 On November 2nd 2004, HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, passed away. He was not merely a national leader, but widely respected locally and the world over.
In a statement, the former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, noted that HH Sheikh Zayed had "devoted tireless efforts to building the state and nation and, in so doing, earned the respect of the population for his wisdom, generosity and his achievements in building a prosperous economy. HH Sheikh Zayed's wisdom, strong belief in diplomacy and generous assistance to developing countries also won him wide recognition outside his own country - in the Islamic world and beyond. And he was a friend of the United Nations, and always sought to strengthen relations between the Organization and his country".
HH Sheikh Zayed is remembered for his deep interest in his country's landscape, wildlife, and notably an unwavering determination to realise even the most ambitious goals. In a speech he delivered to mark the UAE's first Environment Day in February 1998, Sheikh Zayed articulated his beliefs:
"We cherish our environment because it is an integral part of our country, our history and our heritage. On land and in the sea, our forefathers lived and survived in this environment. They were able to do so only because they recognised the need to conserve it, to take from it only what they needed to live, and to preserve it for succeeding generations.
With God's will, we shall continue to work to protect our environment and our wildlife, as did our forefathers before us. It is a duty, and, if we fail, our children, rightly, will reproach us for squandering an essential part of their inheritance, and of our heritage".
HH Sheikh Zayed founded a program to protect the country's wildlife and created a sanctuary for endangered species such as the Arabian Oryx and the sand gazelle. As a result of this initiative, the symbol of Abu Dhabi, the Dorcas Gazelle, is a protected species whose numbers are today increasing. HH Sheikh Zayed also reintroduced traditional methods of desert agriculture, ensuring that Abu Dhabi will ong be greener and more fertile.
HH Sheikh Zayed ensured that the political infrastructure was created to support sustainable development in Abu Dhabi. He created official institutions such as the Federal Environment Agency and Abu Dhabi's Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency. While he acknowledged the responsibility that government must assume in conserving the natural environment, he also called upon individuals to play a role in ensuring the region developed sustainably.
In 1995, WWF presented it's highest conservation award, the Golden Panda, to HH Sheikh Zayed, marking the first time in the awards history that it had been bestowed on a head of state.
The Zayed Future Energy Prize is one way in which Abu Dhabi has chosen to honour and continue HH Sheikh Zayed's legacy of environmental stewardship.
Source: HH Sheikh Zayed: A Special Tribute, Embassy of the United Arab Emirates. |