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UAE leaders celebrate Sheikh Zayed's vision on Founding Father's 60th Accession Day
Sheikh Mohamed said this historic milestone marked the beginning of our nation's comprehensive development journey
- PUBLISHED: Thu 6 Aug 2026, 9:21 AM UPDATED: Thu 6 Aug 2026, 2:11 PM
August 6 marks a historic day in the journey of UAE as a nation. It is the day the UAE's Founding Father, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, assumed the leadership of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi — a landmark moment that transformed the course of the nation's history.
On the 60th anniversary of this momentous occasion, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan celebrated the Founding Father's legacy.
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"Today marks the 60th anniversary of the accession of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed, as Ruler of Abu Dhabi on 6 August 1966. On this historic milestone, we recall the beginnings that nurtured our collective journey of progress and laid the foundations of the Union," Sheikh Mohamed said in a post on X.
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"Inspired by Sheikh Zayed’s leadership and vision, we will continue to advance his enduring belief that people must always be placed at the heart of efforts to build a sustainable and prosperous future for our nation," he added.
After Sheikh Zayed's Accession, the UAE's development journey began to take shape, with the Union forming shortly after on December 2, 1971, under his leadership.
Sheikh Zayed succeeded in achieving his people's aspirations for unity and stability. As a result of his exceptional leadership, the UAE was able to make great strides in its development journey.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, in his post remembering Sheikh Zayed, wrote, "Life has taught me that Sheikh Zayed was not merely a leader or a statesman — he was a profound idea."
"There are great leaders who build nations, and there are great thinkers and reformers who shape people. Sheikh Zayed did both. He built a nation, nurtured its people, and forged a deep and enduring bond between the people and their homeland. Sheikh Zayed will forever remain immortal in the memory of the nation and in the hearts of its people," he added.
UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan too paid tribute to the Founding Father in a social media post.
"Six decades ago, a remarkable journey began in Abu Dhabi under the leadership of a man who believed that the future is built through determination and hard work, and that people are a nation's greatest investment.
On the anniversary of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, assuming the leadership of Abu Dhabi, we reflect on a national legacy that sparked a continuous journey of progress and established enduring values that will continue to guide the UAE's path for generations to come," he wrote.
Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to UAE President, also commemorated Sheikh Zayed's accession day, remembering him as an inspiring leader.
"The UAE's journey is marked by many defining milestones, with August 6 standing among the most significant. It commemorates the day Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, assumed the leadership of Abu Dhabi. From the determination and vision of a remarkable leader emerged a blessed renaissance and a successful, inspiring development model that has become an example for others to follow," he wrote in a post on X.
"This anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on a legacy of generosity, progress, and visionary leadership that laid the foundations of the Union and shaped the future of the UAE," he added.
The Zayed National Museum shared a rare photo of Sheikh Zayed addressing the people shortly after assuming leadership, terming it a "defining moment that reflected the clarity of his vision and the principles that would underpin the UAE's progress and prosperity."
"His leadership set the course for the remarkable achievements and development that the UAE continues to witness today," they added.
