Selection of 2018 to be "Year of Zayed" reflects the exceptional and unique status of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan for each Emirati"

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

The announcement of the Year of Zayed

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, on the 6^th day of August of 2017, announced that 2018 would be named Zayed Al Khair to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the founding leader and his pioneering role in establishing the UAE.

A Year that Commemorates Zayed and his Achievements, Values and Principles

The Announcement aims to commemorate the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and to consolidate his values and principles as one of the greatest and most inspiring figures of the world with his great ability to influence, which was manifested in gathering and uniting the nation under the flag of the union, which made the UAE an economic and social power with great influence in its Arab, regional and global environment. The Announcement also reflects the State's interest in promoting Zayed's status as a symbol of patriotism.

Introducing the Year of Zayed

It is a great national occasion to recall the life of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the State, and his deep heritage of values, principles and traditions that have characterized the Emirati personality and embodied its soft power in the region and the world, especially that the State he founded with his brothers rulers of the UAE was based on unity, togetherness and solidarity.