ABU DHABI: A permanent tribute to the nation's founding father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has been named, ‘The Founder’s Memorial’ by Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Set to be inaugurated in early 2018 to coincide with the Year of Zayed and marking the 100-year anniversary of Sheikh Zayed’s birth, the memorial will offer visitors a journey of discovery into the life and legacy of Sheikh Zayed through rarely-seen footage, personal stories, articles and artefacts.

The memorial has been established as a national commemoration of the UAE’s founding father, his visionary leadership and his vast influence on his country and the wider world.

Located at the intersection of first and second street along Abu Dhabi's Corniche and covering an area of 3.3 hectares, The Founder’s Memorial will create an iconic national landmark for locals and residents of the UAE in the heart of the nation’s capital.

"The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is a guiding star whose vision continues to light a path of progress and prosperity for the UAE nation. We are immensely proud of his visionary leadership and values that underscore his wisdom, as well as the groundwork he laid for our nation’s advocacy of tolerance and co-existence," Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, said in a statement.

"Through the establishment of The Founder’s Memorial, it is our intention to foster connections with our nation’s founding father among future generations of Emiratis and for posterity, and to highlight his perceptive leadership to the whole UAE population by providing a place of gathering for the community in which to reflect and celebrate," Sheikh Mansour added.

The landscaped site will feature native plants and shrubbery from the UAE and the Arabian Peninsula, in keeping with Sheikh 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.

WAM