Sheikha Latifa honors Sheikh Zayed on 22nd anniversary of his death
Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, paid tribute to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan on X, saying his values continue to shape the UAE's generosity, patriotism and belief in people.
Mariam Al Mansoori
Remembering Sheikh Zayed
Marking 22 years since his passing, Sheikha Latifa said his values remain alive "in our way of giving, in our love for this nation, and in our belief that man is the foundation of everything we build."
She added: "O God, have mercy on the one who left his mark on us... and left us a path of mercy, tolerance, work, and loyalty to the land and people."
Sheikh Zayed served as the UAE's first President from the Union's establishment on December 2, 1971, until his death on November 2, 2004. He was 86. The Mohamed bin Zayed official website records the date of his passing as corresponding to 19 Ramadan 1425 AH.
Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, also posted a tribute on X on November 2, 2026. According to Gulf News, he credited Sheikh Zayed's legacy, wisdom and vision with establishing the foundations of the Union and its development, and said the UAE continues to follow his path under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Aid and efforts to preserve his legacy
During Sheikh Zayed's tenure as Ruler of Abu Dhabi and UAE President, the UAE provided more than Dh90 billion in humanitarian and development aid. That assistance reached 117 of the 193 countries represented in the United Nations, according to WAM figures cited by The National.
Efforts to preserve and share his legacy include Abu Dhabi's Zayed National Museum, which opened to coincide with the UAE's National Day celebrations in 2025, The National reported.
Zayed the Founder Day to begin in 2027
A new annual national occasion will also honor Sheikh Zayed. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced Zayed the Founder Day on October 28, 2026, with the first observance scheduled for January 7, 2027, and subsequent celebrations every January 7.
The Abu Dhabi Media Office said the date's day/month notation, 7/1, represents Sheikh Zayed's vision of seven emirates coming together as one nation. It also recalls 1971, the year the Union was established.
The occasion is an initiative of The Founder's Office, whose mandate is to honor Sheikh Zayed's contributions and keep his life, legacy and values a source of inspiration for current and future generations. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, approved the office's strategic plan in February 2026.
