Abu Dhabi: The UAE’s new national occasion honouring the Founding Father will fall on January 7, a date chosen for its symbolism.

The date, written as 7/1, reflects Sheikh Zayed’s defining national vision: seven emirates united as one nation. It also evokes 1971, the year the Union was established.

Its timing at the start of the year is also intentional. As schools, workplaces and institutions begin a new year, January 7 gives the people of the UAE a national moment to reconnect with Sheikh Zayed’s values, renew their commitment to the principles he embodied throughout his life, and carry them forward through the year.

“The legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed is deeply rooted in the identity of the UAE and in the values that continue to guide our nation,” Sheikh Mohamed said.…