The UAE will observe January 7 as Zayed the Founder day starting next year

Last updated: October 28, 2026 | 12:56

2018 marked 100 years since the birth of Sheikh Zayed who united the emirates and took the UAE to new heights of success and development Gulf News Archives

Dubai: The UAE will observe January 7 as Zayed the Founder Day from next year. President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the annual occasion would celebrate the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Founding Father, and his vision, generosity and service to humanity.

On August 6, 1966, Sheikh Zayed became Ruler of Abu Dhabi, ushering in a new era of development that transformed the emirate and paved the way for the creation of the United Arab Emirates. Born around 1918 in Abu Dhabi, he was the youngest of the four sons of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan.…