No doubt a man like Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan will be respected and honored by his people, the Arab nation and the entire world. What he has done is a rare achievement. His qualities manifest a uniqueness, purity and transparency, candor, justice and wisdom, in addition to a sound logic, an awareness of what is going on and a tendency to make peace with others. Diligence, generosity, altruism and determination, all these attributes have qualified him to become an exceptional leader in a contemporary world which is weighed down with animosity, aggression, brutality, killings and wars.

     H.H. Sheikh Zayed is a real patriot who always supports right and justice. He has taken sides with weak and oppressed people and offered them aid. His leadership and policy have gained the full respect and appreciation of all. Hence he has been awarded prizes that are only awarded to distinguished pioneers, who are carefully selected in accordance with very strict criteria and fixed rules.

     In this chapter I would like to mention some of the awards given to H.H. Sheikh Zayed out of appreciation and respect.

1- Two medals to H.H. Sheikh Zayed from Lions International Organization: in appreciation of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates for his humanitarian initiatives and for great achievements in building the UAE, his country, and people.

     On November 9, 1992, His Highness the President of the United Arab Emirates received on Seer Bani Yas Island the Lions International Organization delegation, headed by Mr. Krobais. This Organization is concerned with humanitarian and charitable activities throughout the world. The organization has over 1,400,000 members in 171 countries. It is based in the United States of America. During the meeting His Highness received two medals from the delegation in appreciation of his noble and humanitarian initiatives and gestures towards the victims of natural disasters and famine throughout the world. The second medal was awarded to His Highness to express appreciation and gratitude for his great contributions to the construction, progress and the spread of civilization in the United Arab Emirates whether in the field of nation building or land development.

     In a televised statement, Mr. Frank Krabuth said, on the presentation of the second medal:
"The Melvin Jones International Award has been granted to H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE President, in recognition of his great services to the international community and humanity and for having generously given financial support to causes with humanitarian goals.
"His Highness began the greenery and plantation campaign when no one had yet spoken of the impact of global warming and climatic changes on the world."

2- Zayed: Man of the Year 1988
     This time the tribute was from Paris, France. An international body based in Paris selected H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the man of the year for 1988, for the role he played in bringing the Iraq-Iran war to a close and his efforts in re-establishing diplomatic relations between Egypt and the rest of the Arab countries.

     This was announced by Mr. Lou Saint Jean, President of the "Man of the year" Association, while addressing the President of the United Arab Emirates to explain the reasons for presenting him with this award: "Your reputation has reached beyond borders and designated you as a great man with exceptional qualities and a great statesman. World leaders, your friends in the four corners of the world and public opinion appreciate your great achievements. Many are happy with this fair tribute, your honor. You have roamed this land far and wide employing the power of conviction in pursuit of uniting the seven Emirates which form the Federation of today."

3- Tribute to the President by Public Referendum
Zayed, Man of the Year 1991
     The Lebanese magazine Al Athnain (Monday) organized a public referendum which involved more than thirty thousand of its readers and public opinion leaders. In the referendum more than six thousand forms were distributed by the magazine by mail and in a field questionnaire conducted by research teams. All the participants unanimously approved, verbally or in writing, the selection of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, as the Man of the Year 1991. He was selected for a very convincing reason: in appreciation of the leading and distinguished role he played in the process of developing, advancing and spreading greenery in his country. This selection was also in appreciation of his personal interest in construction, agriculture and because he succeeded in leading the first federation in the Arab world. This selection was meant to highlight his generosity and kindness in supporting the Palestinian people and Afghan Mujahideen, his strong support for the issues of the Arab and Muslims nations in all fields of life for having given support for Lebanon, as well as his boundless generosity to his people.

     On June 16, 1991 H.E. Minister of Information and Culture received the year 1991 shield in the name of Sheikh Zayed, presented by Ali Taamah Chief Editor of the magazine.

4- In appreciation of his protection of liberties and human rights, Zayed was selected as the Man of the Year in Asia.
     In its issue of September 1, 1999, Al Ittihad newspaper mentioned that the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee had unanimously selected H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates as the Man of the Year in the Asian continent, in appreciation of his great, notable deeds to his country, the Arab nation and the Asian continent in the field of opposing violations of freedom and protecting human rights.

     Dr. Issmat Al Mirghani, Chairwoman of the Executive Committee and Secretary-General of Afro-Asian Lawyers Union said that the selection of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the Man of the Year in the Asian continent was unanimous. This selection was well founded as H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan had strongly supported human rights and liberties and devoted his life to achieving social justice, peace and prosperity and Arab and Asian solidarity out of his strong belief that the human being has a right to a free and dignified life.

     She added in her statement to Al Ittihad newspaper, following the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Afro-Asian Lawyers Union at its permanent venue in Cairo, that H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan was well known for his belief in free opinion and for his strong support for civil non-governmental organizations which defend human rights. That was the reason why he deserved the selection by the Executive Committee for the Asian continent. The Executive Committee also selected former South African President Nelson Mandela as the Man of the Year in Africa, for his great role in defending human rights. Dr. Issmat Al Mirghani indicated that the Executive Committee of the Afro-Asian Lawyers Union organized a ceremony in which the contents of the selection documents of H.H. Sheikh Zayed and the South African leader, Nelson Mandela, were revealed. This ceremony was attended by the ambassadors of African and Asian countries to Egypt.

     It is to be noted that the Executive Committee of the Afro-Asian Lawyers Union consisted of senior diplomats from Asia and Africa, representatives of the Afro-Asian Solidarity Organization, the International Lawyers Union, Human Rights activists from the Afro-Asian Lawyers Society and a number of public figures as well as the Secretary General of Youth from the Bishopric of the Orthodox Church and the Evangelic Church of Egypt.

5- In an opinion poll, one hundred thousand Arab citizens selected Zayed as one of the most outstanding personalities in the world.
     The Arab Information Center in Cairo conducted a poll on March 8, 1990, among more than one hundred thousand Arab citizens, in which H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates was selected as one of the top ten Arab and international figures, who played outstanding roles in social and political development.

     His Highness Sheikh Zayed gained the respect and appreciation of Arab public opinion because of his success in uniting the Emirates and the continuation of this Federation as a model for other countries.