Silver coin collection celebrates UAE's founding fathers

Seven coins bearing the images of past and present leaders of the Emirates will be issued next week

Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, raises the flag at Union House in Dubai on December 2, 1971, to mark the formation of the UAE. Photo: Al Ittihad

Crowds watch a parade of the Armed Forces, held to celebrate the UAE's creation. Photo: Shaukat Ali Rana

Sheikh Zayed signs the Federation Agreement on December 2, 1971, creating the UAE. On his left is Sheikh Rashid, then Ruler of Dubai. Behind them are Mahdi Al Tajir, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid. Photo: Ramesh Shukla

Sheikh Zayed receives well-wishes at Al Manhal Palace.

Sheikh Zayed and the Rulers of Sharjah, Ajman, Dubai and Fujairah at Union House in Dubai on December 2, 1971. The Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain attended the ceremony instead of the Ruler, who was unwell. Photo: Al Ittihad

The signing at Union House in Dubai on December 2, 1971. Sheikh Zayed reads the Treaty of Friendship between the UAE and Britain, watched by Sir Geoffrey Arthur, who sent cables home that detailed his recollection of proceedings.

Sheikh Zayed hosts a meeting at Al Manhal Palace in December 1971.

Sheikh Zayed receives guests at Al Manhal Palace.

The signing and speech at Union House. Ras Al Khaimah would join the union weeks later, in February 1972, completing the UAE as it is known today. Photo: Al Ittihad

Somewhere in Abu Dhabi, Mercedes Benz vehicles wait to transport dignitaries.

The circular building built in the late 1960s to serve as a meeting place for the Rulers as they discussed the new federation. It was later used for public lectures organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo: Alain Saint Hilaire

Sheikh Zayed, who became Ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966, was the driving force behind bringing the seven emirates together.

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, now UAE President, attends the flag-raising ceremony at Al Manhal Palace on December 2, 1971. Photo: Al Ittihad Newspaper

The flag-raising at Al Manhal Palace on the day of the UAE's formation. Photo: Al Ittihad

The first edition of Al Ittihad on October 20, 1969.

The UAE is to celebrate its pioneering founding fathers, who brought the seven emirates together as one nation, with the release of a commemorative coin collection.

The Central Bank of the UAE will issue 3,000 sets, each made up of seven silver coins, in honour of the UAE's Golden Jubilee and to pay tribute to those who paved the way for the country's remarkable rise.

Each coin, valued at Dh50 and weighing 28 grams, bears a black and white image of one of the founding fathers on one side along with a colour image of one of the seven present-day rulers of the emirates, who form the Federal Supreme Council.

The reverse side of the coin features the Year of the 50th logo, along with its nominal value of Dh50 and the name of the UAE central bank.

The souvenir set is priced at Dh2,000 and will be available from Monday, January 3 at the central bank headquarters and its branches.

It was on February 18, 1968 when Sheikh Zayed, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed, Ruler of Dubai reached a formal agreement that would bind them together and lead to the formation, three years later, of the UAE.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, recalled the meeting in a series of tweets in 2018.

“From that day we started, from that day we agreed and from that day we began our march together,” he said.

It set the leaders on a path to December 2, 1971, when a historic agreement was made to form the Emirates.

The founding fathers were Sheikh Zayed, who was Ruler of Abu Dhabi and became the country's first President; Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed, Ruler of Dubai and the first Vice President of the UAE; Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah; Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah; Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain and Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

"This coin issuance honours the founding fathers for their significant role in establishing the Federation of the Seven Emirates, and in line with the current wise leadership’s to continue the legacy of the founders in building a nation to which we are proud to belong," said Khaled Mohamed Balama, governor of the Central Bank of the UAE.