Update: the Sheikh Zayed memorial unveiling has been postponed
As part of the Year of Zayed, The Founder’s Memorial unveiling was meant to take place in a grand ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Monday, January 22
Story update: 9.30pm, January 21 2018
The Founder’s Memorial, a permanent tribute to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was set to be unveiled on January 22, but the event has now been postponed.
A post from its official Instagram page was added earlier today. No new date has been given yet.
The memorial has been established as a national commemoration of the UAE’s founding father, his visionary leadership and his vast influence on his country and the wider world.
It will be located at the intersection of 1st and 2nd street along the Abu Dhabi Corniche.
It has been described as a place of gathering for the UAE community to explore, contemplate and find moments of pause, while enabling international audiences to learn more about Sheikh Zayed, the man and the leader.
“The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is a guiding star whose vision continues to light a path of progress and prosperity for the UAE nation,” said HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, deputy Prime Minister of the UAE.
“We are immensely proud of his visionary leadership and values that underscore his wisdom, as well as the groundwork he laid for our nation’s advocacy of tolerance and co-existence.”
Set to be inaugurated in 2018 to coincide with the Year of Zayed, which marks the 100-year anniversary of Sheikh Zayed’s birth, The Founder’s Memorial will offer visitors a journey of discovery into the life and legacy of Sheikh Zayed.
At the welcome centre, rarely-seen footage, personal stories, articles and artefacts will offer insight into Sheikh Zayed and his character.
The landscaped area of the 3.3-hectare site will feature indigenous plants and shrubbery from the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula, in keeping with Sheikh Zayed’s commitment to nurturing local flora and fauna.
The space will also feature an elevated walkway with stunning views of the memorial’s central artwork, and beyond to the Abu Dhabi skyline.
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