How Sheikh Zayed’s love of culture endures 50 years on: ‘We are living his legend’

Leadership attributes of the UAE’s Founding Father were recalled in a talk at Expo 2020 Dubai

Sheikh Zayed became Ruler of Abu Dhabi on August 6, 1966. He became the Founding Father of the UAE in 1971.

Sheikh Zayed visiting Al Jazeera Hospital, Abu Dhabi, in 1978. Sheikh Zayed used oil revenues to start a huge programme building hospitals, roads and schools.

Sheikh Zayed during a visit to Somalia in August 1976.

Sheikh Zayed arrives at London's Heathrow Airport, at the start of his first official visit to Britain.

Sheikh Zayed meets the Apollo 17 astronauts in 1976.

Sheikh Zayed attends the graduation ceremony of Air Academy students at Al Dhafra base in 1987.

Two of the greatest legacies of Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, are the Emirates’ embrace of tolerance and culture.

That was the message from a session at Expo 2020 Dubai with Noura Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of Culture and Youth, and Zaki Nusseibeh, cultural adviser to the President of the UAE and chancellor of UAE University.

At the UAE National Pavilion on Saturday, Al Kaabi and Nusseibeh explored ways in which these intertwining principles have contributed towards the country’s rapid evolution in the past 50 years.

Follow the latest updates on Expo 2020 Dubai here

It was a path first charted by Sheikh Zayed and passed down to the UAE’s present leadership, Nusseibeh says.

He recalls attending a majlis in 2008 at which Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, underlined that nuanced view of tolerance.

“He told the open majlis that he didn’t like word ‘tolerance’ because it meant accepting somebody who is perhaps inferior to you or something that is not good. Unfortunately, this is the same definition in most languages today,” Nusseibeh said.

“Except, in the Arab language we have a difference in how we express it. One word that is closer to my understanding of tolerance is ‘samaha,’ which is the ability to empathise with others. It’s this meaning of tolerance that was practised by our Founding Father and UAE society at large.”

He told the open majlis that he didn’t like word ‘tolerance’ because it meant accepting somebody who is perhaps inferior to you or something that is not good

Zaki Nusseibeh,
Cultural Adviser to the President and Chancellor of UAE University

Nusseibeh said Sheikh Zayed had displayed that quality before the country’s formation, citing tolerance as central to its future development.

“In one of the first interviews I had with him in 1968, Sheikh Zayed basically said ‘we need to open our country to the world and bring in modernisation’,” he said.

“But, at the same time, he also said we need to keep an equilibrium between that rate of modernisation and development, opening ourselves to other cultures while retaining our heritage and national identity.”

For Al Kaabi, maintaining that balance is a pillar of the UAE’s cultural policies.

She points to the success of both the multicultural nature of Expo 2020 Dubai, with 192 countries represented, and the UAE’s National Pavilion, which celebrates the heritage and achievements of the country’s citizens and residents.

Abrahamic Family House, the interfaith complex to be built on Saadiyat Island in the capital next year, also stems from Sheikh Zayed's initial vision, Al Kaabi says.

An artist's illustration of the Abrahamic Family House set to be built on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Adjaye Associates

The interior of the mosque. Abrahamic Family House will bring together Islam, Christianity and Judaism through three main buildings – a mosque, a church and a synagogue. Courtesy Adjaye Associates

The synagogue. Courtesy Adjaye Associates

The interior of the synagogue. While the three places of worship are of the same height, the designs and interiors will differ significantly. Courtesy Adjaye Associates

The interior of the church. Courtesy Adjaye Associates

The exterior of the church. “When I looked at the history of the architecture that has represented these three different faiths, I realised architecture has also been complicit in a description of the differences of these faiths,” Mr Adjaye said. Courtesy Adjaye Associates

The courtyard of the church. Courtesy Adjaye Associates

Each separate building will connect through a central garden that will house a museum and centre for education. Courtesy Adjaye Associates

The visitor Centre of Abrahamic Family House. Courtesy Adjaye Associates

A view of the podium. Courtesy Adjaye Associates

“Why are we celebrating the 50th anniversary of the UAE? Because of a man of the desert who, in his twenties, opened his arms to a British explorer in 1948. In the 1950s he went to the Vatican and in the 1960s he opened the first church in Abu Dhabi. And in the future, we will have the Abrahamic Family House.

“So what is happening here? This is not a coincidence. We are following a timeline.”

Nusseibeh attributes the Founding Father’s enduring appeal to that sense of continuity.

“When we talk about Sheikh Zayed, we are talking about a school of government and a culture,” he said. “This is what the present leadership was brought up on, and therefore we are still living his legend.”

Sheikh Zayed Festival opens in Abu Dhabi with family-friendly Golden Jubilee celebrations

A band performs at the opening of the 2021 Sheikh Zayed Festival at Al Wathba. All photos by Ruel Pableo / The National

Daily folklore performances from more than 21 countries took place.

The Miracle Garden at the Sheikh Zayed Festival.

The festival attracted visitors, entertainers and exhibitors from all over the world.

The Miracle Garden has been overhauled and expanded at the Sheikh Zayed Festival.

Light installations at The Miracle Garden. Ruel Pableo / The National

More than 4,500 international cultural events took place during the five-month festival.

Musicians performed at the opening of the event.

A special zone featured interactive displays highlighting some of the country’s most recent accomplishments.

The festival has augmented its Al Wathbah venue almost twofold, with dedicated districts for several countries.

A parade of different cultures.

Stands stocked with spices, foods, clothes, books and trinkets.

Halwa, a regional favourite, is among the must-try dishes on offer.

The cultural event honours the country’s customs and traditions.