UAE to open 'Founder’s Memorial' next week

The UAE government will next week open 'The Founder’s Memorial' which commemorates the country's founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s life, legacy, and values and enables people to feel more deeply connected to him. Under the directives of the UAE President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, The Founder’s Memorial, a permanent national tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, will be inaugurated on Monday (January 22) in an official ceremony in the capital, Abu Dhabi. Located at the intersection of 1st and 2nd street along The Corniche in Abu Dhabi, the 3.3 hectares of new public space will instill pride and purpose in the UAE community as a place for reflection and celebration of the nation’s history and heritage, honouring Sheikh Zayed’s timeless legacy as a guiding star for the UAE people, and passing his values onto future generations of Emiratis. The official inauguration ceremony will be telecast live on all major national TV channels in the UAE from 9.30pm onwards. Viewers can also stream the event online by following the instructions at @FounderMemorial on Facebook and Instagram, said the organisers. The Founder’s Memorial opening will kick off with the unveiling of the monumental artwork, the centerpiece of the site. It will coincide with the commencement of the Year of Zayed, a national year of commemoration declared by the UAE President to mark 100 years since the birth of the founder. This year the nation will celebrate the late leader’s unparalleled role in establishing the UAE federation, and his local, regional and international achievements, they stated. The Founder's Memorial will be open to the public in Spring this year. It will offer visitors a range of personal encounters with the late Sheikh Zayed as a man and a leader, enabling people to gain a deeper understanding of his life, legacy and values, said the organisers. Besides learning about Sheikh Zayed through art, landscape, words, stories, and rare footage, the visitors to the site can also look forward to a dynamic, informative and inspirational experience, they added