Founding Father's legacy of giving continues as UAE marks Zayed Humanitarian Work Day

Sheikh Zayed, the Founding President, on the Eiffel Tower in 1951. Courtesy Victor Hashem Family Collection

Sheikh Zayed on a visit to New York in April, 1957. Courtesy National Archives

Sheikh Zayed arrives at Heathrow Airport, London, at the start of his first official visit to Britain in 1969. Tim Graham / Fox Photos /Getty Images

Sheikh Zayed is escorted to his seat for Trooping the Colour in London in 1969. AP Photo

Sheikh Zayed with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, London. Tim Graham / Fox Photos / Getty Images

King Hussein of Jordan is recieved by Sheikh Zayed in 1974. Courtesy Al Ittihad

Sheikh Zayed and Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. Courtesy National Archives

Sheikh Zayed during his tour of Taj Mahal in Agra, India, in January 1975. Courtesy National Archives

Sheikh Zayed and Queen Elizabeth II at the 1979 opening of Le Meridien Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Le Meridien

Zaki Nusseibeh, centre, on the red carpet with French president Valéry Giscard d’Estaing and Sheikh Zayed at the start of a state visit in 1980. Al Ittihad

Sheikh Zayed with British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher in 1989. Thatcher would visit the UAE again in the 1990s. Press Association

Sheikh Zayed during his visit to China in 1990. Courtesy National Archives

Sheikh Zayed awards the "Order of Zayed" to South African president Nelson Mandela on the 1995 visit to the UAE. Courtesy National Archives

UAE leaders and government officials have paid tribute to the legacy that UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has passed on to future generations.

Zayed Humanitarian Work Day falls each year on Ramadan 19, which is also the date that Sheikh Zayed died in 2004.

It commemorates his humanitarian legacy and how the UAE has continued his journey of giving.

It's also an annual event to announce the launch of several humanitarian and charity initiatives through official community events held in the Emirates.

Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, said the UAE continues to carry on the humanitarian work started by Sheikh Zayed that has earned the UAE a significant regional and international humanitarian stature.

He said the UAE is proud of its many initiatives and the humanitarian assistance that it provides regionally and globally, including the current One Billion Meals campaign, which was launched at the start of Ramadan to keep people in 50 countries from going hungry this holy month.

Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said on Zayed Humanitarian Work Day it was important to remember "the lessons of generosity, giving and benevolence" that Sheikh Zayed passed on to all Emiratis.

"It guides successive generations to continue the path of humanitarian work to make humanity happy and to expand and sustain humanitarian work," he said

Hessa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development said Zayed Humanitarian Work Day serves as a reminder of Sheikh Zayed's vision of tolerance and giving without limits. She said this was evident in the fact that the UAE has become one of the largest providers of humanitarian aid.

Sheikh Zayed established the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) in 1971 to manage overseas aid programmes.

Its current director general, Mohammed Al Suwaidi, said ADFD is a national institution "firmly rooted in Sheikh Zayed's principles and follows his vision of sustainable development and financing sustainable projects in developing countries".

He said the fund will continue follow in the footsteps of Sheikh Zayed and stand by the international community to help overcome any developmental challenges.

"We will continue to build bridges of trust with nations, provide developmental support to them, promote the national economy, enable the local industry to become more competitive – in line with the UAE's vision and strategy – and support our country in its effort to diversify the economy and make it more sustainable," Mr Al Suwaidi said.