Look: Rare photos of Sheikh Zayed on display at cultural exhibition

Abu Dhabi - Residents can also learn interesting anecdotes about Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Foundation

A new in-person exhibition at Abu Dhabi’s Cultural Foundation is offering community members a great opportunity to see some rare photos of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and key moments in the country’s history.

‘Al Mujamma’, an interactive archival exhibition, narrates the story of the foundation from its conceptualisation by Sheikh Zayed in 1973 to its opening in 1981 and other milestones.

There are photos of Sheikh Zayed inspecting the Cultural Foundation, when the construction work was under way.

You’ll find frames of the Founding Father inaugurating a session of the Federal National Council (FNC) in the presence of the Rulers of Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman, Fujairah, and other sheikhs and ministers.

Another photo shows Sheikh Zayed with the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Several images showcase how the foundation regularly hosted Sheikh Zayed, presidential ceremonies, high-level ministerial meetings, exhibitions and special functions.

There are footnotes with messages. One speech from Sheikh Zayed during the FNC reads: “The federal experience in the country is stabilising, and the wealth must be directed to provide a better life for all citizens.”

Through the exhibition, residents can also learn interesting anecdotes about the foundation, which sits opposite Qasr Al Hosn.

For instance, the heritage building was initially known as the Foundation of Documentation and Cultural Institutions. It was in 1984 that Sheikh Zayed issued a decree changing the name to the Cultural Foundation or ‘Al Mujamma Al Thaqafi’ — the Arabic name highlighting how the building encapsulated diverse governmental and societal functions.

An all-Emirati team of curators — Aysha Al Hemeiri, Reem Al Hashmi and Noor Al Mehairbi — put together this exhibition, which also marks a large-scale return of activities at the foundation.

Apart from ‘Al Mujamma’, there are installations by three Emirati artists: Mahmoud Al Ramahi, Jalal Luqman and Azza Al Qubaisi; and a series of short films shedding light on the story of six Emirati artists: Abdulrahim Salem, Dr Mohamed Yousef, Khulood Al Jaberi, Mahmoud Al Ramahi, Mona Al Khaja and Obaid Suroor.