Cairo: Egypt will soon unveil a bronze statue for the founder of the United Arab Emirates Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, officials said in Cairo on Sunday.
The statue, weighing six tonnes, will be set up at the entrance of a city named after Shaikh Zayed on the western outskirts of the Egyptian capital.
“I was enthusiastic for the idea of building a statue commemorating Shaikh Zayed in recognition of his efforts and unlimited support for Egypt at all times and under all circumstances,” Housing Minister Moustafa Madbouli said.
“The creation of the statue was done with full backing from Prime Minister Ebrahim Mehleb in appreciation for the role of the late UAE ruler, who loved Egypt and its people.”
Head of the Shaikh Zayed’s city hall, Jamal Talaat, said that a pedestal is being constructed for the 7.25-metre-long statue before its inauguration “within days”.
The statue, made from pure bronze, is the first of its kind in Egypt for the UAE leader. It was sculpted by prominent Egyptian artist Essam Darwish.
The Shaikh Zayed City was built in 1995 through a grant from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
Shaikh Zayed, who died in 2004, was a staunch supporter of Egypt during its 1973 war against Israel. Under his rule, the UAE contributed enormously to a development drive launched by Egypt post the war.
The UAE has also been a main diplomatic and financial backer of Egypt since the army’s 2013 overthrow of Islamist president Mohammad Mursi following enormous street protests.
