Dubai: You can now catch a glimpse of some of the rare photos of the Founding Father of the UAE Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, printed three to six decades ago, thanks to a photo exhibition opened by Dubai Municipality.
Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality on Monday inaugurated the photo exhibition at the Municipality’s Al Kifaf Centre near Jafiliya Metro Station. The exhibition is part of Dubai Municipality’s initiatives in support of the Year of Zayed 2018 announced by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The municipality has chosen 100 photos of Shaikh Zayed from the archives of its erstwhile publication, Akhbar Dubai [Dubai News], for the exhibition, Lootah told Gulf News.
He said it was the first news magazine in the UAE which was printed from the 1960s to 1980s.
“We have about 60 photos here and we have [40] more also to be presented later on,” said Lootah.
The moving exhibition will be on for a month at the Al Kifaf Centre, following which it will be shifted to other centres of the municipality located in Al Manara, Al Twar, and Hatta.
Lootah said the civic body may also host the exhibition at other municipality facilities like Dubai Frame and Dubai Safari depending on the feasibility.
Khalid Badri, director of Corporate Marketing and Relations, said some of the photos in the exhibition had never been republished. Hence, he said, this is the first time the public would be seeing them after they appeared in the municipality’s magazine.
The pictures displayed showed Shaikh Zayed at various local and international events and his meetings with citizens on national celebrations and other occasions.
There are photos that show him with the then Rulers of other emirates and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Badri said the municipality is willing to host the exhibition at schools and malls if the latter request for that.
Lootah said the emblem of the Year of Zayed will also be displayed through the social media channels of the Municipality.
It has also begun using the slogan of the Year of Zayed 2018 in its correspondences.
The municipality has also prepared a documentary film on the achievements of the late Shaikh Zayed, to be presented during the activities of its Car Free Day initiative happening in February.
The exhibition
What: Zayed Exhibition
Where: Dubai Municipality’s Al Kifaf Centre
When: 7.30am to 2.30pm for one month from Jan 22
Entry: Free
