The Mohammed bin Zayed Council reviews Sheikh Zayed’s wisdom in decision-making and establishing stability

His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Zayed Al Khair Foundation, witnessed the first Ramadan session organized by the Mohammed bin Zayed Council in its current season, under the title “Lessons from the Founding Father’s Thought on Cooperation.” Speaking at the session, which was held at the Council’s headquarters at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, the Cultural Advisor to His Highness the President of the State and the Supreme President of the United Arab Emirates University, Zaki Nusseibeh, and the Assistant Professor at INSEAD University Abu Dhabi and the Sorbonne University. Abu Dhabi, Dr. Anya Merz.
During the lecture, the founding father’s vision of building trust and his comprehensive approach to negotiation that laid the foundations of unity were highlighted.
Nusseibeh shared with the audience never-before-told stories about the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul. He said: “When the United Arab Emirates was founded in 1971, it existed in complex regional circumstances that portended real existential risks. The region was rife with conflicts and disputes, and the prevailing view at the time was that the Emirates, as small, dispersed entities that had transformed into an emerging country, might find it difficult to confront these challenges.”
Nusseibeh added: “The region was blessed with the presence of a historical leader with an inspiring vision, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who confronted these risks with a long-term strategic vision, and one of the most prominent pillars of his strategy was building a wide network of Arab, Islamic, regional and international relations, to strengthen the position of the young state, gain support and recognition for it, and consolidate its role in supporting security and stability in the region.”
He pointed out that the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed for international relations was based on common interests and the stability of peoples, and he also established a basic principle in international relations, that “state relations are not based on people, despite the importance of personal relations, but on common vital interests and human values ​​that enhance cooperation between peoples.”
Nusseibeh pointed out that the late Sheikh Zayed, may God have mercy on him, believed that Islam is a religion of love, tolerance and openness, and he always stressed that religions are in the service of mankind, and that cooperation between them is necessary to build the land in which God has appointed mankind. He categorically rejected violence and killing, and was deeply angry at the terrorist acts committed in the name of Islam, stressing that they contradict its essence and tolerant values.
He said: “After the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York, he made a phone call to the then US President, George Bush, in which he clearly expressed the UAE’s categorical rejection of those actions, stressing the need for Islamic and non-Islamic countries to cooperate to confront terrorism, and at the same time he stressed the importance of addressing the roots of extremism, by establishing justice, resolving outstanding issues in the Middle East, implementing international legitimacy resolutions, and helping poor peoples, because poverty and injustice constitute a fertile environment for extremism,” noting that He affirmed the same position in his meeting with the then British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, stressing that confronting terrorism requires joint action, but also fair and sustainable solutions to regional issues.
Nusseibeh added: “One of the prominent features of his leadership is the sincerity of his word and the clarity of his position. He spoke what he believed in openly, inside and outside meetings, which earned him the confidence and respect of the leaders. He enjoyed credibility and love, because his positions were consistent and consistent with his convictions,” stressing that the late Sheikh Zayed, may God rest his soul, combined strategic vision, honesty in expression, and commitment to human values. He established strong and balanced relations with various countries of the world, and consolidated the UAE’s position as a country based on moderation, cooperation, and the constant pursuit of security and stability.
For her part, Dr. Anya Merz confirmed that “the late Sheikh Zayed was characterized by his constant pursuit of knowing the needs of others, without imposing his own choices,” noting that “effective negotiating leadership is based on avoiding falling into the trap of profit-and-loss maneuvers, and instead calling for a win-win situation. Even if the other party does not adopt this approach, the leader’s aspiration should be toward making the deal better for both parties.”
She explained that the late Sheikh Zayed was characterized by great intellectual curiosity and a constant keenness to understand the needs of his people, which was clearly embodied in the “Council”, as an authentic local institution that reflects the values of dialogue and understanding. Between justice, inclusiveness and sustainability.
She pointed to the significance of sitting side by side – as in the well-known picture of people sitting under a tree in Al Ain – as a symbol of cooperation, as “facing challenges as partners in solving problems is radically different from sitting facing each other with a zero-sum mentality.”
She touched on examples from the Founding Father’s journey that illustrate his ability as a great leader capable of building bridges, creating value, and making the best possible decisions, including the development of the Aflaj system in Al Ain in 1946, by addressing multiple issues and establishing long-term partnerships in the oil sector, then the negotiations to establish the Federation of the United Arab Emirates following the British withdrawal in 1968, where he adopted a strategy of sequencing and gradual confidence building, leading to the approval of the permanent constitution through flexible and gradual structures that strengthened unity.
She stressed that “this cooperative approach contributed to the successful development of the United Arab Emirates, achieving sustainable economic growth, and enhancing the tourism and commercial presence globally,” stressing that “the late Sheikh Zayed was a statesman in the service of his people, transcending personal considerations, and characterized by generosity and a unitary vision, believing that the nation’s strength lies in its cohesion and that the house is united.”

Zaki Nusseibeh:

• Sheikh Zayed is a historical leader with an inspiring vision, who had a long-term strategic vision.

Dr. Anya Merz:

• Sheikh Zayed was characterized by his constant pursuit of knowing the needs of others, without imposing his own choices.