Friday 20 December 2024
Glimpses of His Life
When the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan assumed power in Abu Dhabi on 6th August 1966, years of hard work began to develop Abu Dhabi، Petroleum income was utilized for developing public services and infrastructure.
Work began on ambitious projects to change all aspects of life، The late Sheikh Zayed used to say, “Money is not useful if it is not dedicated for serving the people.”
A few years after Sheikh Zayed assumed power, Abu Dhabi witnessed major developments in record time with hundreds of building, construction, modernization, development and service projects that included the construction of houses, modern residential compounds, hospitals, clinics, schools, universities, institutes, colleges and infrastructure such as roads, bridges, electricity, water, communication and transportation in order to build a modern country and provide a decent life for citizens.
The amount of spending on growth, services and development projects in Abu Dhabi from1968 until the end of 2002 exceeded AED 162 billion. The total amount allocated for growth during this period amounted to AED 195 billion which demonstrates an unprecedented commitment to using the resources of the country and its oil returns to build a prosperous country for citizens’ happiness.
Sheikh Zayed dedicated himself to making his people happy. He travelled all over the country supervising building and construction, moving between the suburbs, villages, deserts and villages leading an exceptional challenge to catch up with civilization and modernization. During the years of his reign, enormous achievements and drastic changes were achieved in projects including; building, industrial, agricultural, educational, health, cultural and social. A solid and modern infrastructure was completed.
Building the Union
The efforts of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan were not limited to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Since he assumed power in Abu Dhabi he aimed to unite the other Emirates. Less than two years after he became the Ruler of Abu Dhabi he initiated a call to unite the Emirates saying, “Unity is the way to strength, honour and power. Division only leads to weakness. There is no place in today’s world for weak entities. These are the lessons of history throughout the ages.”
This wise and honest call was favourably received and there was a meeting between the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai in the area of Al Samha on 18th February 1968 following the declaration made by the British Government in that year about evacuating its armies from the Conciliated Emirates in the Gulf before 1971.
The meeting focused on establishing a union between the two emirates to supervise foreign affairs, defence, internal security and health and educational services. They agreed to invite the rulers of the other Emirates to a meeting in Dubai to discuss the establishment of the United Arab Emirates, a union between the nine emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and also Bahrain and Qatar.
The result of the meeting was that the call for Union was launched. It was supported by Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid. The rulers of the other Emirates responded favourably to this honest call and held another meeting between 25th and 27th February 1968 in Dubai. It resulted in the establishment of the union, the United Arab Emirates.
There followed continuous meetings, gatherings and consultations between the Rulers until the conclusive meetings were held from 11-15 October 1969 in which it is agreed to execute the Dubai agreement, to formally declare the establishment of the United Arab Emirates. The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was elected at the President and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed al Maktoum was elected as the Vice President.
On 18th July 1971, the Rulers’ Council of the Union held an important meeting in Dubai where they approved the federal state, called the United Arab Emirates, in response to the wish of the people in the region.
On the 2nd December 1971, history witnessed the birth of a modern state. It joined the Arab Countries League on 6th December 1971, becoming its eighteenth state and only a week after its establishment it became the 132nd member of the United Nations on 9th December 1971. The Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah joined the union on 10th February 1972. Immediately upon the declaration of the union, Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed al Nahyan offered to dedicate all the Government of Abu Dhabi’s material sources and administrative and technical expertise to serve the federal state. He said, “The union is my wish and the highest goal I seek for the people of the Emirates.”
The late Sheikh Zayed said that the goal of the Union was to bring happiness to the citizens and build the modern state, “From the beginning we realized that the union is the means to our strength and progress and the way to make people happy, provide a decent life for them and for future generations with Allah’s will. We also realized that we cannot achieve this goal except under a well rooted and firmly founded federal state that realizes the past with all its lessons, lives the present with all its achievements and prosperity and moves towards a future, taking Islam as the methodology of its internal and external policy to establish the state, root its pillars and reach a decent life that we all look forward to and seek.”
Since the moment the federal state was establishment, the wheels turned in one of the largest development marches witnessed by the region. Since the day he assumed power, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan dedicated the wealth of the country’s progress and improvement of the citizens’ living standards saying, “We dedicated everything we own in terms of wealth and petroleum to improving the living standard of every person in the United Arab Emirates out of our belief that these people are the rightful owners of this wealth and that he should make up what he missed in order to catch up with the march of civilization and progress.”
The late Sheikh Zayed added that, “If Allah the Almighty had favoured us with wealth, our first commitment to seek Allah’s satisfaction and in order to express our gratitude to Him is to utilize this wealth by making this country better and to bring goodness to its people.”
A few years after its establishment, the United Arab Emirates became a modern and prosperous country where its citizens enjoy luxury and prosperity, as confirmed by the statement of His Highness that, “Hopes came true thanks to the establishment of the United Arab Emirates. Progress and prosperity was achieved in every area.”
He added that, “We did not dream of all these achievements. They are beyond imagination and the speed of this growth is exceptional.”
The way Sheikh Zayed led the march towards union has had a clear effect; his manner is rooted in the conscience of the nation and is clear to all citizens.
On several occasions, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan expressed his relief about the achievements of the union saying, “We, thanks to Allah, feel relieved and happy as the union continues its march on the right path, the way the United Arab Emirates is moving from one phase to another until it became the source of pride for all of us, seeing such achievements on the soil of our country.”
His Highness said, “Everything that I and my brothers the rulers of the emirates spent long nights caring about and being patient about, was achieved. With Allah’s help and grace, we have reached a stage where we are securely on the road to building the country and achieving goals that seemed hard to reach.”
The ‘Counsel’ Approach
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan believed in seeking counsel as his way of leading the national effort. He said, “Ruling with counsel is a command from Allah and he who does not obey Allah shall be the loser.”
His approach comes from his belief in, and reliance on, Allah the Almighty in every step. His Highness said, “My philosophy in life is that I believe that all things are in the hands of Allah the Almighty and that man should act as if inspired by his belief in Allah; with dedication and diligence. If I succeed in my quest, I thank Allah for His grace and if I was mistaken in my diligence, I return to the right path. Everything runs according to the will of Allah the Almighty, He runs and manages our lives. The worshipper should seek the approval of Allah, to act and rely on Allah. Allah guides men to success when the belief of man in his God is strong. Allah grants him peace of mind and that is the ultimate happiness.”
The ‘counsel approach’ that Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan adopted was illustrated by his strong desire, during the regular field trips he made all over the country, to hold open and direct meetings with citizens at their workplaces, deserts and residences. This facilitated the deep and honest closeness between the leadership and the people. His Highness used to emphasize the importance of this approach, which is based on an ‘open door’ policy between the ruler and his subjects, by saying, “Our door is open and shall always be like that.”
His Highness said, “The ruler should meet the members of his people continuously and there should be no barriers between him and them under any circumstances.”
His Highness continued, “The ruler, any ruler, is only there to serve his people and secure for them prosperity and progress. To achieve this, he should live among his people to feel their wishes and know their problems and this cannot be achieved if he isolates himself from them.”
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan was keen for his children, the citizens, to participate in assuming the responsibilities of the national effort. He said, “When the ruler is self-assured and confident, he gives the opportunity to his sons and brothers the officials to assist him to achieve what is best for the country.”
Sheikh Zayed adds that, “Our goal in life is to achieve justice, be morally right and support the weak against the dominant. We are not cautious about our children’s participation in the responsibility of ruling, as long as these are our goals. We think that our duty is to distribute responsibility among the citizens, and we did this just as Islam calls for true democracy and justice.”
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan made himself the example for officials by his keenness to follow-up projects’ achievements and by the continuous closeness with citizens, to feel their wishes and needs away from government offices and official reports. He said, “I want officials to see me with their own eyes at work, at any time, without preparation so that every official shall follow this path in order to reach efficiency and capability for the State.”
Developing People
The keenness of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to develop people the same way as the country was built, represented the most important achievement of the United Arab Emirates. It was based on his conviction that people are at the centre of real progress and that the UAE relies on educated people, “We realized from the beginning that the human being is the basis of every civilized process and he is at the centre of every true progress.”
The United Arab Emirates worked on building an infrastructure including hospitals, schools, higher education establishments, institutes, cultural and professional centres and military, academic and technical establishments necessary to achieve this noble goal and to provide all appropriate conditions to enable the sons of the UEA to bear their national responsibilities. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan specified the goal saying, “Wealth is not money wealth but the wealth of men as they are; the true power that we are proud of. This is the plant that provides us with shade. The conviction of this truth is the reason why we were able to direct all our efforts to developing people and dedicating the wealth that Allah graced us with to serve the children of this country in order to enable them to bear their formidable responsibilities and be the support that helps us and our brothers.”
He continued, “I always said, with strong conviction, that the human being is the basis of civilization and to direct our attention to him is necessary because he is the centre of every progress. No matter how many facilities there are, schools, hospitals, bridges and otherwise, all of this remains a materialist entity without a soul because the soul of all of this is the human being who is able, with his thought, effort and faith to achieve the progress we seek.”
He said, “Progress and renaissance is not measured by buildings of cement and steel but by developing people and everything that makes the citizen happy and secures him a decent life.”
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan expressed his relief that the continuous efforts to develop people were successful and the children of the UAE today are assuming responsibility for work done all over the country. He said, “We had harvested a lot and harvested what the citizen, the friend or the brother did not imagine and the best thing that we harvested in this country is developing people who we prioritize with attention and care.”
With Sheikh Zayed’s approach, citizens are the means and the end at the same time. To establish this principle, all the agencies and bodies in the country joined together to develop people capable of dealing with the paths of true development and able to overcome obstacles, especially the major ones.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan said on the 13th February 1972, “The constitution of the country provided for the principles of equality and social justice and the provision of security and assurance, equal opportunities for all citizens, solidarity and compassion, to consider the family as the basis and structure of society, morality and love for the country, caring for childhood and motherhood, protecting minors and disabled people who are not capable of taking care of themselves, providing jobs for citizens, qualifying them for such jobs, protecting private and public property, to consider the wealth and natural resources of every Emirate as public property for that Emirate and to encourage cooperation and saving.”
Sheikh Zayed made developing people the first priority in the development process in its early stages. He said, “Developing people is a national necessity that takes precedence over building factories and facilities because without good people no prosperity and goodness can be achieved. Now we are developing a future generation that we will be proud of and that will bear the burdens of responsibility in the future.”
Care for Youth
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan gave considerable attention to taking care of youth. He was always keen to invite them to equip themselves with knowledge so that they could contribute to serving the country. He urged them to have a good understanding of the past and the difficult conditions and hardships that faced their fathers and grandfathers so that they could maintain the accomplishments and gains that had been achieved. He urged young people to work, in all fields of work, to consider work an honour and duty. He said, “Work is important and valuable as long as it contributes to developing people. The progress of nations is only achieved at the hands of their children.”
On several important occasions in the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Zayed used to say, “The vast wealth that has been achieved will not last without more effort, giving and sacrifices. We should work hard in order to protect our national gains and enhance the march of our union. We should work hard to achieve more strength for the country and prosperity for the citizen. This is not possible without constructive and active participation in society.”
He added, “National work is not limited. It is your responsibility, the male and female youth of the UAE, to employ the chances that you have been given for the sake of your country and people. We view the concept of citizenship as loyalty to the country and commitment to work for it.”
Sheikh Zayed said, “The material facts you see on the land of your country did not come from nothing and its growth does not only go back the last three or four decades. These facts represent the cultural and social heritage that was rooted in us. They reach to us from our fathers and grandfathers who faced great hardships, beyond imagination. We owe them all our abilities to build, our seriousness to work and our determination to succeed. Therefore, we always say that the nation that does not understand and comprehend its past and does not take examples and lessons from it shall not be able to deal with the challenges of the present and prepare for the future.”
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan the importance of the wide participation of the people in the country’s comprehensive development. He said, “We continue working with all our might and ability at all official and non-official levels in order to maintain our gains and achieve more accomplishments for the good of our people and country. However, we look forward to real participation from all sons and daughters of the Emirates, an active participation in the comprehensive development process with its political, economic, social and cultural aspects. The future is in your hands, Emirates youth, you will determine the way it will be. Take the chance available to you now and use it wisely. Use it in a manner that brings goodness for you, your families and your country as well.”
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan called on organizations to give more attention to youth saying, “We call upon all government, private and national organizations to place more importance on youth programmes to prepare them for the future, to benefit from successful human experiences and follow the lead of our own successful achievements, our roots and the values and principles that we inherited.
Although we have come an admirably long way training and qualifying our male and female youth, there is still a real need to continue and intensify this training and qualification. We think that bringing our male and female youth into the field of fruitful work is the goal that we should dedicate all our abilities to achieve and we should prepare for them the means to ensure that achievement as much as possible.
This requires us to continue modernizing our educational curriculums and follow up the latest developments in science and technology. Our programmes must be equal to this.”
Concern about Women’s Development and Their Role in Society
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan placed special care on the development of women, “Women are half of society, she is the house keeper and no country that is building itself can leave women in the darkness of ignorance and in the captivity of oppressive chains.”
With this vision, women started taking full responsibility next to men in various fields of work. They actively contributed to the economic, social and cultural changes. They enjoyed equal rights and duties whilst in compliance with the teachings of the proper Islamic religion, the gracious Islamic Sharia and inherited customs and traditions.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan said, “We have the right to speak proudly about the great accomplishments that women have achieved in our country and the enhancement of her social and economic role in the public and private sectors. We continue to be very keen to provide all assistance and support to women in everything that may enhance her role in society and increase the scope of her participation in the comprehensive development process.
We are pleased to note that women in the Emirates have shown unique determination in this regard as we see her embracing all kinds of scientific fields with remarkable enthusiasm that became an example to be followed. We also see her working efficiently and actively in the public and private sectors, while continuing to play her main role in the family. Family represents the nucleus of society and deserves from us all every care and attention. She is committed to raising her children in a good manner based on our spiritual and religious values and our genuine heritage.”
The late Sheikh Zayed confirmed that, “All fields of work are open for women in the Emirates just like men.” He pointed out that women have taken significant steps on the path to distinguished participation in national work. The General Women’s Union – under the inauguration of Her Highness Sheikh Fatima Bint Mubarak, “Emirates’ Mother”, endeavours to stimulate the role of women in society, increase their participation in development and their representation at Arab and International forums.”
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan supported women to hold the highest positions at work; in decision making positions and in politics. He encouraged women to fully participate serving her country, including becoming involved in political work. He said, “I’m for women. I always say this to confirm her right to work and fully participate in building her country.”
In addition, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan focused on all sectors of society, especially the disabled and those with special needs. He was keen to provide them with any facilities that enabled them to participate in society.
The Environment and Its Protection
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan cared about the environment. He believed that there needed to be a balance between developing and preserving the environment to protect the right of future generations to enjoy life in a clean, healthy and safe environment. He said, “We give our environment our utmost attention because it is a vital part of our country’s history and heritage. Our fathers and grandfathers lived on this land to preserve it, they only took from it what they needed and left what future generations will use as a source and spring of giving.”
The late Sheikh Zayed added, “We have worked, since the establishment of our state, to protect the environment and wildlife. We have developed regulations, legislation, programs and projects that made the United Arab Emirates among the first states that cared for the environment and an example to be followed at the global level. These achievements should be an incentive for us, particularly the Emirati youth, the future generation, to continue taking care of and keeping the environment safe and clean because if we don’t, we shall destroy the resources that Allah blessed us with، these resources are not ours alone, they also belong to our children and their children.”
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was one step ahead of the world in taking care of the environment and this is manifested by his words, “Our care for the environment is not new but it is a genuine and deep-rooted care that we have called for, practiced and implemented years before the rest of the world started to do so.”
In his opening speech at the 2nd Asian Ministerial Conference of those Party to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification held in Abu Dhabi in June 2003, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan said: “The United Arab Emirates was able to live with a desert environment that covers three quarters of its area, and adapt to its limited resources for many years. Thanks to the efforts of the devoted sons of the Emirates, the State was able to overcome the hard conditions and achieve what the experts considered to be impossible. The green area started to expand and the desert retreated before it.”
He added, “The proof is very clear as seen in the vast areas of forest, farms, parks and millions of trees and plants of all types that are increasingly and continuously taking shape amidst the desert lands. This demonstrates the huge effort that has been made and the greatness of the achievement that has been achieved.”
Over three decades, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan was a supporter of sustainable development and the planting of 100 million trees and 45 million palm trees in the Emirates to stop sand encroaching into agricultural lands. This is considered one of Sheikh Zayed’s most important achievements.
Taking care of environmental issues gained the United Arab Emirates a global reputation and prominent international position particularly in the field of maintaining the environment, combating desertification, development of wild and marine life, establishment of natural reservations, encouragement and support of international research to save various types of rare animals from extinction worldwide such as the Oryx, Arabian tiger, sea cows and green turtles in addition to advanced programs utilizing the latest technology in the reproduction of wild birds including falcons and bustards.
The United Arab Emirates received several appreciation certificates and awards from international and regional organizations for its distinguished efforts in the field of preservation and development of the environment.
It was chosen as the headquarters for the ‘General Secretariat of the Coordination Body of the International Fund for Maintaining the Environment in Order to Protect the Oryx’. It was also elected in 2000 to the position of Chairman of the Sea Turtles Group for the West Indian Ocean Area that is attached to the Global Federation for the Protection of Nature as an appreciation for its role helping endangered sea turtles.
Agriculture and Forestation
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan implemented his vision for agriculture and forestation by allocating vast areas of land to establish ambitious projects for forests and green areas. These would protect the wildlife which revived the desert environment and stopped desert encroachment. His vision contributed to the interest of citizens in agriculture and their connection to their lands.
In this regard he said, “We succeeded in transforming the land of this country although we were told that it was not fit for agriculture. We developed farms spreading to the horizon, green parks, forests and production plantations.”
Sheikh Zayed expressed his pride in what the Emirates had achieved in agriculture and forestation and said, “What makes us proud is that the United Arab Emirates was able to achieve amazing success in returning greenery to the desert areas and our success was not limited to planting vast areas of the desert but also with agriculture. Through extensive awareness campaigns, guidance, training and continuous and limitless support we were able to enforce the mutual giving relationship that exists between the land and the citizen who became more keen to possess, manage and develop agricultural lands.”
On 2nd June 2001, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations awarded Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan the “Medal of International Day of Food” in recognition of his efforts to serve all of humanity.
Several international bodies commended the achievements of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in combating desertification and the protection of rare species of animals and plants.
Folklore
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s care for humans extended to other parts of the world. He established an award bearing His Highness’s name for the best global moral and human culture.
International bodies commended the initiative of Sheikh Zayed to allocate a US$150,000 award to be granted every two years to encourage human creativity in all fields and to protect and encourage heritage in all its forms; the best folklore and traditional cultural works and also to protect intangible cultural works threatened with loss.
Since his early childhood, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was connected to desert life, its environment and culture. This formed his close connection with his culture. He said, “Our ancestors left for us a great deal of folklore that we should be proud of. We need to maintain and develop it, make it an asset for this country and for future generations.”
In his gatherings with youth and citizens, he used to emphasize the necessity to be familiar with civic culture, to remember it and follow its example. He said, “Youth should ask and think about history, whether it was recent, medium-term or ancient history, in order to know what happened in this country and how past generations lived. I believe that those who do not know their history certainly do not know their present but if a person knows his past then he will be aware of his present and know how he should prepare for the future”. He added, “Any nation without a cultural heritage does not have a beginning or end.”
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his brothers Their Highnesses the Members of the Supreme Council of the Union, the Rulers of the Emirates, all offered support to folk sports such as genuine Arab camels races, folk marine races, horsemanship and falconry.
Falconry
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan placed great importance on maintaining the sport of falconry because it is one of the most important sports that sons inherited from fathers and grandfathers in the Gulf and Arab Peninsula Area. For a long time Emiratis have had an excellent knowledge of the different kinds of falcons, the best way to breed them, train them and look after them well, the way to tame this symbol of power and self-pride.
The late Sheikh Zayed spoke about the fact that Arabs were the first with this knowledge and then this knowledge moved other countries saying, “We are keen on maintaining genuine traditions and our heritage regardless of how far we have stepped towards the field of civilization. Falconry is an important sport and a way to learn patience and endurance. It is useful both psychologically and physically. It is a social sport full of companionable group spirit. In addition, this sport has its traditions; the speed of falcons and their ability to fly, manoeuvre, hunt or charge to feed.”
In September 2001, the “Emirates Falconers Club” was establishment under the chairmanship of H.H Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister who confirmed that falconry is considered one of the most important Arab sports practiced by their ancestors thousands of years ago. The club aims to spread awareness and improve falconry in the United Arab Emirates and the Arab Gulf area, to maintain this sport as an important heritage in the region and to spread the morality of falconry sport. The club aims to educate about the types, habits, life phases, original habitat and migration of falcons, passing on the heritage of the grandfathers to future generations in order to ensure the continuity of this hobby in the correct way that prevents exposing falcons and bustards to extinction.
Arab and Islamic Solidarity
For over three decades Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan devoted all his efforts towards achieving agreement between brothers, to solve Arab differences by understanding and forgiveness. His Highness emphasized continuously the danger imposed by the continuation of the state of division and deterioration that the Arab nation is going through, “Since the beginning of difference in the Arab world until this day, I did not sleep one night happy about the difference between a brother, a friend and his friend.”
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan made extensive efforts to bring Arabs together, forgetting differences, unifying the Arab and Islamic world, improving the position of the Arab and Islamic nation and its position in the world.
The late Sheikh Zayed was always keen to get all points of view on the Arab position and make decisions about all the various things happening in the Arab world. He rejected the mindset of loss by using reason and making a conscious effort to compensate the losses that the Arab nation had suffered in order to support their common interests. He said, “The Arab nation is large, wealthy and good, thanks to Allah. We should bear the responsibility and abandon the path of loss and weakness that we are following now and we should endeavour, with every possible effort and without delay, to compensate the losses we suffered and follow the right path.”
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan said that the United Arab Emirates supports anything that enhances the Arabic reputation. He said that this needs to happen with hard work, an honest brotherly spirit and a sense of forgiving and conciliation particularly after the lessons and losses that the Arab nation has suffered.
The way Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan dealt with regional and international issues was considered to be correct. His decisions were made with wisdom, frankness, courage and standing steadily with truth. Justice and forgiveness guided his decisions in order to include human values in international relations and whatever brings goodness to humanity.
Zayed’s Departure
When Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan passed away in November 2004, the world lost one of its most important, wise men. He had worked to improve people and countries and did everything he could for humanity as a whole.
He was succeeded by the Late H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to continue the march of progress by following in the footsteps of his father “Zayed (increaser of) goodness”.
