UAE united in New Year ceremonies to honour Zayed legacy

Rarely in history do we see men who leave footprints that generations after them will follow.
For the UAE, today marks the birth of such a man - a leader, statesmen and modern visionary - who continues to inspire an entire nation, even a century after his birth.
As 2018 marks the centennial of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's birth, the UAE is paying a glowing tribute to its founding father by marking 2018 as the Year of Zayed.
The Year of Zayed is not just about remembering the Father of the Nation, but also upholding the virtues he lived by, and instilling them across the country. Which would mean promoting peace and tolerance, universal human values, gender balance, environmental protection, and pioneering spirit and charity. The values that make UAE stand out as a peaceful, progressive haven that is home for more than 200 nationalities.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said the Year of Zayed is all about tolerance. "The late Sheikh Zayed established a global school of tolerance and coexistence because he knew from the Union's beginnings that the UAE's uniqueness lay in its ability to welcome different races, religions, and cultures without abandoning its social and cultural identity. The principles in which the late Ruler believed, and strived for, were aimed at creating a world of coexistence and peace," said the Crown Prince.
In a world that is fractured with religious fanaticism and intolerance, there is much to emulate from Sheikh Zayed's life and teachings.
For the people of the UAE, the Year of Zayed is an apt occasion to come together and celebrate the man whose timeless appeal and vision have touched many lives, and transformed the emirates into a modern progressive state. In the words of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, "The best way to celebrate the Year of Zayed would be by spreading Zayed's glorious human and cultural legacy via all the people of the UAE, to continue his inspirational and noble values, and introduce these ideals to new generations."
The Year of Zayed will be held under four main themes of Wisdom, Respect, Sustainability and Human Development. And the initiative will bring together people from all walks of life - regionally and internationally - to educate and create greater awareness of the life and achievements of Shaikh Zayed; raise his profile to that of one of the world's greatest leaders and most inspirational figures; reinforce his status as an eternal source of national pride and a powerful symbol of the UAE around the world; and celebrate and honour his legacy through projects and initiatives that are consistent with his vision and values.
Through the Year of Zayed and for the next centuries to come, the man who taught his people to value their past to know their present, will continue to be the guiding light and inspiration.
anjana@khaleejtimes.com