An evening dedicated to 'father Zayed'

Abu Dhabi - For a couple of hours on Sunday night (July 28), Abu Dhabi's National Theatre stage belonged to Emirates Business Women Council, which organised the Zayed and the Emirates Evening, a show dedicated to the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan.

The programme, a mix of entertainment and speeches, commemorated the ninth death anniversary of Shaikh Zayed, who passed away on the 19th day of the holy month of Ramadan in 2004.

A good part of the programme was covered by entertainment by children, who showed off some of their academic abilities and their love for “father Zayed”.

Quran recitation, verses dedicated to Shaikh Zayed by Emirati poet Rashid Sharar and music by two Emirati singers filled much of the evening.

A disabled boy from the Ability Centre for Special Needs said an “Al Fatiha” prayer and was helped off the stage by the guest of honour, Shaikh Diab bin Mohammed bin Zayed, the grandson of Shaikh Zayed. Speeches by representatives of Emirates Business Women Council and Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research praised UAE’s first leader, highlighting some of his greatest achievements.

“I think the most important development of Shaikh Zayed was the Emirati people. He made us who we are today, proud of being Emirati,” Fatima Obeid Al Jaber, chairwoman of the council, told Khaleej Times.

“I have many fond memories of Shaikh Zayed. I used to work for the government for a long time and I remember how Abu Dhabi used to be like and how it grew, thanks to Shaikh Zayed — the developments, the city’s infrastructure, building houses to provide best living conditions for the citizens,” she added. — silvia@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi
• Dubai
• Sharjah