26 Vol. 19/18, May 2018
XXXXXXX FEATURE
S THE PEOPLE OF THE
UAE mark a century
since the birth of the
Father of the Nation,
Sheikh Zayed Bin
Sultan Al Nahyan, we at Arabian
Business have reached out to
members of the local business
community – Emiratis and expats
alike – to hear their thoughts and
recollections of Sheikh Zayed.
The tributes, which come from
a diverse group of people ranging
from government ministers and
entrepreneurs to scientists and
police officers, reveal that Sheikh
Zayed’s legacy – as a visionary
leader, a mentor to the nation
and, perhaps most importantly,
as a human being – continue toshape the daily lives of the UAE’s
residents, who enjoy life in a toler-
ant, stable, modern and forward
thinking country that he spent his
life moulding into what it is today.
May 6 would have been his
100th birthday, and the century
that has passed has been a trans-
formative one for the nation,
at speeds and in directions that
are unparalleled around the
world. In addition to the recollec-
tions from today’s residents and
nationals, we also look back at his
major milestones on this remark-
able journey. As Sheikh Zayed
himself said, “He who does not
know his past cannot make the
best of his present and future, for
it is from the past that we learn.”A
(^19181946)
Sheikh Zayed is appointed as
Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain.
He establishes his family home
and offi cial diwan at Qasr
Al Muwaiji.
1953
Sheikh Zayed travels abroad for the
fi rst time, visiting France, the UK and
the US, a trip that inspires his desire
to develop the Gulf – particularly in
the realms of healthcare
and education.
1948
Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
Sheikh Zayed’s eldest son, is born
on January 7 in Al Ain. Today he is
President of the UAE, Emir of Abu
Dhabi and the Supreme Commander
of the Union Defence Force.
Sheikh Zayed was born on May 6,
the youngest son of Sheikh Sultan
Bin Zayed Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan.
He was named after Sheikh Zayed
Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, who ruled
the emirate from 1855 to 1909.
A remarkable
century
This week marks what would have been
Sheikh Zayed’s 100th birthday, an ideal
moment to celebrate his achievements
FEATURE SHEIKH ZAYED