The late
Sheikh Zayed was appointed as the representative of the Emirate's Ruler in the
Eastern Region in 1946. Immediately after his appointment, he immersed himself in government affairs in
Al Ain City, the region's administrative seat.
Within two years he was considered a powerful figure in the region, characterized by his strong will and determination to reform. In addition, he became well-known for his skills as a listener and effective dispute mediator, which earned him the greatest respect of those around him. These were the traits which he later became internationally recognized for.
In
August 1966, Sheikh Zayed acceded to the position of Ruler of the
Emirate of Abu Dhabi, a position which reflected the trust and respect he had gained following his success at initiating the development of Al Ain City during the
1950s despite meager resources. He then set the Emirate on its path of sustainable growth and development that has today become the gold standard for the entire region.
Sheikh Zayed is credited with pushing rising oil revenues into a substantial development drive to benefit all those living under his rule, as well as, establishing a new governmental structure that laid the foundations for the Emirate and the country today.
In
1971, the late Sheikh Zayed, working alongside the late
Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the then
Ruler of Dubai, pioneered the efforts that led to the
UAE's establishment in
December 1971, which politically consolidated the nascent nation in difficult circumstances. As an acknowledgement of his leadership, sagacity and his efforts, the late Sheikh Zayed was unanimously elected by his fellow Rulers of the Emirates to become the first
President of the UAE, a title which earned him the local and enduring moniker of '
Father of the Nation'.
Sheikh Zayed was a man who understood that in order to build harmony, cohesion and solidarity among his people, he first needed to build their trust via constructive and personal interaction. He enjoyed getting out and meeting the local community, and was considered as a man of the people. He tasked his government with building capabilities in health, education and social welfare, seeing all UAE citizens as instrumental to the nation's collective success. This philosophy remains evident across the country today.
Economically, the late Sheikh Zayed successfully invested oil revenues in building a strong
and cohesive economy, ranking the UAE among the region's most economically developed countries.
Thanks to his vision, the UAE is now the
GCC's second biggest economy after , the third largest in the
Middle East and, according to many prestigious international reports, the most important financial and economic centre in the region. This is reflected in the standards of living of its citizens.
Internationally, the late Sheikh Zayed laid the foundations of a foreign policy, which is characterized by wisdom, moderation, balance, support for truth and justice, and maintaining a language of dialogue and understanding. This balanced foreign policy has become a hallmark of the UAE, both regionally and internationally. Sheikh Zayed was held in high regard by all
Arab leaders, enabling him to act as a mediator on more than one occasion. He has also earned a reputation as an international humanitarian and philanthropist, supporting a number of causes
across the world and again setting an enduring legacy.
Sheikh Zayed passed away on
November 2, 2004.
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, the then
Crown Prince of
Abu Dhabi and the eldest son of Sheikh Zayed, succeeded him to the Presidency of the UAE and Rulership of Abu Dhabi, while His Highness
General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, another of Sheikh Zayed's sons, was appointed the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Under their leadership and direction, both guided by their father's values, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi has continued to prosper.
- published: 09 Jul 2014
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