The Founder’s Memorial, a permanent tribute to Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is being inaugurated in Abu Dhabi. Located at the intersection of first and second street along the Abu Dhabi Corniche, the Memorial has been built on a 3.3-hectare site. Follow our live updates:
7.42pm
The memorial is all lit up on inauguration day
This monumental artwork is the centrepiece of the site and its unveiling marked the formal inauguration of the Memorial
Another view of the artwork
7.35pm
Leaders attend opening of Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi.
.@HHShkMohd, @MohamedBinZayed and Rulers of emirates attend the inauguration of the #FounderMemorial as the #UAE celebrates @YearofZayed
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 26, 2018
Pics: @HHShkMohd, @MohamedBinZayed and Rulers of emirates attend the inauguration of the #FounderMemorial as the #UAE celebrates @YearofZayed pic.twitter.com/5t5TkDpteb
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 26, 2018
7.21pm
The event kicks off with a musical performance
Another video of the musical performance ahead of the inauguration
6.50pm
At the Founder’s Memorial waiting the official inauguration #zayed#memorial #founder #abudhabi #uae pic.twitter.com/muAREYeDtB
— Abdul Hamid Ahmad (@AbdulHamidAhmad) February 26, 2018
6.45pm
Anticipation builds ahead of the unveiling of the Founder’s Memorial.
Earlier report
The Founder’s Memorial, a permanent tribute to Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, will be inaugurated in Abu Dhabi on February 26.
Residents can watch the official inauguration ceremony on all major national TV channels. The event will also be live-streamed online and audiences can follow @FounderMemorial on Facebook and Instagram for details. The broadcast will begin at 9.30pm.
Located at the intersection of first and second street along the Abu Dhabi Corniche, the Founder’s Memorial has been built on a 3.3-hectare site that features a landscaped area with indigenous plants and shrubbery from the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula in keeping with Shaikh Zayed’s commitment to nurturing local flora and fauna. The space will also feature an elevated walkway with stunning views of the memorial’s central artwork, and beyond to the Abu Dhabi skyline.
At the Welcome Centre, rarely seen footage, personal stories, articles and artefacts will offer insights on Shaikh Zayed.
The Founder’s Memorial will be inaugurated through the unveiling of the monumental artwork, the centrepiece of the site, to coincide with the Year of Zayed, a national year of commemoration declared by the UAE President to mark Shaikh Zayed’s 100th birth anniversary.