The Founder's Memorial will stand witness to the great acts by Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, said Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
“The Memorial is a glowing tribute to giving, contributions and services by Sheikh Zayed to his people, nation and the world at large,'' said Sheikh Hazza in a statement on the official inauguration of the Memorial in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
''Sheikh Zayed is a leader who loved his people and built a nation founded on values of tolerance and amity that respects rich legacy and embraces values of modernity.”
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chairman of the National Media Council, hailed the unveiling of the Founder's Memorial, describing it as a token of gratitude to Sheikh Zayed, an exceptional leader who founded a country of dreams, achievements and opportunities.
"We are very proud of our leadership who follow in the footsteps of the late Sheikh Zayed and who continue the endeavours to step up the comprehensive development drive in the UAE.
"Thanks to Sheikh Zayed's legacy, we enjoy progress and prosperity today. Yet, we have a great responsibility to work day and night to honour and preserve this legacy under the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan," he said.
Dr Al Jaber said the Founder's Memorial would enable current and future generations to learn from the principles and values upheld by Sheikh Zayed.
"The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was a man of benevolence who helped the needy and supported those who yearned for knowledge and progress,” he said.
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'He is the father of everyone': Founder's Memorial in honour of Sheikh Zayed opens in Abu Dhabi
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Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, stressed that Sheikh Zayed deserves to be honoured by his nation and people, as he was unique in his giving, intellect and humanity, which have influenced the entire nation and beyond.
Sheikha Fatima noted that "Zayed the Giving” did not forget women before or while founding the country. He supported them and affirmed that both halves of the community, women and men, should build the nation together.
“Women are the sisters of men, so they are equal in rights and duties, and they both have the responsibility to participate in the country’s development,” said Sheikha Fatima.
She said Sheikh Zayed's legacy has made the UAE a centre of communication and social interaction between other countries and their people, and created a model of co-existence, tolerance and nation-building, which prioritises people and their happiness, welfare, advancement and prosperity.
Calling the memorial a “monument for the ages”, Hamad Abdul Rahman Al Madfa, Secretary General for the Supreme Council of the Union in the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, said the memorial is a landmark space for citizens and residents to learn more about the life and legacy of the Founding Father and about “the system of principles that he established in the art of leadership, where he emphasised intellectual and societal openness to build the nation, while maintaining the traditions and values of the nation and its people.
"Sheikh Zayed was a father figure, a teacher, a mentor, and a leader who ensured the stability and happiness of UAE society," he said.
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Ahmed Mohamed Al Humairi, has said that the memorial commemorating Sheikh Zayed will carry forward the late ruler's legacy.
"This legacy ensures the happiness of the UAE people, providing a guarantee that its youth will be provided with the necessary requirements for a decent life, as well as enshrining tolerance and co-existence as core values of the nation," said Mr Al Humairi. “The UAE has established itself as a leading country globally thanks to the Founding Father's efforts.
"In 2018, we celebrate the Year of Zayed and the system of noble values and principles set by the late Sheikh Zayed, being carried forward by the nation's people and ensuring the safety and stability of the UAE in challenging times.”
Sheikh Zayed was a creative leader who believed in the will and determination of the nation's people to help build the UAE and its capital, Abu Dhabi, as a beacon of progress and development, and a model for peaceful co-existence and tolerance, said Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi, Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs.
"Sheikh Zayed won the admiration and appreciation of global leaders for his wisdom in leadership and his generosity and support for development programmes in friendly nations," said Mr Al Zaabi. "The Founding Father established fundamental policies for the development of our nation, as well as helping build relations with nations globally. He was a model leader who spared no effort to please his people."
