"You enjoy, Your Highness, all the qualities of the great leader such as wisdom, influence, courage, justice and generosity."
Jacques Chirac

"We all know that Your Highness wishes to see justice prevail over force and legitimacy over the policy of fait accompli."

"We are so happy to meet you in Egypt, our country and the country of all Arabs. I would request you to kindly convey my warmest greetings to my brother Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan."

Your father has given great examples for Arab deep-rooted and genuine values and in working silently without any publicity."

Your father works in silence. He silently contributes to the building of the Arab World; he works for us, his Arab brothers, everywhere; he works with us hand in hand and with true devotion, against all dangers that threaten our nation and targets the sanctity of our holy shrines, against the forces of aggression and hostility that plot against Arabs and Muslims and against Imperialist Zionism."

"His Highness Sheikh Zayed has always rejected Arab axes policy out of his strong belief that defeat, suppression and backwardness are the result of disunity. The United Arab Emirates under Sheikh Zayed's rule remains a unique case of unity in the region, which has devoted all its wealth and capacities for the support of those issues which relate to the destiny of the Arab nation."

"H.H. Sheikh Zayed was one of the first leaders to recognize the Palestinian State and consistently tried to reach a fair peace settlement through which the Palestinian people will restore their rights in self determination and independence."

"H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan widely and constantly supported Muslims and other nations in their development efforts. More than five billion dollars were distributed as gifts or loans with lenient conditions in addition to the execution of projects in more than 40 countries in three continents. With his long experience, H.H. Sheikh Zayed is deeply aware of the meaning of poverty and famine. Although his people are not affected by such disasters, yet he continues to help other nations throughout the world."

"The extensive efforts exerted in favor of heritage are all basically attributed to H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. I have the pleasure to greet him with all due respect and appreciation for his genuine vision and effective support for Arab culture, and for anything which achieves progress in the entire Arab region."
Dr. Suna Ramzi from the UNESCO

"What H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan is doing indicates that great efforts are being exerted in developing the United Arab Emirates, so as to enable it to cope with the advanced world. He has devoted all the country's wealth and resources to serve the country and citizens, especially in providing houses and farms; he has also been keen to protect and develop the environment."

"The great achievements pertinent to development in the fields of urbanization and agriculture, and the level of development attained to by the United Arab Emirates in all sectors in the are attributed to the prudent leadership of H.H. Sheikh Zayed. For this reason the Organization decided to give him the award of the Statesman who advocates a safe environment."
Mohamed Abdul Hameed Al Saqr, Director-General of the Organization Arab Cities.

"H.H. Sheikh Zayed is always ahead of our dreams and ambition. When he says that he has no objection to seeing women involved in politics, he actually expresses in words what may be the dream of many women."
H. H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak.

"The fact that Sheikh Zayed is the head of State in the United Arab Emirates has always been, and will continue to be, a necessity which destiny has bestowed on the people of this country. Since his selection as ruler on August 6, 1966, he has succeeded in leading his country on a magnificent march in which many achievements have been made and projects in all fields have been implemented."
Al Shiraa newspaper

"The International Melvin Jones Award was granted to H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in recognition of his great services to this international organization, to humanity and his devotion to human goals."
Representative of the International Lions Clubs

"I have been close to the human stances of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his pioneering role in helping developing countries to overcome poverty and backwardness. His talk about wealth and that it should be devoted to serving human beings and not the contrary is a true expression of the ideas and feelings of the prudent leader."
Professor Luta

"I have been a close friend of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan for many years, during my term of office in the United Nations. I have great respect and appreciation for your President who is a well-known international figure. His leadership style is deemed as a constructive factor in the Gulf region. Your President is a great and outstanding leader, not just on the regional level but also on the international level. This is what I have felt during my service in the United Nations. He also plays a significant role in the peace process and in the efforts directed towards finding solutions for serious regional disputes."
Former President of Austria Kurt Waldheim

"A nation's age is not as much measured by years or eras as by work and achievements. On the basis of these criteria we can say that the United Arab Emirates managed, during a very short span of time after independence, to occupy a prestigious place among Arab nations. This has not happened overnight; the United Arab Emirates succeeded in occupying this prestigious place because of many positions it has taken even before independence. These positions have been taken because of the foresight of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan."
The Jordanian Newspaper Al Dastour

"In Zayed's reign the United Arab Emirates has been known for the outstanding positions it has taken; it has played an essential and significant role in consolidating Arab solidarity. Sheikh Zayed has always rejected the policy of axes because of his strong belief in the fact that defeat, suppression and backwardness result from disunity. The October war, when all the Arabs supported Egypt and Syria until the final victory and defeat of the enemy, is the best instance of this."
Al Sharq Lebanese newspaper

"No doubt that the development of small villages in the middle of the desert into a modern State and an active trade center with an ambition to become the financial center of the Gulf was not possible without oil revenues. However, the main factor should not be ignored i.e. the role played by H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Because he was aware of the exceptional circumstances he had lived during his adolescence, H.H. Sheikh Zayed has done everything within his means to eliminate the elements of injustice and inadequacy suffered by his people. The slogan that he has frequently repeated is: "Without my people I am worth nothing." (223)
Surabaya newspaper
The newspaper of the ruling party in Indonesia

"We feel the importance of the role being played by H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in serving the purpose of the Arab nation and in highlighting the role being played by UAE worldwide achieving prominence in the support and help of brothers." Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, Kingdom Saudi Arabia

"We must praise the role being played by our beloved brother H.H. Sheikh Zayed. I hope that Arabs will emulate this role in the field of joint efforts in pursuit of spreading Islam and Arab culture."
H.E. President of Libya Muammar Qaddafi

"H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan is a man of principles and ethics. With his wisdom he has maintained stability in the UAE, and under his prudent leadership a great development in all fields has been achieved. I have been astonished by the progress in the UAE; this progress is owed to H.H. Sheikh Zayed. Egypt and the Egyptian people have great love and appreciation for His Highness and I myself consider him as an elder brother and a loyal friend."
H.E. President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak

"We praise the role being played by H.H. Sheikh Zayed on both the Arab and international levels and his sincere efforts to bring Arab brothers together. We would like to express our admiration for the great achievements made during a short span of time in the UAE under the prudent leadership of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and also to express the pride we have in the excellent relationship between the UAE and Tunisia."
H.E. President of Tunisia Zein el Abidine Ben Ali

"This honorary Ph.D Degree is granted to Your Highness in appreciation of your sincere efforts and strong determination in consolidating and strengthening the Federation and its foundation; it is also intended to honor your true will to achieve social and economic prosperity in the UAE and to provide the people of the UAE with decent life; this kind of life has become a landmark full of implications of what the country witnesses in terms of progress, stability and prosperity."
Salvador Luta
Vice-Chancellor of the Argentinean University

"We are very impressed by your prudent and experienced leadership as a president; the economic success which your country has achieved can be seen everywhere. It is evident in the beautiful and well-organized cities, in the excellent road network, airports, seaports and modern telecommunications which link your country with the outer world. It can also be witnessed in the environment of greenery enjoyed by your citizens in places which used to be desert. You have not just directed your country's wealth or your mode of thinking towards mere material things; but you have actually laid the foundation for a modern and comprehensive educational system to meet the requirements of the 21st century."
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II


"Your reputation has gone beyond all boundaries and made out of you a Statesman with extraordinary qualities."
Lou Saint Jean, President of Man of the Year Society

"One has no alternative other than to express great admiration for the leadership of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his political acumen. Thanks to his leadership, these huge achievements in the field of urbanization have been realized in the UAE in a record time."
Former US President Jimmy Carter

"The emergence of a great State is linked to the names of a few great leaders in the world; in this particular case the development of the State is inseparable from the leadership of such men and the efforts they exert and their devotion to the task of raising the standard of the State and making it occupy the position it deserves among States and nations. H.H. Sheikh Zayed, the man, the great commander and the historic leader is one of these men. To him goes all the credit in laying the foundation of the United Arab Emirates, and thanks to him the UAE has become one of the most important and most developed State in the region in a record time."
Dounia Al Arab Magazine

"I consider H.H. Sheikh Zayed as a first class Statesman. He is distinguished by the qualities of wisdom and inspiration in his policies. I feel particularly happy when I get the chance to meet him and make use of his broad political experience."
H.E. President of Senegal Abdou Diouf

"We have great appreciation for the decisive and effective role of His Highness President Zayed in supporting the Emirates Federation and the role of the UAE which now enjoys high prestige among all nations and which has become a significant factor in the efforts exerted to achieve world peace."
Former Yugoslavian President

"Zayed is an original Arab leader who has always worked for Arab solidarity, patching up the differences between Arabs and the achieving Arab loyalty."
Dr. Esmat Abdel Meguid

"I would like to convey my thanks and gratitude to H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the people of the United Arab Emirates for their strong stance during the events which took place lately in the Soviet Union."
Former President of the Soviet Union Michael Gorbachev

"Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan's visit to Egypt is in the context of the unique and special relationship between the UAE and Egypt and also within the framework of the special relationship between H.H. Sheikh Zayed and his brother President Hosni Mubarak."
Mr. Safwat Al Sharif

"Each leader strikes a deal with destiny, as it were, when the sequence of events avails him of objective circumstances that help him to show his leadership capabilities. But when the person begins constructing the present out of a dream, out of faith and the determination of real men and converting it into reality and notable events; the scenario changes into one of making a historical leader, one who has struck a deal with destiny."

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates is a man who have envisioned something of import, a man who believes in the ability of men to make history."
Al Sayad Magazine

"I have special appreciation for H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who enjoys special appreciation and respect not only in the Arab region but on the international level as well. In this respect, we must refer to the honorable stances of His Highness in relation to different regional and international issues and the active role His Highness is playing in pursuit of realizing world peace."
H.M. King Olav V of Norway

"We pay tribute to H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan for the efforts he has exerted for the sake of the UAE people who have made, under his leadership, great achievements in a very short period of time."
H.E. President of Mexico Jose Lopez Portillo

"We do appreciate H.H. Sheikh Zayed's prudent policy on the local and international levels and we confirm our interest in developing our relationship with the UAE and in exchanging visits at the highest levels."
H.E. President of Italy Francesco Cossiga

"My warmest greetings and appreciation to H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan who has made the UAE attain the distinguished international position that it now occupies. I really admire and appreciate the foreign policy adopted by the United Arab Emirates which I have read a lot about, especially the fast and universal progress in all fields. I hope to have the chance to visit this young State in order to see in person what has been achieved in terms of development and urbanization."
H.M. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

"H.H. Sheikh Zayed is a real Arab by virtue of his innate qualities and experience. He has taken honorable positions with respect to all the crises that have plagued the region. He has never spared financial or moral support to any real national effort purposively targeting the interest of the nation."

"Sheikh Zayed is the foremost proponent of Arab unity in the region. He was the first to establish a genuine Arab unity in modern history. For the last ten years, he has been working very hard for Arab unity and solidarity."

"Sheikh Zayed is known to the Arab nation as an advocate of mutual support and solidarity among brothers in the wider Arab World; he always takes the initiative to resolve conflicts among Arab brothers."
"On all occasions and in all circumstances, Arabs always remember Sheikh Zayed's chivalry and his true national stances. He has consistently promoted Arab solidarity and mediated between disputing parties.

"H.H. Sheikh Zayed has proved that he is a man who is open to the world. This openness is one of the pillars of the UAE as a State; it has been so since he has lead the process of building its unity which has become a model of Arab unity."

"Once again Sheikh Zayed has proved that he is a unique statesman who knows how to lay the foundation for a policy that is based on true Arab dignity and sovereignty." Mihammed Tamman

"We are grateful to H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, and the Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces for his patronage of the conference activities."

"What your great leader Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the State, has done to bring about development in all fields is undoubtedly a huge achievement. His Highness visited the United Kingdom in 1953, and was impressed by the standard of education, medical care and public services. Owing to his great patriotism and love for his people he decided to upgrade the standard of all services in the United Arab Emirates. Today we witness the harvest of his great efforts."

"This is attested to by a number of facts. In 1930 there were no schools or hospitals and today, to the best of my knowledge, there are 600 schools and 50 hospitals."

His Highness has made certain that the environment isn't sacrificed to urbanization and modernization. His dream was to see the United Arab Emirates turned into an oasis, into a land of greenery. This dream has turned into a reality that borders on the marvelous.

Although the economy of the UAE has changed a lot and witnessed a radical transformation from the economy that depended on pearl diving to a gigantic economy that depends on the oil industry, Sheikh Zayed's belief in the value of the human being remains strong and unchanged. In this respect he says: 'The human being is the real inexhaustible wealth.' This memorable Statement contains the real grain of wisdom.

In the field of medicine real success cannot be achieved by the procurement of state-of-the-art equipment and the availability of the highest standards of technology, but by the availability of competent doctors who are well aware of their mission while using the advanced and modern equipment and technology in favor of the human being. Today, under the supremacy of advanced technology, we should accord due importance to the patient and remember that our duty is serve and take care of him. Allow me to refer to some of Sir Wilfred Thesiger's - the great author- words about Arab civilization; he says in reference to Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the State: 'He always listens carefully to what people have to say about the problems they face.' No doubt that we find ourselves learning a lot from this great teacher."
Dr. Colin McKeagan

"Both H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and H.H. Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, may God's mercy be upon him, were well ahead of their era. What distinguishes His Highness the President of the State is his penetrative vision, his personal aspirations and a long-term foresight in matters pertinent to state building."
H.H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

"The credit for the fact that the people of this land, who have been silent for thousands of years, have finally begun to make their voice heard goes to H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the State. He has encouraged scientific research, excavations which have shown us that the camel is evidence of trade caravans, that copper is evidence of manufacturing in Umm Al Nar, and in Athoor we find evidence of people coming there to extract copper."
Dr. Mohamed Mursi Abdulla

"The United Arab Emirates has gone a long way in reclaiming sandy land and desert plantation, thanks to the efforts exerted by H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who believes in the significant role of agriculture in securing food and the security of people, and in sustaining civilization."
Saeed Al Raqabani
"I can confidently say that the United Arab Emirates, after the 27 years of its foundation, is steadily advancing towards the achievement of comprehensive development. The economic developments achieved by the State during the past few years represent the fruitful outcome of this policy. This has been clearly reflected in the performance of the industrial, financial and service sectors. The quest for comprehensive development has formed a force propelling the State towards the twenty-first century with ever increasing stability in the social, economic and financial domains."
H.H. Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

"H.H. Sheikh Zayed has constantly sought to achieve universal peace and to spread the fragrance of love at home. He has paid attention to other circles surrounding the region, whether in the Muslim World or the world at large. This has prompted some prominent personalities to describe His Highness as one of the great leaders who work for the happiness of men everywhere. He is a leader who keeps his word and his honors promises."
Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi

"The United Arab Emirates has made great and unbelievable achievements over the past years. The credit for this goes to the integrity, the sincere cooperation and the innumerable sacrifices of His Highness the President of the State, and of his brothers the members of the Federal Supreme Council, rulers of the Emirates. This has been positively and directly reflected on the people of this country. Consequently, our country has risen to occupy a significant position among nations and achieved great progress which would have been impossible without the true intentions, sincere efforts and clear objectives, as well as the complete harmony between the wisdom and policies of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the wishes of the people of the UAE and their loyalty to their homeland and to their leadership. "
H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

"As a matter of fact, the leader has given generously and exerted unlimited efforts to build up this lofty monument of civilization which is growing stronger and more solid everyday. Our young State is growing larger, giving more room for the spread of urbanization and modernity. Towns rise to adorn the scenery; roads are constructed and so too are hospitals and schools. Green grass gives universities a beautiful look that captivates onlookers. What is going on is renaissance en masse that encompasses all spheres of life."
H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Saif Al Sharqi

"Destiny has so decreed that I follow Zayed through three stages of his march: The first, when he was the Ruler of the Al Ain area. The second, when he became the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and the third when he became the President of the United Arab Emirates. In all these stages, I have been deeply impressed by his humanitarian approach to rule. This has stimulated me into thinking of writing a book on the philosophy of humanitarian rule and devoting authority to public service and not to domination."
Wajih Abu Zikra

"Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan is unique unto himself. He could have answered my questions with bright fancy words, which convey the luminous clichés that plague our Arab World, an incessant flow of rhetoric that is devoid of meaning. Also, he could have answered my questions using highfalutin expressions that usually signify nothing. But I did not find anything of the kind with Sheikh Zayed. What I found him, in fact, was refreshingly different."
Ibrahim Sa'adah

My father and teacher H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, May God Protect him.
When your people look around and see all this progress and increased stability, they will be reassured about the fact that God Almighty has blessed them with a leader of a rare character, the likes of whom is seldom seen in history. You have pledged yourself to the cause of your people, only to honor this pledge; you have made promises that you have kept; you have made decisions that you have carried out. With the help of your brothers, who have been loyal to the vows they have made before God as rulers and who have believed in the principles of good and life, you have conducted an experiment on this piece of land that called on patience and determination in order to give birth to a State and a nation that have become an example of how dreams can be turned into reality and hopes into tangible truth. This demonstrates that dedication and good intentions can bring together what were disparate interests and merge them into a larger unity that your benevolent hands have carried along the path to a federation, which is our choice, our hope and our future, the essence of our unity and strength.

Dear father, if this homeland has a claim to a history of dignity and pride, this history began when you raised the banner and started the march of laying foundations and launching a process of development whose ultimate goal is the individual being. This is so because the individual being, as you maintain, is the target of development and its most important instrument. This is what we have learned from you and what has set the course of the march of the UAE. The road you have gone along widens everyday and, through your achievements, surges higher and higher. What you have sown for man is being reaped by man - the man whom you have taught that it is also his duty to sow, participate and interact with what is going on around him. This is the greatest yield of the march - a people who have been nurtured in accordance with the principles of a leader who represents such a high ideal the likes of which is rarely seen.

Your outstanding experience, dear father, is an example of the depth and power of the thinking of a leader. This is evidenced by the fact that you have refused to limit your wisdom to your people only; you have extended acts attendant on this wisdom to others, and enveloped them with benevolent deeds. No wonder these other people feel indebted to you, so much so that you have been loved by both your people and the people of other brotherly and friendly nations. Your dignity has been profoundly manifested when you have gone out of your way to answer the call of the needy at a time when magnanimous acts have become so rare.

Dear father, today we would like to convey our thanks and gratitude and to place on record our love and loyalty to you. What you have done for this country and its people is treasured in our hearts; no one can repay what you have done. The only thing we can do in return, is to try to be equal to the responsibility and endeavor to achieve if only part of what you have achieved. God bless you and grant you a long life. May He keep you for a nation and a homeland which have become identified with you.
H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

H.E. Khalid Malik, Ambassador of Palestine to the UAE and the Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps said in a statement to the Emirates News Agency on the occasion of the closing day of the functions of the Dubai International Holy Koran Award that the selection of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, as the International Islamic Personality of this year, 1999, is an event that has great implications. The light of Zayed's benevolence will forever shine through his unimaginable achievements and his constant generous deeds.

He added that Zayed's personality has always been and will ever remain a model to be followed. "Today, we are giving a tribute to a phenomenal man the likes of whom we may never see again. We pay tribute to a man who has given generously; we pay tribute to a unique person that we will be remembered for generations and generations to come. The future generations will have no excuse to fall short of what has been achieved by an unparalleled leader who has paved the way for them, and enabled the nation to attain to glory and grandeur in all socio-political spheres. His methods and approaches will be preserved in our hearts and minds. The best way of showing our gratitude to him is to follow in his steps, assimilating the philosophy he has derived from the true teachings of Islam, and to prove that we are equal to the responsibilities that are ours as loyal and obedient sons.

Zayed has offered things that lie beyond the reach of words and for this reason he will ever live in our minds and be a constant presence in our hearts. Every quarter and every street in the Arab capitals will tell a story about Zayed's generosity; all the corners of the Arab World will spell out gratitude to, and respect for, a man who has led the triumphant march amid a sea of tumultuous waves, and has been able to save the march from wayward adventurers. He has become the living embodiment of a country, which attracts the attention of honorable men from all over the world.

A Wise Policy:
Moreover, His Highness is distinguished by his prudent policy in all matters pertaining to the Arab, Islamic and international domains. His magnanimity has been extended to all friends. He has generously financed social and agricultural projects in many Arab countries. This derives in no small measure from his kind heart and his sharp intellect. When there is any sign of weakness in the edifice of Arab solidarity, he will be the first to move fast and call for bridging the gap and bringing Arab leaders together. This has made him a model for other leaders. In this kind of quest, he falls back on his inheritance of Arab identity. No wonder Palestine has always been in his heart, an integral part of his innermost feelings. He has supported the Palestinian people in their armed struggle and in their blessed intifada and in the process of establishing their authority. He has spared neither money nor advice in this quest. He has always been extremely generous to Palestinian. We will ever feel gratitude to this man who has become the epitome of his nation. In the name of all Palestinian fighters, and all Arab Mujâhidûn and Murâbitûn on the land of Palestine, and in the name of Palestinians living in any part of the Arab World or the world at large, I congratulate H.H. Sheikh Zayed on this occasion and express to him the allegiance of the Palestinian people and their leadership and that of the Palestinian community in the UAE.

Dr. Abdul Fattah Ouwais, the Secretary-General of the Islamic Research Academy in Britain, says that H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the State, represents Arab purity. Dr. Zakki Badawi, Chairman of the Council of Imams and Mosques in Britain, says: "The zeal of His Highness for doing good is without a parallel in today's world." These represent some of the responses to the selection of H.H. the President of the State as the Personality of the Year. Both Dr. Ouwais and Dr. Badawi have said that they are really proud of His Highness in Britain, because his image has shone in the west for decades. Dr. Ouwais says that the Arab World will never forget for centuries to come the stance of His Highness in 1973. He was the first Arab leader to use oil as a weapon at that time. For his part, Dr. Badawi says that one of his students worked as a deputy to the Mufti [Jurist in Sunni Islam] in Kosovo and conveyed to him the Mufti's view of the UAE refugee camp in Kosovo. The Mufti says that the camp is a model when compared to other camps set up by western and eastern states and that it far excels the other camps. The Mufti told Dr. Badawi that the camp has made Muslims proud of themselves and restored their confidence in their leaders. He has added that it has been an honor for them that the best aid is coming from Muslims.

Sheikh Ahmed Kaftaru, the Mufti of the Syrian Arab Republic, has praised Sheikh Zayed's role in taking care of knowledge and scholars, referring to his annual invitations to elite Islamic scholars from all the Arab World, who have been entrusted with the duty to convey God's message to all people by means of teaching and education. In this respect, His Highness has, to his credit, his support for scientific and educational institutions and the building of mosques worldwide. The Mufti maintains that His Highness is worthy of the highest esteem for his achievements and for that kind of generosity that owes its essence to faith and humanitarianism. He also says that paying tribute to His Highness is tantamount to paying tribute to values, and that this tribute indicates loyalty to His Highness. The Mufti goes on to say: "I pray to Almighty God to grant His Highness Sheikh Zayed and his brothers, the rulers of the Emirates, success, and show them the way which leads to the prosperity of the country and the good of its people."

His Eminence Dr. Sheikh Taha Al Sabonoji, the Mufti of Tripoli and Northern Lebanon, praised the selection H.H. Sheikh Zayed as the Islamic Personality of the Year saying: "Sheikh Zayed has become a distinct phenomenon in the Arab World because of his pure innate inclinations and his kind heart, as well as his enthusiasm for his nation and its unity." He went on to add that His Highness has enriched the Arab society by his many achievements in the field of development.

For his part, the Secretary-General of the Islamic Conference Organization Dr. Izzu Eddin Al Iraqi expressed his appreciation for the great efforts which H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the State, has exerted to serve the cause of the nation and to pursue solidarity. He added that Sheikh Zayed is a true statesman and that by virtue of his innate Arab identity and his political struggle to serve the cause of the nation in all parts of the world, he is the best one to play this role. He also pointed to the fact that these qualities have earned him the great love of all Muslims in the east and the west, those Muslims who are aware of the splendid things he has done to serve Islam, and that His Highness deserved this award which attested to the objectivity and accuracy employed by the award committee.

He also pointed out that, by selecting in the previous two years two outstanding and prominent Islamic personalities in the fields of da'wa, writing and scientific research, namely, Sheikhs Mohamed Mutwali Al Shaarawi and Abu-Al Hassan Al Nadawi, and then an international Islamic personality like Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan in 1999, the Dubai Award Committee was able to strike a balance between those who have intellectually served Islam through da'wa, research and writing, and those have served Islam in practice for tens of years by building schools, religious institutes, mosques, hospitals and centers to serve Muslims all over the world and to help the poor among them. What is more, Sheikh Zayed sought to build the individual Muslim all over the world before building facilities.

Dr. Izzu Eddine Al Iraqi added: "In my capacity as the Secretary-General of the Islamic Conference Organization, I bear witness, like all my predecessors, that Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, has spared no effort to promote and support the functions and programs of the Organization and that His Highness is still working hard for the unity of Muslims. He has been among the first prominent Arab and Islamic leaders to call for and propagate Islamic solidarity. Congratulations to H.H. Sheikh Zayed for this honor and tribute and to all those who are tied to him by friendship and love. H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan has drawn a foreign policy for his country with two primary dimensions: namely, the Islamic dimension and the Arabic one. Moreover, the main thrust of this policy is towards credibility, mutual respect and the desire to strengthen the elements of world stability." He has also pointed to the fact that this policy stems from authentic Islamic thought and that it is supplemented by an enlightened and open diplomacy that embodies local norms and keeps pace with current dynamics.

As for the Da'aiya [a learned Muslim who devotes his time calling for Islam - a missionary in Christian tenor] Dr. Sheikh Ismail Al Diftar, a professor at Al Azhar University and a member of the Egyptian Shura (Consultative) Council, he asserts that one who follows the positions which H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the State, takes and the views he expresses, will inexorably come to the conclusion that His Highness loves Islam, and that both the positions he takes and the views he expresses derive from his values, principles and the teachings he has received.

He goes on to say: "Let us look, for instance, at the way he defends and continuously supports the causes of Muslims. This shows that he has given his disinterested best to the service of Islam, just as the Koran instructs us to do: 'And verily this your religion is one religion..'; 'Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa; but do not help one another in sin and transgression'; 'The believers are nothing else than brothers'. In many incidents we that find Sheikh Zayed confidently stands up to defend what is right, emphasizing that Islam is the religion of peace and security. Islam rejects violence and condemns extremism; it opposes terrorists and terrorism. Islam has no connection with the charges its opponents have been trying to level against it, simply because of the conduct of some of those Muslims who have failed to understand the true spirit of Islam and to embrace its principles."

The philosopher, Dr. Ja'afar Abdul Salam, the Secretary-General of the League of Islamic Universities and the former Deputy-President of Al Azhar University, asserts that H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, is a great leader who has great love for his own people and who is loyal to Arab and Islamic nations. His selection for the Dubai Award this year makes everyone happy. His deeds and unprecedented initiatives testify to his great love for his religion, country and nation and to his keenness in following Islamic teachings and values in all things relating to the positions he takes and the initiatives he makes.

He goes on to say that Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan has succeeded both in making the UAE leap forward and climb to the peak of progress, and in achieving a great renaissance in a short period of time, especially considering the young age of the country.

His Eminence Sheikh Mansour ar-Rifa'i, former First Under-Secretary for Da'wa Affairs in the Egyptian Awqaf [Religious Endowments] Ministry, says that H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan is a great and enduring symbol of benevolence not only for his people or the Arab and Islamic nation, but for the whole of humanity. H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan has pioneering historical stances with respect to supporting the major and decisive causes of Muslims; foremost among these come the Palestinian question, and Jerusalem and its sacred shrines. His Highness has spared no effort in supporting Arab rights to their occupied lands in Palestine and in defending Jerusalem and asserting that it is an Arab-Islamic city. We can never forget the pioneering humanitarian positions he has taken in supporting the Muslims of Bosnia and Herzegovina when combating the dreadful atrocities committed by the Bosnians before the conclusion of a peace agreement. In this regard, he has led a large-scale campaign to collect donations for the people of Bosnia through the Emirates media. The campaign resulted in activating aid efforts for Bosnian Muslims and thus saving them from the plights of displacement, hunger and disease. The efforts of His Highness have not been limited to these two instances, but have extended to all the issues that concern the Islamic nation.

For his part the well-known Da'iya Sheikh Mohammed Al 'Awadi has praised the successful selection that has been made by the Award Committee. He says that H.H. Sheikh Zayed deserves all this appreciation and respect. We wish that his honorable patronage of charity work will meet all success; we also view with satisfaction and gratitude his ceaseless efforts in the field of supporting the causes of Muslims and the way he tries to reflect a superb image of Muslims and the mission of Islam in an age when the world has become a global village where people talk of globalization, transfer and promotion of ideas. We wish H.H. Sheikh Zayed every success in his attempt to attract attention to the fact that Islam is very advanced in terms of aspects relating to civilization and make Islam attain its proper rank among nations. We believe that success is granted by God in a manner that is proportionate to how much God is pleased with us and how much we have done to put into practice the His true teachings. Al 'Awadi goes on to say that H.H. Sheikh Zayed is a towering figure in an era of a successful Islamic Sahwa [awakening- revival of Islam] that hopefully will continue until it gives its yield in the form of reviving the glory of the Islamic nation, protecting it and making it prosperous, all on the basis laid down by true Islam.

Dr. Khalid Al Mazkoor, Chairman of the Higher Consultative Committee for the implementation of Sharia Laws in Kuwait, has referred to the position of H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the Arab and Islamic worlds. He says that His Highness enjoys the respect of both leaders and nations because of the generosity he has shown in any action that calls on solidarity, the spirit of brotherhood, as well as humanitarian and Islamic qualities. On the occasion of selecting His Highness as the Islamic Personality of the Year, Dr. Al Mazkour says: "H.H. Sheikh Zayed is the father of all. His wisdom is always compounded with frankness and a friendly spirit. Since the days of his youth he has been keen on serving Arabs and Muslims. We congratulate him on receiving this award and wish him a long life and wish his country progress and prosperity."

As for the well-known scholar Dr. Abdul Saboor Marzook, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Egypt, he confirms that the decisions and proud historical positions which H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the State, has taken indicate that he is concerned with the issues of the Arab and Islamic nations, and that he always seeks to solve these issues in their entirety, in a way that preserves the interests of the two nations. He says: " H.H. Sheikh Zayed is a great leader who is loyal to the issues of the Arab and Islamic nations and who spares no effort to defend these issues."

 Dr. Abdul Saboor Marzouq describes H.H. Sheikh Zayed saying that he is the Arabs' wise man and that "... the positions he takes and the crucial decisions he makes indicate that he is very concerned with the issues of the nation, and that he always seeks to solve them in an effective way that guarantees the happiness of the nation and restores its full rights not only in one field, but in all domains of life." He goes on to confirm that H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan has taken memorable historical positions that have been engraved in the minds of Arab and Muslim people, who view these positions with pride, appreciation and respect. This is so because these positions have had profound bearing on the course of the lives of Arabs and Muslims alike. The Egyptian people have never before loved a non-Egyptian leader the way they love H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. There is unanimity on the love and appreciation people have for him all over Egypt. This is true of all sections of Egyptian society. That H.H. Sheikh Zayed has monopolized the love and respect of Egyptian people is a fact as clear as daylight. The people of the largest Arab state unanimously love, appreciate and respect Sheikh Zayed.

For his part, Dr. Ahmed Omar Hashim, President of Al Azhar University, the Supreme Chairman of the International Muslim Youth Societies and the Chairman of the Religion Committee in the Egyptian Parliament, describes H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the State, as a great Arab leader and an international personality who enjoys great respect in various Arab, Muslim and international circles. He goes on to say: " H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan has enriched by his great efforts action in all fields by means of pioneer and gigantic projects that have covered many countries world wide. Foremost among these are his initiatives to promote knowledge of the Koran, other pioneer schemes to serve the spreading of Sunna, as well as to promote Islamic heritage."

He adds that H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan has taken notable historic positions to serve the causes of Arabs and Muslims, and that he has taken humanitarian initiatives in supporting and aiding Muslims facing severe conditions as a result of acts of violence committed against them in many parts of the world, like Bosnia-Herzegovina and other places. No doubt, Sheikh Zayed deserves this award which expresses appreciation, reverence and respect for all his efforts and the historical positions he has taken to promote purposive action in all fields.

Dr. Mahmoud Hamdi Zagzoug, the Egyptian Minister of Awqaf, expresses his happiness and congratulates H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the State, on his winning the Dubai International Holy Koran Award in its third session, and his being chosen the Islamic Personality of the Year. He has praised the efforts H.H. Sheikh Zayed exerts in serving the causes of Arabs and Muslims and his constant focus on realizing the unity objective and on having a uniform Arab political discourse, together with his brother the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. He confirms that Egypt's capacity for cooperation is really a model to be imitated by all in order to restore the unity of the Arab nation and cooperation between its members. It is also a model of solidarity needed to triumph for its causes and to eliminate differences at this critical time when the Arab nation is facing many challenges that call on intensifying sincere efforts to realize progress in the face of successive global changes.

His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Nasr Farid Wasil, the Mufti of Egypt, has expressed the happiness he feels because H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the State, has won the award. He also confirms that the award has been given in appreciation of his notable positions with respect to serving Arabs and Muslims in all spheres. In this respect he says: "Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan has taken historical positions with respect to serving the causes of the Arab World. His Highness has exerted generous efforts and has contributed in a distinguished manner to every single cause relating to the interests of Muslims everywhere in the world."

Abdulla Mohamed Al Othman, the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the UAE, says that the selection of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the State, as the Islamic Personality of the Year, in the third session of the Dubai International Holy Koran Award for 1420 AH, has been so apt and has come as a surprise to no one. He refers to the fact that His Highness has a record that is full of great deeds in serving and promoting Islam and reflecting its bright image, and in defending the causes of Arabs and Muslims across their vast stretch of land. He then adds that one's own people must have priority when it comes to benevolent deeds as the virtuous Sunna teaches us. For this reason H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan has begun his great deeds in his own country - the United Arab Emirates - in high spirits, full of love and tolerance. His Highness has worked hard, and with relentless determination, to spread Islamic principles relating to mutual support, mercifulness, assistance and close ties between the citizens.

The foundation of the UAE twenty-eight years ago was an embodiment of what our true religion calls for: rejecting division and building unity as a vehicle for progress and prosperity. In this respect, as well as in other matters, the fingerprints of His Highness appear prominently on the pages of the history of the region. Also, His Highness has directed the entire efforts of this young State towards serving Islam, especially through the Ministry for Islamic Affairs and Awqaf and the Ministry of Education, so that Islam becomes both judge and authority and the new generation grows in a healthy manner and distances itself from all forms of fanaticism.

His generosity can be witnessed in Kosovo and in many countries throughout the world. He actively contributed to enriching Islamic heritage through directing all types of resources towards the service of Islam and Muslims. He has financed the construction of mosques, and religious institutes and sent religious missions to different parts of the world to spread Islam and help Muslims. He has hosted and paid tribute to Islamic scholars. He has ordered the organizing of seminars and competitions in the learning of the Holy Koran and allocated valuable prizes for these competitions.

During my tour of duty as the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United Arab Emirates, I have witnessed, with great admiration and appreciation, this great, exceptional man extending help and assistance to the needy everywhere. I would like to assert that H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan has deservedly earned the title of the Islamic Personality of the Year."

Dhaif Allah Hassan Shamaila, Ambassador of the Republic of Yemen to the UAE, says that the name of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the State, is linked to great achievements and still greater positions in the march of humanity and to benevolent deeds which indicate the integrity of this distinguished leader and his strong faith in God to Whom be ascribed all perfection and majesty. He has always committed himself to God in his enterprise of benevolent deeds. He goes on to add that 'Benevolent Zayed' has become synonymous with pride for the Arab and Muslim nations. This is so because his benevolent deeds are everywhere in the record of service to humanity. The fact that he has been selected as the Islamic Personality of the Year confirms his high standing in the hierarchy of those leaders renowned for their magnanimous deeds.

Isa Mohammed Al Jam'i, Bahraini Ambassador to the UAE, says: "I feel proud and honored to be among many UAE citizens and residents from Arab and Muslim countries who have expressed what they truly feel towards Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan on the occasion of his selection as the Islamic Personality of the Year. This selection is a crowning achievement for the project of the Dubai International Holy Koran Award whose patron is H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Minister of Defense. As a matter of fact, had I or anyone else set out to express the kind of appreciation, love and loyalty that we feel towards this great and generous man who is given to charity, and who is dedicated to helping the needy all over the world, we would have fallen short of paying him the kind of tribute he deserves.

The selection of H.H. Sheikh Zayed has been successful and well within the framework of the kind of tribute which this wise and inspired leader deserves. Needless to say, his contribution to charitable acts and to ensuring a decent life to the meek and poor still flows uninterrupted. We pray to God to grant him long life, health and happiness so that his charitable deeds may continue to bring to fruition the aspirations of Arab and Muslim nations for a bright future and a decent life that befits Muslims who have been honored by God, and to have Muslim countries enjoy security, stability and prosperity. We also ask God Almighty to unify Muslims and make them adhere to true Islam, triumph over the forces of evil and liberate the Al Aqsa Mosque, the First Qiblah and the Third Sacred Shrine."

Ahmed bin Filais, Ambassador of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to the UAE, asserts that is among those few leaders who have left their fingerprints on the pages of modern history. He is an advocate of unity and solidarity, a man who is known for his firm stances on aspects relating to nation building on the basis of creed and ethics. He believes in cooperation between scholars, and he is the Arab and Muslim leader who has made Islam his point of departure when analyzing contemporary issues and when envisaging the future of common Arab endeavor between the leaders of the Arab nation. He believes in the kind of cooperation that stems from realizing the interests of Arabs and Muslims. He is also much appreciated and held in high esteem. This relates to the fact that he is very dedicated to serving and promoting Islam and defending its cause. All this derives from the fact that he believes in doing good in pursuit of pleasing God, All-Powerful and Most High. For all these reasons, the fact that he has won the award of the Islamic Personality of the Year is a reciprocal honor - the award itself is being honored by going to His Highness this year. It is intended to pay tribute to his distinguished charitable acts. Moreover, he enjoys the appreciation of all Arab and Muslim nations, he has merited this award because he has served Islam and Muslims in his country and abroad. It would suffice to mention here the fact that H.H. Sheikh Zayed has established a charity foundation whose activities have covered many countries in the Islamic world. All this attests to the fact that he is dedicated to preserving the interests, and defending the causes, of Arabs and Muslims. A case in point here is his ordering an airlift to be established between the UAE and Albania during the Kosovo crisis to provide urgent aid in the form of clothes and food to the Muslims of that country.

He goes on to say that the efforts of H.H. Sheikh Zayed in leading the UAE along the path to progress, welfare, unity, and solidarity have made of it a model of efforts directed towards achieving unity, and a source of pride not only for the Arab and Muslim worlds but for the world at large. He maintains that His Highness, the President of the State, has succeeded in striking a balance between guarding Islam in his country and setting a model for maintaining harmony between allegiance to creed, heritage and benevolence, on the one hand, and embracing civilization and taking the country into the realm of modernity, on the other. This feat has met with success because H.H. Sheikh Zayed has a capacity for endless giving in favor of Islam and Muslims all over the world. This tendency to give is apparent to all and has spread to many Muslim countries.

Ahmed bin Filais adds that the attributes of rare leadership and the ability to do pioneering acts which distinguish Sheikh Zayed in the Islamic world, in addition to his generosity and the charitable acts he engages in all over the world, testify to his capacity for doing good and to the fact that his deeds reflect the true spirit of Islam. These deeds center round offering support and aid in all fields, as evidenced by what he has done in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, and his constant support for Islamic cooperation through Islamic organizations and institutions like the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Conference Organization. Another case in point is the Zayed canal in the Arab Republic of Egypt and the building of Zayed city on Palestinian Authority territory. Furthermore, his support for charity initiatives has had great impact on implementing projects relating to Islamic activities in the social, educational and cultural fields. He has also contributed a great deal to financing development projects in many Arab and Islamic projects; these include building houses, mosques, schools, hospitals, constructing dams, reclaiming land and other charity projects that guarantee decent lives to the citizens of these countries. The Ambassador says: "The generosity of His Highness has been extended to many countries. He has set an example to be emulated by others."

Eid Kamil Al Ridwan, the Ambassador of Jordan to the UAE, says that prudent leadership should be based on firm creed, belief in God, a kind heart and a clear conscience, in addition to a strong will that is not subject to bias or whims. The prudent leader always has a high religious ideal that he tries to attain. In doing so, the prudent leader is always imitated by his people who follow him willingly and not because they are coerced into doing so. Creed on the part of the leader propels him towards justice, it does not allow him time to think of himself, his wealth or worldly affairs as much as to think of the interests of his people and humanity as a whole. This is the real quality of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He has intuitively realized that the age is prone to tumultuous and rapid changes in the fields of science and pure temporal knowledge. These are far removed from heavenly laws in an age that calls on a thorough awareness and understanding of the needs of the Islamic nation because of the challenges that it faces everyday. Foremost among these challenges are the ethical ones that threaten the values of the nation of Islam and target particularly its youth. Being a nation targeted in things relating to its identity, heritage and civilization, we must understand and comprehend the reality of these values which represent our raison d'être.

H.H. Sheikh Zayed realized that we should speak a language that can be understood by others, one which assimilates the requirements of the intellect and logic and distances itself from selfishness and emotion. In other words, a language that respects the mind and reason by means of understanding the truth of Islam, the last of heavenly laws. Understanding the truth of Islam stresses the constituent parts of unity and the need for taking the same positions, as well as the kind of solidarity through which we can make others respect us. Hence, His Highness has given instructions to establish scientific forums and has invited scholars to attend them in order to explain to the people the facts about Islam and its ability to lead individuals, groups and nations towards the essence of their own good and happiness. These forums have become established practice in the State. The dialogue in these forums takes the form of direct interaction between religious scholars and individuals representing the whole cultural spectrum of society. With this kind of penetrative vision H.H. Sheikh Zayed deserves this selection and tribute.

Mohammed bin Marhoon Al Ma'mari, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the UAE, says that the selection of H.H. Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the Islamic Personality of the Year is indeed wise and successful. It is so because His Highness has a profound humanitarian vision and because he exerts great effort to serve Muslims on the local as well as the international levels. He adds that the initiatives taken by H.H. Sheikh Zayed to support humanitarian acts in all fields are highly appreciated and respected, and that His Highness has fully earned the award. He goes on to say that His Highness deserves this honor, and that he has warranted the selection by virtue of merit, a fact that the dignitaries of the Islamic and international communities agree on. The Omani Ambassador maintains that titles fall short of giving His Highness the kind of tribute he deserves for his splendid and generous deeds and the admirable positions he has taken in serving Islam and Muslims all over the world. He has expressed the pride he feels for this selection which he considers to be a tribute to all Arabs and Muslims.

The Kuwaiti Ambassador says that, on the regional level, Kuwait will never forget the firm and brave stance of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, and that he contributed money and blood to the liberation of Kuwait. He offered homage to the Kuwaiti people who came to take refuge in the United Arab Emirates. The Emir, the government and the people of Kuwait will remain grateful and thankful to him forever.

The Kuwaiti Ambassador maintains that on the international level H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan has taken brave positions with respect to many critical issues in international circles. This has earned him the respect of many people and has been reflected on the distinguished position which the UAE enjoys, thanks to leadership of His Highness and his experience. The Ambassador goes on to say that, when the Iraqi regime took the step of invading the State of Kuwait, His Highness would not be satisfied with anything less than taking sides with what is right until what had been usurped was restored to its legitimate owners. This came at a time when the international community had formed a coalition to liberate Kuwait, and the Security Council issued decrees authorizing the liberation of Kuwait. In the fighting that followed the blood of Emirati soldiers mixed with the blood of their brothers, the Kuwaiti soldiers, leading to victory and the liberation of Kuwait by the grace of God. His Highness has many humanitarian stances which are reflected in the way he supports the decrees issued by the Security Council ordering Iraq to release Kuwaiti prisoners of war, hostages and the citizens of other countries, so that the region may regain its security and stability. The Ambassador goes on to say that the personality of H.H. Sheikh Zayed, may God protect him and grant him long life, is characterized by his firm position on just causes and their defense. His achievements are too many to count and have spread to all parts of the world. This is particularly true of the way he contributes to charity through the establishment charity foundations and donating money and expertise to them. Wherever you go, you will encounter instances of this. Likewise, he supports many causes, whether local ones, such as supporting the development of the youth through the medium of scientific and educational institutions and that of women who represent a significant proportion of society, or regional causes like his support for the GCC countries, or yet international causes, like supporting Islam and Muslims, and issues relating to world peace and security. The Zayed Fund for Humanitarian and Philanthropic Projects attests to this.

Ahmed Halaq, Syrian Ambassador to the UAE, stresses the fact that the selection H.H. the President of the State as the Islamic Personality of the Year for 1999, in the Third Session of Dubai International Holy Koran Award, is an expression of appreciation for the active role that His Highness plays in serving Islam and the just causes related to it, and a gesture of gratitude for what he has offered in support of Islam out of his strong belief and his strong Arab identity. The Ambassador maintains that to know someone you have to turn to his childhood. When we do so to shed light on the childhood of H.H. Sheikh Zayed, we find that God has bestowed on him the gift of intelligence and the capacity for doing good and adhering to peace. His Highness began his life's journey by reading the Koran and making it his guide in dealing with others. This quality remains his most distinct attribute up to the present. This has imbued in him an inclination towards doing good and a propensity for realizing it. He adds that His Highness has a creative mind, and that he loves to work in pursuit of the public interest. He is also a man of great dreams who is racing against time to make his aspirations come true. His Highness is a true believer who thinks that Islam encompasses all political doctrines which man has come up with, and that it also satisfies the basic needs of man because it is a socio-political system the likes of which men could not invent. Moreover, His Highness has a deep-rooted sense of history, which derives from his socio-cultural inheritance. This historical heritage dates back to the time when his forefathers fought against the Portuguese invasion, and beyond, to the time when his Bani Yas ancestors fought against Alexander the Great, when he tried to invade the region. His Highness is keen to nurture boys into men, and thinks that learning to become a man begins when one frequents the gatherings of adults. I addition to all this, His Highness is the Islamic Personality of the Year, which derives, in no small measure, from the fact that he has brought to the foreground the bright picture of Islam. This has been achieved through the instructions he has given for the building mosques inside the State and in different parts of the world, through his support for charity organizations, his aid to Muslim nations and his keenness to support Islamic organizations, like the Islamic Conference Organization. The Syrian Ambassador adds that it is fitting to select H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan as the Islamic Personality of the Year, because of his rare qualities and praiseworthy attributes, both of which have made him a leader to be emulated on all levels.

The Kuwaiti Ambassador to the UAE, Abdul Allah Abdul Azizi Al Diwaikh, maintains that the personality of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the State, is renowned locally, regionally and internationally. He asserts that no matter how hard we try to pay tribute to the different facets of his personality, we will not pay this person the kind of tribute that is due to him. We have to content ourselves by saying that His Highness is the wise man of the Arabs. He goes on to say that, in the region, we speak of the achievements of H.H. Sheikh Zayed. In his reign he has succeeded in transforming the UAE into a green land, because His Highness has always paid special attention to agriculture. Furthermore, his reign has witnessed enormous economic progress, which has transformed the country into an affluent State enjoyed by the citizens of the UAE and high-caliber institutions.

Mohammed Abdul Mone'im Al Shazali, the Egyptian Ambassador to the UAE, says that the news of selecting H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the State, as the Islamic Personality of the Year for 1999 has not come as a surprise to any one. Islam is a capacity for giving and for doing good and these values are synonymous with the name of H.H. Sheikh Zayed.

He goes on to add that what he has given to his people and the way he has devoted himself to serving them and the riches that have been enjoyed by the citizens of the UAE as a result, all testify to his boundless capacity for giving. These riches have spread beyond the borders of the UAE, to every needy person and to all those who have been afflicted by disasters in Kosovo, Bosnia and Somalia. The Ambassador explains that the UN has specified 1% of the national income of rich countries as aid to underdeveloped countries. Only a few states have contributed this share. Economic experts estimate that the UAE has contributed more than double its share in many years.

The Egyptian Ambassador confirms that the prosperity, stability and mutual mercifulness, in addition to what he has done to revive Koranic sciences, Sunna and religious institutes, that H.H. Sheikh Zayed has achieved to his people make him an example to be imitated by true Muslims at all times and in all places.

For his part, Mohammed Al Ghifaili, the Saudi Ambassador to the UAE, praised the selection of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the State, as the Islamic Personality of the Year, saying that His Highness deserves appreciation and respect. He says: "His generosity and the great efforts he has exerted in the Gulf and Arab circles speak for themselves. His Highness has employed his experience and well-known wisdom in substituting peace, harmony and unity for war, animosity and divisiveness. His calls for holding an Arab Summit meeting to bridge gaps, and reform mutual relations, still reverberate in Arab circles. In the sphere of Islam, His Highness has had a bright history. He has given instructions to make the UAE fund agricultural development and housing projects in a large number of Arab and Islamic countries, as well as to construct irrigation schemes, build hospitals, schools and mosques through the Zayed Fund for Humanitarian and Philanthropic Projects and the Red Crescent Society. The Saudi Ambassador goes on to add: "If we attempt to count the praiseworthy qualities and high ethics of H.H. Sheikh Zayed, we will fail to do so. Foremost among these are his brave and true calls for Arab unity and the quest for Arab and Islamic unity without which our entity will never realize itself. There is also his famous pronouncement 'Arab oil is not dearer than Arab blood', in addition to his acts of generosity that have extended to every one locally, and have spread outward to different parts of the world, to provide aid to the afflicted and the oppressed without distinction between Muslims and non-Muslims. Indeed, he is the Islamic Personality of this year and for years to follow. May God grant him long life."

The Turkish Ambassador to the UAE, Dr. Arjan Ouzer, asserts that the selection of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the State, as the Islamic Personality of the Year, is a source of great honor and pride not only for the UAE citizens, but also for all foreign diplomats who have had the honor to serve a tour of duty in this country under the leadership His Highness. He maintains that His Highness deserves this title because he is equal to it. Similarly, those who have made this selection deserve to be commended for having met success in their choice.

The Ambassador goes on to say that the title is given in appreciation of His Highness' personality as a towering Islamic leader by virtue of his well-known qualities. These qualities relate to a clear vision, foresight and wisdom. The title is also given in appreciation of the task His Highness has set himself - he has devoted himself to unity, solidarity and mutual assistance between Muslim countries. Undoubtedly, this will spread peace and progress in the Islamic World and will be consistent with the real philosophy of Islam. He has also referred to the sincere conciliatory efforts and the good offices of Sheikh Zayed in pursuit of building strong and enduring bridges between Muslims and people of other religions. These will be recorded in luminous letters in the books of history, and will ever be referred to as pointers to peaceful co-existence between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Abdul Al Wahid 'Asimi, Chargé d' Affaires of the Moroccan Embassy in the UAE, emphasizes the fact that the Dubai Holy Koran International Award excels once again, and selects the appropriate man for the award. The selection of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the President of the State, may God protect him, as the Islamic Personality of the Year is due neither to coincidence nor to partiality. Rather, it is paying tribute to an exceptional and pioneering Islamic personality that is worthy of appreciation, respect and high esteem for doing great service to the causes of Islam and Muslims over the years. He also says that Islam, to Sheikh Zayed, is not a religion of worshipping only - it is also principles and authority. Hence, it is not surprising to see that His Highness refers in all his formal correspondence to Islam as a guide, and that he quotes the Koran and the Sunna. He goes on to add that Islam, to H.H. Sheikh Zayed, is a way of life. If we look at his track record and observe his deeds and achievements closely, we will realize that in all the domains of his life he proceeds from the standpoint of a confident believer who depends on God and never strays away from the path of Godly Guidance and what is right. As a result, God Almighty and Most High has rewarded him with success and enabled him to achieve countless great deeds for his people and his nation.

He adds that Islam, to H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is a way of life in daily conduct. This is evidenced by the fact that he provides for the people who have linked Zayed with construction and greening since they first knew him. They associate him with providing every place in the desert with water, with just rule and dedication to serving his people, with true belief and adherence to what is right, and with courage to stand by it. They have known him as an advocate for the causes of Islam and Muslims. In this endeavor, he has spared no effort to serve his nation. They have also known him as a kind-hearted and merciful man, whose generosity is extended to every needy person and to those who look for help or aid. Moreover, His Highness is an Arab and Islamic leader whose time is devoted to the follow-up of the causes of his people and his nation, and whose concerns encompass life in its totality because he is a man who comprehends the true meaning of life, life as preordained by God Most Gracious and Most High.