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UAE: Sheikh Mohamed remembers 'legacy of Founding Father' on Zayed Humanitarian Day
The leader reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to honouring Sheikh Zayed and 'his enduring spirit of giving'
- PUBLISHED: Wed 19 Mar 2025, 10:39 AM
President Sheikh Mohamed said the nation's Founding Father continues to inspire and lead people to embrace values of generosity, social solidarity, and service to humanity.
On the occasion of Zayed Humanitarian Day, the UAE President remembered the humanitarian legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed.
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The leader reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to honouring Sheikh Zayed and "his enduring spirit of giving by extending a helping hand and working together to uplift communities around the world."
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Founding Father's visionary decisions
Countless leaders and residents have time and again invoked the revolutionary decisions of Sheikh Zayed, who led the country through a crucial time of evolution.
Zaki Nusseibeh, the first interpreter for the late leader, called the day he met Sheikh Zayed "an encounter with destiny."
With his vision of building UAE into a federation, the Founding Father headed the development of infrastructure in the country – building schools, hospitals, roads, he did it all. And he did it while thinking of his people, making sure that young nationals were a constant part of his development strategy.
The charismatic leader even considered not continuing as president in 1976. Sheikh Zayed said “there are too many disputes amongst us and if it is because of me, I will not renew my presidency, but I will continue to serve the federation," said Nusseibeh.
However, he continued to rule the Emirates, placing his love for humanity at the forefront of all his decisions, and ensuring that culture remained at the centre of his modernisation strategy.
While there was a need for infrastructure development, Sheikh Zayed realised that agricultural growth was also a priority. Greenery in the desert? Experts all predicted the failure of agriculture in the country, but the leader was not one to back down.
He recognised that to initiate change, he would have to lead by example. The late Founding Father took it upon himself to learn about the natural elements of the region, and directly offered guidance to the farmers on what to plant.
He also started the first mangrove plantation on Sir Bani Yas Island; mangroves now occupy 155 square kilometres of the UAE's coastline. After success in his efforts, he invited the experts who had predicted that agriculture would not work, who were then "surprised by what they saw", as mentioned in an earlier Khaleej Times report.
Love for humanity
The first UAE President once freed all prisoners with debts in one day, after encountering an Emirati woman who scratched his hand during the official opening of Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi in 2001.
The late President told the woman: 'You've scratched my hand.' The woman replied: "Your hands are only wounded, but it's my heart that hurts."
The President immediately instructed everyone to step back, and heard the woman's plea, after which he ordered that no one should be in jail by sunset.
The late Sheikh Zayed would also tour the country, speaking to people from all walks of life, from tourists to construction workers, and asking them if they were happy.
From paying for 3000 meals, to covering all-night hospital expenses for all patients, Sheikh Zayed's generosity knew no bounds, Saeed Falahi, one of the late Sheikh's companions recounted during a television interview last year.
Even when the Founding Father met with a road accident, he pardoned the other motorist involved, recognising that the right-of-way belonged to the taxi driver.
Father-son relationship
Sheikh Zayed was not just UAE's Founding Father, he was also a loving father and mentor to Sheikh Mohamed.
Last year, on the occasion of Father's Day, the UAE President shared a rare photo of his childhood memories with his father, where the two can be seen enjoying a moment in the waters.
