Memorial shines light on Zayed’s life, legacy, values
abu dhabi — The Founder’s Memorial, a monumental artwork to honour the life of the founding father of the nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was formally unveiled in Abu Dhabi on Monday evening.
Erected in a bid to allow residents and tourists alike to enrich their understanding of his life, legacy and values, the memorial is located at the intersection of first and second streets along the Abu Dhabi Corniche.
Boasting rarely-seen footage of the founding father, the newest landmark to the city will offer an intimate insight into the character of a visionary leader. Narrating personal stories and showcasing artefacts from his daily life, the series of unique personal and immersive encounters will make it a must-see attraction in the city.
In keeping with Sheikh Zayed’s commitment to nurturing local flora and fauna across the UAE, the landscaped area which sits on a 3.3-hectare site, features indigenous plants and shrubbery from the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula.
abu dhabi — A monumental artwork to honour the founding father of the nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was unveiled in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Offering a range of personal encounters with the late Sheikh Zayed, the man and the leader, “The Founder’s Memorial” will enrich understanding of his life, legacy and values.
The inauguration of the centre piece of The Founder’s Memorial coincided with the ‘Year of Zayed’, declared by the President, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to mark the 100-year anniversary of Sheikh Zayed’s birth.
Located at the intersection of first and second streets along the Abu Dhabi Corniche, The Founder’s Memorial will be an iconic national landmark visitors to the Capital.
The monument, with rarely-seen footage, personal stories and artefacts, offer a series of personal encounters, and give an insight into the character of a visionary leader. The landscaped area of the 3.3-hectare site features indigenous plants and shrubbery from the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula, keeping with Sheikh Zayed’s commitment to nurturing local flora and fauna.
As a space for reflection, The Founder’s Memorial will enable visitors to draw on Sheikh Zayed’s values and qualities that continue to serve as a permanent source of inspiration for the entire nation.
Renowned horticulturist Bernard Lavery described Sheikh Zayed as the “man who tamed the desert”. Sheikh Zayed firmly believed that it was possible to turn the desert into a lush green land and took the initiative to transform the UAE into a green haven. Owing to his efforts, the once barren land of Abu Dhabi is now covered with a diverse array of flowers, shrubs and date palms.
Faris Saif Al Mazrouei, general manager of The Founder’s Memorial office, said: “The Founder’s Memorial is a very interactive piece and a very interesting memorial site. It’s a lot of hard work for us to collaborate with someone who will represent the leader. Everything in the memorial from the artwork, to the space, to the landscape has been studied and well suited”.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), said: “The memorial reflects the love and loyalty that Emiratis have towards the founding leader. The monument will introduce new generations to the national and humanitarian legacy, noble values, and rich history of giving of Sheikh Zayed whose outstanding legacy enlightens us.”
Emirati Mohammed Saeed said: “Sheikh Zayed is a true legend, a visionary who transformed the UAE from desert into a heavenly place.”
ismail@khaleejtimes.com