Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, commonly known as Sheikh Zayed, was the founding father of the United Arab Emirates. He was born in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi in 1918 and ruled the emirate of Abu Dhabi from 1966 until his death in 2004. Throughout his reign, he worked to improve the quality of life of all citizens throughout the United Arab Emirates.

In 2000, Sheikh Zayed launched the Zayed 2000 initiative, an ambitious program focused on providing high quality education to all citizens of the UAE. The program initiated 49 new career-focused schools and universities, with two major universities, United Arab Emirates University and Khalifa University, receiving major funding. In addition, Sheikh Zayed also funded a number of projects to improve infrastructure, such as improved road networks, telecommunications, and water and electricity systems.

Sheikh Zayed was an advocate for international relations and cross-cultural collaboration. His efforts saw the establishment of strong ties between the UAE and other countries, with the country hosting a number of high level international events, such as the Special Olympics World Games in 2019.

The legacy of Sheikh Zayed continues to be felt today, with many projects launched in his name being continued after his death