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Remembering Sheikh Zayed, the father of the nation

The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was President of the UAE and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi for 33 years, was the man who turned the desert green. He was a visionary leader who strived hard not only for the good of his country but for the entire region. He was a statesman par excellence who will be best remembered for his leadership role in forming the UAE with seven states. He was an epic figure who loved his citizens like his children and did whatever was required for their welfare. As ruler of Abu Dhabi - the largest and richest of the seven emirates due to its large oil reserves - Sheikh Zayed made sure all the other emirates enjoyed unity and independence. He put oil wealth to best use and establish a modern and state-of-the-art infrastructure for the country. Roads were built connecting the seven emirates. He also invested in healthcare and brought health services in all emirates under the UAE health ministry. He also realised the importance of education and encouraged the starting of educational institutions.
Al Ain university is the best gift of Sheikh Zayed to the people of the UAE. Here, students from all over the UAE receive world class education for free. The city is very close to Sheikh Zayed's heart and he worked towards beautifying that place. Today we see sustainable development and prosperity in the country due to the foundation laid by Sheikh Zayed. Both Emiratis and expatriates in the UAE looked up to him as a father figure.
Sheikh Zayed has left a rich legacy which is visible in the modern and stable country the UAE is.
Ramesh G Jethwani, India