UAE leaders hail Sheikh Zayed's leadership on 60th anniversary of accession

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan hailed the leadership of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, on the 60th anniversary of his accession as Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

In a post on social media platform X, Sheikh Mohamed marked the "historic milestone", by recalling "the beginnings that nurtured our collective journey of progress and laid the foundations of the Union".

"Inspired by his Sheikh Zayed’s leadership and vision, we will continue to advance his enduring belief that people must always be placed at the heart of efforts to build a sustainable and prosperous future for our nation."

Sheikh Zayed took office as Abu Dhabi ruler on August 6, 1966.

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the accession of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed, as Ruler of Abu Dhabi on 6 August 1966. On this historic milestone, we recall the beginnings that nurtured our collective journey of progress and laid the foundations of the…

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) August 6, 2026

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, paid tribute to the visionary leader Sheikh Zayed, who not only built a nation, but empowered its people as well. 

"Sheikh Zayed will remain immortal in the memory of the homeland and in the conscience of its people," he wrote.  

علمتني الحياة بأن زايد لم يكن قائداً وزعيماً فقط.. بل كان فكرة عظيمة ..

هناك قادة عظماء يبنون دولاً .. وهناك مفكرين ومصلحين يبنون إنساناً .. زايد بنى دولة .. وبنى إنسان .. وصنع علاقة عميقة بين الإنسان والوطن.

وسيبقى زايد خالداً في ذاكرة الوطن وفي وجدان الإنسان..

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) August 6, 2026