SimplyAbuDhabi XLV

The official event took place at Jebel Hafeet National Park and featured a 40-minute show combining live storytelling, music, and visuals. This performance highlighted Sheikh Zayed’s journey, from his youth in Al Ain—where he revitalized its aflaj irrigation systems—to his leadership as the UAE’s Founding Father. The program emphasized the UAE’s heritage and sustainability, themes central to Sheikh Zayed’s vision. The celebrations were not limited to Al Ain, however. Across the UAE, traditional performances, cultural workshops, and family-oriented activities complemented the official ceremony. Al Ain’s event was also live- streamed, ensuring widespread accessibility and allowing people nationwide to participate in honouring Sheikh Zayed’s legacy. The ongoing Sheikh Zayed Festival in Abu Dhabi, an expansive cultural event celebrating Emirati traditions and global cultures, also played a role in honouring his vision. With over 6,000 cultural activities, it highlighted aspects of UAE heritage that Sheikh Zayed championed, including folklore, crafts, and international collaborations. Various artistic performances during these events tied Sheikh Zayed’s achievements to the UAE’s broader story of transformation, blending heritage and modernity. The shows used state-of-the-art technology to narrate the UAE’s development, including its embrace of innovation and sustainability. Early Life and Formative Years Born in 1918 in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was the youngest of four sons born to Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the 14th ruler of the Al Nahyan family. He was named for his esteemed grandfather, Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa, also known as Zayed the Great, who from 1855 to 1909 was the governor of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi Even as a member of the ruling dynasty, young Zayed’s early life was marked by the harsh realities of the region’s sparse resources and underdeveloped economy. At the time of Sheikh Zayed’s birth, Abu Dhabi remained a poor and largely undeveloped territory, with the majority of its inhabitants relying on fishing, pearl diving, and limited agriculture to sustain their families. Transportation was limited to camels and boats, and formal education was a rarity, available only to the privileged few. Despite these challenges, Sheikh Zayed’s upbringing instilled in him a deep appreciation for the Bedouin way of life, the cultural traditions of the Arab world, and the spiritual guidance of Islam. As a child, he spent considerable time in the majlis, or private meeting rooms, of his father’s palace, where he absorbed the wisdom and counsel of respected elders. Here, he developed an early understanding of the region’s complex political dynamics and the importance of consensus-building among disparate tribes. Alongside his formal religious studies, the young Sheikh Zayed also cultivated a profound love for the natural environment, immersing himself in the vast Arabian Desert and mastering skills such as hunting, falconry, and horseback riding. These formative experiences in the rugged desert landscape would later shape his unwavering commitment to environmental preservation and sustainable development. Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain In 1946, at the age of 28, Sheikh Zayed was appointed as the Ruler’s Representative in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi, overseeing the administration of six villages and the surrounding desert oasis of Al Ain. This pivotal role marked the beginning of his distinguished political career and the realization of his vision for transforming the lives of his people. Despite the limited resources at his disposal, Sheikh Zayed wasted no time in implementing a comprehensive development plan for Al Ain. He personally funded the construction of the emirate’s first modern school, the Al Nahyan School, in 1959, and rallied his family and community members to contribute towards infrastructure improvements and social services. 58 | Simply Abu Dhabi