Sheikh Saeed Bin Zayed played a key role in UAE's remarkable growth
- 27 Jul 2023
Rashid Al Nuaimi, Staff Reporter
The march of the late Sheikh Saeed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed many stations of giving and dedication in the service of the nation, society and the sports sector in the UAE. The late Sheikh Saeed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was born in Al Ain in 1965, was the sixth son of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He received his Bachelor's degree in political science and economics from the United Arab Emirates University in 1988. After graduation, he was appointed Undersecretary of the Department of Planning in Abu Dhabi and a member of the Executive Council. He served as Chairman of the Seaports Department from 1991 to 1996.
He was also a member of the Abu Dhabi Development Council and a representative of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan on many international official visits. The late Sheikh Saeed was interested in sports in general and football in particular, and was one of the most important founders of this sport in the country. He assumed the presidency of the UAE Football Association for the period 2002-2003, and chaired the board of directors of Al Wahda Sports Club.
In addition, he liked sniping and swimming, as well as the arts. He was widely acquainted with engineering designs and urban development in various parts of the world, and was a contributor to large development projects in the country. On June 15, 2010, the late Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his capacity as Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, issued an Emiri Decree appointing the late Sheikh Saeed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the representative of the Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
During the period, in which he served as head of the Department of Seaports in Abu Dhabi, the late Sheikh Saeed was keen on encouraging the large companies and institutions to use the Abu Dhabi ports as main ports for exporting and importing their products and raw material. Among those companies was the Abu Dhabi Polymers Company Limited (Borouge), which inked an agreement with the Department of Seaports, under which the company would use Zayed Port and Mussafah Port as main ports for exporting its production and importing its production needs and raw material.
He also encouraged promotional attraction through practical marketing programmes led by UAE citizens who achieved a great deal of excellence in dealing with companies and commercial and shipping institutions. They possessed successful marketing awareness that led to attracting many shipping lines, thanks to the service and facilities offered to customers, in addition to quality standards, competitive prices and many facilitations that dispensed with bureaucracy and relied on a living economic thought that seeks to provide distinguished service for customers and their shipping lines.
The sports sector in the UAE recognises and appreciates the great contribution made by the late Sheikh Saeed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan that led to the development of the UAE football during his presidency of Al Wahda Club. Thanks to his efforts and prudent management of Al Wahda Club from 1990 until November 2011, the Club achieved great successes and achievements, won local championships and qualified for the semi-finals of the 2008 AFC Champions League. In addition, it qualified to represent the UAE in the Club World Cup held in Abu Dhabi in 2010.