Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (Arabic: زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان, romanized: Zāyid bin Sulṭān Āl Nahyān; 6 May 1918 – 2 November 2004) was an Emirati royal, politician, philanthropist and the founder of the United Arab Emirates.

Sheikh Zayed ibn Sultan Al Nahyan (born c. 1918, Abu Dhabi—died November 2, 2004) was the president of the United Arab Emirates from 1971 to 2004 and emir of Abu Dhabi from 1966 to 2004. He was credited with federalizing and modernizing the United Arab Emirates and making it one of the most prosperous countries in the region.

His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan served as President of the United Arab Emirates since the formation of the Federation on 2 December 1971 and as Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi since 1966.

Sheikh Zayed was a good listener and an unbiased dispute mediator. He was also renowned for his patience, vision and wisdom, qualities that earned him the title of 'the wise man of the Arabs.' He ensured that all UAE citizens were involved in the nation's collective success.

May 7, 2018 · Celebrated as 'the man who turned the desert green', the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan went on to become the Founding Father of the UAE and one of the world's most approachable leaders.

Sheikh Zayed was born in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in 1918 at Qasr al-Hosn to Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed, the Ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1922-1926. He was the youngest of Sheikh Sultan’s four sons and was named after his famous grandfather, known as ‘Zayed the Great’, the Ruler of the Emirate from 1885-1909.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (Arabic: ٱلشَّيْخ زَايِد بِن سُلْطَان آل نَهْيَان, romanized: Ash-Shaykh Zāyed bin Sulṭān Āl Nahyān; 6 May 1918 – 2 November 2004) was the ruler of Abu Dhabi for more than 30 years (6 August 1966 [1] – 2 November 2004). He was the main builder of the United Arab Emirates.