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Sheikh Zayed awards the "Order of Zayed" to South African president Nelson Mandela on the 1995 visit to the UAE. Courtesy National Archives
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Sheikh Zayed, the Founding President, on the Eiffel Tower in 1951. Courtesy Victor Hashem Family Collection
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Sheikh Zayed on a visit to New York in April, 1957. Courtesy National Archives
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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
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Sheikh Zayed is escorted to his seat for Trooping the Colour in London in 1969. AP Photo
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Sheikh Zayed with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, London. Tim Graham / Fox Photos / Getty Images
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King Hussein of Jordan is recieved by Sheikh Zayed in 1974. Courtesy Al Ittihad
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Sheikh Zayed and Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. Courtesy National Archives
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Sheikh Zayed during his tour of Taj Mahal in Agra, India, in January 1975. Courtesy National Archives
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Sheikh Zayed and Queen Elizabeth II at the 1979 opening of Le Meridien Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Le Meridien
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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
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Sheikh Zayed with British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher in 1989. Thatcher would visit the UAE again in the 1990s. Press Association
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Sheikh Zayed during his visit to China in 1990. Courtesy National Archives
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Sheikh Zayed awards the "Order of Zayed" to South African president Nelson Mandela on the 1995 visit to the UAE. Courtesy National Archives
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Sheikh Zayed, the Founding President, on the Eiffel Tower in 1951. Courtesy Victor Hashem Family Collection
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Sheikh Zayed on a visit to New York in April, 1957. Courtesy National Archives
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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
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Sheikh Zayed is escorted to his seat for Trooping the Colour in London in 1969. AP Photo
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Sheikh Zayed with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, London. Tim Graham / Fox Photos / Getty Images
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King Hussein of Jordan is recieved by Sheikh Zayed in 1974. Courtesy Al Ittihad
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Sheikh Zayed and Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. Courtesy National Archives
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Sheikh Zayed during his tour of Taj Mahal in Agra, India, in January 1975. Courtesy National Archives
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Sheikh Zayed and Queen Elizabeth II at the 1979 opening of Le Meridien Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Le Meridien
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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
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IMJISTEKQT6BOYWDAR3W5QL5O4.jpg?smart=true&auth=4480da39fe0a74865558d12f3e731837532fa807f930494c9d5b8f74cf734a6e&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Zayed with British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher in 1989. Thatcher would visit the UAE again in the 1990s. Press Association
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Sheikh Zayed during his visit to China in 1990. Courtesy National Archives
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Sheikh Zayed awards the "Order of Zayed" to South African president Nelson Mandela on the 1995 visit to the UAE. Courtesy National Archives
Remembering Sheikh Zayed: How the founding father introduced the UAE to the world
Images chart the ruler's many meetings with global leaders
![James Langton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F59aec61e-41b3-468c-8a69-57168338145b.png?smart=true&auth=20537dd68c837a65707d347b248e74bad34b378390f02a7be13b68d756185b99&width=70&height=70)
James Langton
20 April, 2022
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