Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the former President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, was born in the city of Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in 1918. He was the fourth son of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, the Ruler of Abu Dhabi at the time. Sheikh Zayed was educated in the traditional Islamic manner, memorizing the Quran and studying Islamic jurisprudence, Arabic literature and poetry.

Sheikh Zayed served as Ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1966 until his death in 2004. During his reign, he was credited with transforming Abu Dhabi from a sparsely populated desert land into a modern, prosperous nation. He is also credited with uniting the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates into one nation.

Sheikh Zayed was a major philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to charitable causes. He established the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Foundation in Abu Dhabi, which has provided aid to people in need around the world. He also established the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, which is now one of the largest mosques in the world.

In 2007, Sheikh Zayed was posthumously awarded the prestigious Chatham House Prize for his efforts in improving the lives of the people of the United Arab Emirates and for his role in regional peace and stability. He is also remembered fondly in his home city of Al Ain, where a major street is named after him and a monument stands in his honor.