Zayed, his father was a champion of tolerance, building strong relationships with other Arab nations during his reign, which ended in 1926; he passed on when Sheikh Zayed was only nine. However, he left for his son a lasting legacy: the rare ability to unite people in the spirit of peace and mutual prosperity. Background Photography:MuhammadAbuBakar, ACCA