The Founders Memorial

Project Overview The Ministry of Presidential Affairs established a permanent tribute, a monumental dynamic three-dimensional public artwork portrait to honor the founding father of the nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The artwork publicly named as “The Constellation” designed by Ralph Helmick (Helmick Sculpture), consists of 1,110 stainless steel cables to hold 1,327 platonic solid shapes, weighing 250 tons. The total built up area of the project development is 510,155 Sq. Ft. including the Pavilion building which supports the artwork and is approximately 100 feet tall (30 meters), plaza area with 239,920 Sq. Ft., Sanctuary Garden, Heritage Garden, Elevated Walkway, and the Welcome Center which showcases the history and photos of the late Sheikh Zayed. Conceptual Genesis by Ralph Helmick An abiding aspect of HH Sheikh Zayed’s character was his deep relationship with the natural world. Constellation is inspired by this relationship. The design stems from an assumption that the young Sheikh Zayed spent countless nights in the dessert gazing at the stars. Imagine the night sky in the Liwa Desert before the advent of an electrical grid. Stars fill the heavens. Galaxies are clearly observable. Constellations reveal themselves with the force of clarity. This monument embodies the constellation of HH Sheikh Zayed himself and incorporates a perceptual dynamic in which his image – and by implication his legacy – reveals itself dynamically over distance. Gazing at stars can lead to many things. A sense of perspective is one of them. Legacy In 2018 the United Arab Emirates inaugurated the Founders Memorial and celebrated the entire year as the Year of Zayed. This was to commemorate the 100th year of his birthdate. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, has proclaimed the year 2019 to be the "The Year of Tolerance" in the UAE, highlighting the UAE as a global capital for tolerance, and emphasizing tolerance as a universal concept and a sustainable institutional endeavor through legislation and policies aimed at entrenching the values of tolerance, dialogue, coexistence and openness to different cultures, especially amongst youth, which will reflect positively on society as a whole. “Instilling values of tolerance carries on Sheikh Zayed’s legacy and teachings. It is one of the most important attributes that we can impact on our people and the global community to ensure the safety, stability and happiness of people across the world.” – H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan The Year of Tolerance embodies the approach adopted by the UAE since its establishment to be a bridge of communication between the people of the world and their various cultures, in an environment of openness and respect that rejects extremism and promotes coexistence. The Founders Memorial development has served as a prominent backdrop for significant events such as Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb, signing a Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, during a Global Conference on the topic in Abu Dhabi. We believe this project symbolizes global hope for a better world. The development and its spectacular centerpiece artwork is open to the public to experience a time of reflection, legacy, and a strong vision for a bright future.