Lead:
Senior UAE officials and members of the ruling families marked World Father's Day with coordinated public tributes honoring the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, while the country simultaneously advanced its humanitarian operations in Gaza under Operation Al-Faris Al-Shahm 3, delivering 786 tonnes of aid across five convoys. The convergence of symbolic leadership messaging and active relief efforts underscores the UAE's dual emphasis on national identity and international humanitarian engagement.
Details:
Across official platforms, Al Khaleej newspaper reported that President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan described Sheikh Zayed as "a symbol of fatherhood that built a nation with wisdom," posting the tribute on the X platform. Deputy President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum reflected on the meaning of fatherhood in national life, while Deputy President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan called on citizens to carry forward the values Sheikh Zayed had planted in Emirati families. Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Al Jaber, CEO of ADNOC, similarly invoked Sheikh Zayed's memory on the occasion.
Al Khaleej further reported that Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, stated that he learned from "the school of Mohammed bin Rashid" that children are an extension of their fathers' legacies. Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum echoed the sentiment, describing his father's words as a source of inspiration for every Emirati. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture, publicly credited Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid as her primary source of inspiration and support.
On the humanitarian front, Al Khaleej reported that Operation Al-Faris Al-Shahm 3 delivered five aid convoys carrying 786 tonnes of supplies into Gaza, while a dedicated education initiative branded "Masahat Amal" — meaning Space of Hope — was launched to support secondary school students in the territory with internet-equipped learning points and reliable electricity.
Al Khaleej also reported that Federal National Council Speaker Saqr Ghobash, speaking at the fourth session of the Marrakech Parliamentary Economic Forum for the Euro-Mediterranean and Gulf Region, stressed that economic and parliamentary cooperation between Gulf and Euro-Mediterranean states represents a strategic imperative for achieving sustainable development. UAE Federal National Council member Said Rashid Al Abedi reinforced this message, describing free trade as the cornerstone of sustainable regional integration.
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