UAE declares January 7 as Zayed the Founder Day

Dubai: The UAE will observe January 7 as Zayed the Founder day starting next year.

In a post on X, The President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the day will be "dedicated to celebrating his enduring legacy, transforming wisdom into action".

"The UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, forever remains in the hearts of the people of the UAE. As he led efforts to establish the Union, laid its foundations, and nurtured its development, his life and legacy were defined by his vision, generosity, and service to humanity. Today, we declare 7 January as Zayed the Founder Day, a new annual national occasion dedicated to celebrating his enduring legacy, transforming wisdom into action, and ensuring these values continue to inspire our nation on its steadfast path of progress towards the future," he said.

At the heart of Zayed the Founder Day is a commitment to ensuring that future generations experience Sheikh Zayed’s legacy as part of the UAE’s history and as an enduring source of guidance and inspiration. The day will give younger generations opportunities to understand the choices, principles and values that shaped the UAE, and to consider how they can apply those values in their own lives and contribute to the country’s future.

The day will be inclusive and accessible to people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds. This reflects Sheikh Zayed’s conviction that respect, dignity, understanding and cooperation are the foundations of a strong and prosperous society and a stable and peaceful world.

Each year, Zayed the Founder Day will provide a focal point for projects and initiatives spanning education, culture, research, content, community participation, events and public engagement. Activities will extend beyond January 7 and continue throughout the year. The day aims to bring institutions, communities, schools, families and individuals together around Sheikh Zayed’s legacy, while providing an annual moment to launch and showcase initiatives that preserve and activate his values.

The timing of the day at the beginning of the year is intentional. As schools, workplaces and institutions begin a new year, January 7 gives the people of the UAE a national moment to reconnect with Sheikh Zayed’s values, renew their commitment to the principles he embodied throughout his life, and carry them forward through the year.

Zayed the Founder Day is an initiative of The Founder’s Office, which is mandated to lead, guide and enable initiatives that preserve, enrich understanding of, and drive engagement with the life, legacy and values of the late Sheikh Zayed. Through the day and its year-round initiatives, the office aims to ensure that Sheikh Zayed’s legacy remains a living source of inspiration and guidance across generations.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, welcomed the declaration.

In a post on X, he said: “The announcement by His Highness the President of ‘Zayed the Founder Day’ renews our pride in the legacy of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and the values upon which our nation was built.

“The greatest tribute we can pay to Sheikh Zayed is to ensure that his approach remains alive in our hearts and minds, and that his values remain firmly instilled in our children.”