UAE
THE FOUNDING FATHER
As the UAE marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of its founder and first president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, we distinguish between Zayed the man and Zayed the leader, whose achievements are already a matter of legend WORDS: Peter Hellyer
IMAGE: Genevieve Chauvel
54.3773° E
24.4539° N
ABU DHABI
As the United Arab Emirates celebrates the Year of Zayed, marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of its founder and first president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan; the country’s citizens, residents and visitors are able to look around and see the remarkable modern state it has become. Much has been achieved in the decades since the country was established in 1971, with the UAE now ranking high on a whole range of indices, from development to the happiness of its people. Although Sheikh Zayed – popularly known as ‘Baba Zayed’ (Daddy Zayed) or the ‘Father of the Nation’ – died 14 years ago, in late 2004, he is still recognised as the man primarily responsible for building the country as we know it today. With the passing of time, however, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish between Zayed the man and Zayed the leader whose achievements are now legendary. He himself never claimed that any achievements were all his own. Rather, he took pains to acknowledge the roles played by his fellow rulers and the many others behind the creation and growth of the UAE. 36 / OPEN SKIES
One man who saw Sheikh Zayed’s early-years rule at close hand was Archie Lamb, a British political agent in Abu Dhabi from 1965 to 1968, in the years shortly before the formation of the seven-member UAE federation in 1971. A former World War Two fighter pilot and later an ambassador, Lamb provided a poetic description of Zayed – in his dispatches to London – that really illustrated the majesty that the much-loved leader exuded in his life. To Lamb, Zayed was, “The man who had the wind of heaven always blowing through his bisht (cloak).” One of the reasons 2018 was designated as the Year of Zayed was a recognition of the need to reflect on memories and introduce younger generations to what Sheikh Zayed means to the Emirates. What did he achieve, not simply in terms of presiding over the creation of a modern infrastructure, but in facilitating the development of what he described as the UAE’s most valuable resource: its people? How did he inspire and lead what was,
Five Emirates A380s and five Boeing 777-300ERs with the ‘Year of Zayed’ livery have circled the globe on more than 1,500 flights to date, and will continue to carry its message of inspiration from the UAE’s late founding father throughout 2018.
What is the Year of Zayed?
To celebrate the centennial anniversary of the birth of the UAE’s founding father, 2018 will see 12 months of events to honour the life and legacy of Sheikh Zayed
in 1971, an underdeveloped state – itself an experiment in a new form of governance – through a process that saw dramatic change in population, demography and infrastructure? How was it that he was able to preserve an enviable degree of social stability and communal harmony during a time when the Middle East was wracked by the turbulence of wars and revolutions? His success has been ascribed, in part, to his vision for change. His determination to make good use of the financial resources provided from the oil and gas industry and his recognition that, in an increasingly interconnected world, there was a need to benefit from the knowledge and skills of other countries and cultures. His insistence that the country should stand as a beacon of cultural and religious tolerance made it possible for Emiratis to live side by side with expatriates from