The United Arab Emirates exists the way that it does today, because of one man: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, an international insignia of dignity and tolerance.2018 marks 100 years since Sheikh Zayed was born. Daily headlines from the UAE and around the world brought to you by Gulf News. See more at: http://gulfnews.com/gntv
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00The year 2018 marks 100 years since the birth of Sheikh Zayed, the founding father who united
00:11the Emirates and took his nation to new heights of progress and prosperity.
00:16At the heart of the achievements that allowed the UAE to assume a strong regional and international
00:21position lies the vision of one man, Sheikh Zayed.
00:26We visited his hometown of Al Ain and spoke to people who knew the beloved father of the
00:31nation and revealed untold stories about Zayed.
00:35We spoke to Falah Al Kobaisi, the late Sheikh Zayed's personal photographer.
00:40He told us a story that revealed Zayed's kind heart, empathy and generosity.
00:45He also explained that UAE citizens never saw Sheikh Zayed as just a leader, but as
00:52a father.
00:53Sheikh Zayed saw himself as the lord of his family, not a ruler, and the proof of this
00:58is that Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, his son, launched the UAE as a whole as the one house,
01:05the big family house, or the united house.
01:08How is the father caring for his children and making them united with each other, understanding
01:14with each other, loving each other?
01:16This is how Sheikh Zayed left us.
01:19Do you know this palm tree on the street?
01:22There is a palm tree.
01:23This palm tree produces dates in the summer.
01:27These dates, on the day of the days of Sheikh Zayed, walk in the pasture, so he looks at
01:33every tree in the street and every, I mean, anything in the street that is wrong, he orders
01:40to fix it.
01:41One day, he saw a group of Arabs climbing a palm tree, the palm tree was high.
01:49So he stopped, he stopped, he returned, he stopped, he found them suffering that they
01:56were picking a number of dates, so he called the mayor or the head of agriculture, so he
02:03said, look at this view, he said, I don't understand, he said, I don't want them to
02:09get tired and climb, God forbid, one falls on the ground and breaks.
02:14He needs this date.
02:16We plant for decoration, we do not plant for decoration, we plant to eat birds and
02:21humans.
02:22So he ordered to fix all the high palm trees and planted palm trees in their place, small
02:31palm trees that bear fruit.
02:33He was afraid that the son of the street, that is, this man in the street, would be hurt
02:39from the height of the palm trees, and he needs to eat this date.
02:44What is this man?
02:45He is not a ruler, he is a father, he is a father.
02:49It is my right to say that the Emirates is not a state, but a large, united house,
02:55which has a family leader, Zayed bin Sultan, and then Khalifa bin Zayed and his brothers.
03:01We walked around his Majlis to see some of the photographs and memorabilia he collected
03:05throughout the years, including rare photos of Sheikh Zayed, his press badges as he followed
03:11all over the world to photograph his appearances, and some gifts and little treasures he held
03:16onto.
03:17We also sat down with Emirati historian and writer Hamdan al-Dara'i, who gave us an insight
03:22on how Sheikh Zayed built the nation into what it is today.
03:41He sheds light on the historical importance of taking advantage of the opportunities
03:46that have emerged in the region.
03:48When oil appeared, it was necessary to have a strong leadership or to have the ability
03:55to make good use of new resources, which would be beneficial to the people of the country.
04:02Sheikh Zayed did a good job in using this wealth.
04:08That is why there is no wonder when the people of the Emirates expressed their love
04:14and admiration for Sheikh Zayed.
04:19Because it may be possible to name the historical stage before Sheikh Zayed
04:26as a stage in which the luxury of life was lost.
04:30Life was a struggle for survival.
04:33But later on, we find that life became a struggle to compete for the benefits of life
04:39and the luxuries of life.
04:41We find that cities rose up after they were villages from the houses of the palm trees.
04:47And after they were hunting villages, they became international cities,
04:51like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
04:53So we find, Glory be to Allah, that the impact of Sheikh Zayed is indescribable.
04:59It is a very strange thing.
05:01It is as if a soul entered a body.
05:04That is why Sheikh Zayed will remain in the memory of the people of the Emirates.
05:10As long as the human memory of the Emirates remains,
05:15because the man worked hard for a long time and achieved a lot.
05:21During the period of 73 years,
05:26he was able to create a state, a state apparatus, a complete government apparatus,
05:34and create an educated generation.
05:37We also enter another stage, which is the age of knowledge.
05:42We also find that the government tools have the ability to support this development.
05:48Sheikh Zayed, in fact,
05:50brings together a lot of things.
05:52It is difficult to describe in words what he did,
05:55without the generosity of this adventure,
05:57and kindness and kindness with honor,
05:59and good treatment,
06:01and how he built a good international reputation for the Emirates.
06:03May Allah reward him well.
06:05We are honored to be the children of Sheikh Zayed.
06:09May Allah have mercy on him.
06:11Mr. Mohamed Al Shamsi, who was a close friend of the royal family,
06:16collaborated on the late Sheikh Zayed's goodness, compassion, and humanitarianism.
06:21Sheikh Zayed did something that no one else could do.
06:26He was a good man.
06:31The patient visits him.
06:35He did everything for the good of the country and its citizens.
06:41They participated in the marriage ceremonies.
06:46When a man passed away,
06:48no one visited him or his family.
06:54Sheikh Zayed,
06:56cannot be described in words.
07:00All the rulers want to visit Sheikh Zayed,
07:03but they can't.
07:06Sheikh Zayed,
07:09he is generous,
07:11generous,
07:13and brave.
07:15He has everything.
07:17I can't describe him.
07:19This is what I know about Sheikh Zayed.
07:22Sheikh Zayed,
07:24may Allah protect him,
07:26and extend his life to his children.