Remembering Sheikh Zayed, the Father of UAE
On the 6th of August each year, we celebrate the accession of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. This is the day he assumed leadership as the ruler of Abu Dhabi, marking the start of a new era in the history of the UAE.
As the nation commemorates and celebrates this historical milestone, I would like to remember Sheikh Zayed as visionary and progressive leader, and his transformation and transition from the past to a prosperous present.
It is impossible to understand the growth of Abu Dhabi and the UAE at large without understanding the life of Sheikh Zayed, his deep religious faith, vision, determination, hard work, his generosity at home and abroad; and the way in which he devoted his life to the service of his people and the creation of a better world.
It had to begin somewhere
Turning a desert into a green and hospitable environment is not an easy fit. Sheikh Zayed was an exceptional leader ahead of his time who had a vision and started early on it.
Abu Dhabi, as it was known then, was an underdeveloped desert area with an economy largely based on pearl diving, fishing and date farming, and simple agriculture. Education was limited to basic reading and writing lessons, and religious teachings. Camels - the ships of the desert - horses, and small boats were primary modes of transportation in the harsh weather conditions where survival was paramount.
Looking at currency, the Gulf Rupee was used at first, followed by a lot of different currencies before the UAE dirham was issued in 1973.
Living through possibility
Under the guidance of Sheikh Zayed, the United Arab Emirates emerged. The separate emirates agreed to unite as one country with Sheikh Zayed as the president. He understood the importance of a strong union to make the future state durable on an international level. He managed to establish the Emirates as a global player among the modern industrial countries.
Concerned by the economic stability of the nation, he was able to distribute Abu Dhabi’s oil revenue to the sectors that were most in need of development like infrastructure overhaul, construction of schools, housing, hospitals, and roads.
Sheikh Zayed nurtured the culture of coexistence, and it is with this vision and its implementation in the UAE that has made it possible for people of different cultures and religions to coexist. It is why you and I are here today peacefully.
Known for his love of nature and keenness to preserve the environment, Sheikh Zayed focused, in his first actions as ruler of Abu Dhabi, on the promotion of agriculture and the spreading of greenery to control desertification. He also ordered the plantation of more than 140 million trees throughout the emirate and after his death, in 2005, the UNEP honoured him as an outstanding and innovative leader with the 'Champion of the Earth' award.
Sheikh Zayed felt it was his duty to use his personal and political influence in both the Arab and international grounds to achieve equitable and durable peace in the Middle East. He demonstrated concern for peacekeeping and reconciliation and participated in mediation when he needed to.
Notably, his compassion towards people led him to organize humanitarian relief initiatives locally and internationally.
On reforming the education system, he was keen to meet all the necessary education requirements for a modern nation-state and as a result, we have many accredited institutions that attract students from foreign countries.
And we could go on and on, but bottom line is, his achievements cannot be underestimated. He paved way for a lot of progression that we are enjoying now and today many countries seek to emulate the UAE.
The UAE we see today
Without a vision, Abu Dhabi - and UAE - would be lagging in development and growth. He skilfully charted the way to the future for many UAE generations to come.
He left behind a tradition of tolerance, coexistence, openness and call for dialog among people of various faiths and civilizations. We remember him as a progressive and diplomatic leader.
The people of Abu Dhabi enjoy living in a modern, technologically advanced surrounding, a historic leap from its previous settlers and making steady progress towards diversification.
Sheikh Zayed, to me, is an inspiration. His vision as an exemplary leader has raised the UAE on the world map and set the foundation of a future-focused globally-connected environment.
Al Masaood Automobiles today marches in his footsteps, keeping his values and teachings in mind as we contribute to Abu Dhabi’s booming economy. Nissan Patrol symbolizes determination and resilience, much like the visionary Sheikh Zayed, and I am proud to share that this model was one of his vehicles of choice.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan will be remembered in our hearts forever.
About the author
Irfan Tansel: Global Citizen and CEO of Al Masaood Automobiles
With over 40 years of experience spanning across three continents, Irfan Tansel is recognized as ‘100 inspiring leaders in the Middle East’ by Arabian Business magazine and ‘CEO of the Year’ by CEO Magazine, and he is driven to disrupt the automotive industry and to create a legacy.
Irfan’s passion for automobiles began at the age of 15 when he apprenticed as an auto mechanic. Now an entrepreneurial and visionary leader, Irfan is credited for his unique approach to innovation, employee engagement, and more recently, succeeding in a challenging market. In 2019 and 2020, Al Masaood Automobiles gained global recognition for re-strategizing; creating an omnichannel experience to prepare for Industry 4.0. Al Masaood Automobiles launched the region’s first e-commerce car buying website with Nissan, and a virtual, live & interactive sales platform. 2019 was a record-breaking year with Al Masaood Automobiles selling more cars than ever before.
Under Irfan’s leadership, Al Masaood Automobiles have been awarded numerous accolades. In both 2013 and 2019, Al Masaood Automobiles won the coveted Nissan Global Award, recognizing their outstanding performance and contribution to Nissan’s business.
Renault’s prestigious Global Partners Award (P.A.R.I.S. Challenge), received in 2020, is the highest accolade for car dealerships granted for exceptional performance in customer satisfaction, and in Sales and Aftersales – tapping into new market segments, strengthening the brand, and expanding their portfolio. They reported a staggering double digit sales growth, outperforming other Renault dealers around the globe.
With an unrelenting desire to best serve his customers, Irfan believes that “the road to recognition is built upon a commitment to leave behind the ordinary to achieve the extraordinary”. His competitive nature drives his vision to revolutionise the industry and lead the transition into a future where disruption capitalizes innovation. After achieving his goals and reaching the peak of his career, he is determined to motivate tomorrow’s leaders by sharing his extensive knowledge in leadership.
When Irfan isn’t preparing for a future of disruption, as electric cars, connectivity, autonomous vehicles and ride-sharing come into play, you can find him spending time with his family and playing golf.
For media and keynote inquiries, please email his brand manager Jen at Jen@prestidgegroup.com or call +971 55 719 3601. DOWNLOAD IRFAN’S MEDIA KIT.
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