Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan 1918 – 2004

Biography

Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was born on May 6, 1918, in Abu Dhabi, during a transformative era for the Arabian Peninsula. His life would span most of the twentieth century, witnessing and shaping the profound changes that reshaped his homeland. For nearly four decades, from 1966 to 2003, he served as Sheikh of Abu Dhabi, a role that placed him at the center of his nation’s development and international standing during critical years of growth and modernization.

His leadership extended through a period of remarkable transformation, guiding Abu Dhabi through significant social, economic, and political changes. Throughout his tenure, he remained committed to his people and the vision he held for his emirate’s future. Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan passed away on November 2, 2004, in Abu Dhabi, at the age of eighty-six, following complications from pulmonary fibrosis. In honor of his memory and legacy, he was laid to rest at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, a final resting place befitting his prominent place in his nation’s history.