Abu Dhabi: A memorial will be set up in Abu Dhabi in memory of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the nation, to mark the “Year of Zayed” celebrated in 2018.

The memorial commemorates the UAE’s founding father, celebrating his enduring vision and honouring his timeless legacy as a guiding star for the nation

In line with the directives of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, named the permanent tribute to the late Shaikh Zayed as ‘The Founder’s Memorial’.

The memorial has been established as a national commemoration of the UAE’s founding father, his visionary leadership and his vast influence on his country and the wider world.

Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, said: “The late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan is a guiding star whose vision continues to light a path of progress and prosperity for the UAE nation. We are immensely proud of his visionary leadership and values that underscore his wisdom, as well as the groundwork he laid for our nation’s advocacy of tolerance and coexistence.

“Through the establishment of The Founder’s Memorial, it is our intention to foster connections with our nation’s founding father among future generations of Emiratis and for posterity, and to highlight his perceptive leadership to the whole UAE population by providing a place of gathering for the community in which to reflect and celebrate.”

The memorial is set to be inaugurated during this year to coincide with the Year of Zayed, marking the 100th anniversary of Shaikh Zayed’s birth, The Founder’s Memorial will offer visitors a journey of discovery into the life and legacy of Shaikh Zayed.

At the Welcome Centre, rarely seen footage, personal stories, articles and artefacts will offer intimate insight into Shaikh Zayed and his character, enabling visitors to develop deeper connections with the visionary leader.

The landscaped area of the 3.3-hectare site will feature indigenous plants and shrubbery from the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula, in keeping with Shaikh Zayed’s commitment to nurturing local flora and fauna. The space will also feature an elevated walkway with stunning views of the memorial’s central artwork, and beyond to the Abu Dhabi skyline.

Located at the intersection of first and second street along The Corniche in Abu Dhabi, The Founder’s Memorial will create an iconic national landmark for locals and residents of the UAE in the heart of the nation’s capital.

Visit www.thefoundersmemorial.ae and @FounderMemorial on Instagram and Facebook for further details.