On this day, 18 years ago, the man responsible for the unification of the UAE and much of its early development died.
It was the 19th day of Ramadan and a time when news was heard on radios, television or by word of mouth.
It was no secret that Sheikh Zayed had been in fragile health. He was 84 and his public appearances had become rare.
A TV presenter on a local station delivered the upsetting news in the evening. Overcome with emotion, he said Sheikh Zayed, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, the Founding Father, was dead.
All pretence of normal life ceased; offices were deserted and shops closed.
Radio stations played the Quran and flags were lowered as a sombre mood enveloped the country.
Forty days of mourning were declared and schools and government offices closed for eight days, to reopen after Eid Al Fitr.
The funeral was held the day after his death, with prayers held at Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed the First Mosque, in Al Bateen, and attended by the rulers of every emirate and leaders of Arab nations.
The prayers and burial were streamed live on local television.
Helicopter footage showed a sea of white as kandura-clad men poured out of the mosque and into almost a dozen large parked buses.
Sheikh Zayed's body, cloaked in the UAE flag, was taken to the then under-construction Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, where he was laid to rest.
Thousands of people of all backgrounds and creeds lined the streets, waiting beneath the shade of the trees, to mourn the much-loved leader, known affectionately as Baba Zayed.
Men and women cried, some threw themselves to the ground while others stood in solemn silence.
Crowds of people clamoured around the vehicle, waving pictures of the country's Ruler and trying to touch the car.
Those who did not head to the streets, prayed at home or in mosques.
Sheikh Zayed was born in Abu Dhabi on May 6, 1918. He became Ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966 and President of the UAE at its birth in 1971.
After the death of Sheikh Zayed, Sheikh Khalifa was named President. Sheikh Khalifa died on May 13, 2022.
In 2013, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced that November 3 would be marked with Flag Day, a celebration of Sheikh Khalifa's accession by raising the country's flag.
The day aims to remind everyone not just of the UAE's glowing memories of the past but also to consider the promise of an even brighter future.
The anniversary of Sheikh Zayed's death is marked each year on Ramadan 19 with Zayed Humanitarian Work Day in commemoration for his legacy of charity and giving that is upheld and continued in the UAE to this day.
It's also an annual event to announce the launch of several humanitarian and charity initiatives through official community events held in the Emirates.
*This story first appeared in The National in 2021
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Brief scoreline:
Manchester United 2
Rashford 28', Martial 72'
Watford 1
Doucoure 90'
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Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
