Dubai unveils 50-metre tribute to UAE Founding Fathers
DIFC façade transformed into large-scale tribute to Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid
DUBAI – Brand Dubai, in partnership with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has unveiled a monumental artwork honouring the UAE’s Founding Fathers, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
The large-scale installation now covers the façade of DIFC’s Gate Building, becoming one of the most prominent visual centrepieces of the ‘National Month’ campaign in Dubai. The initiative forms part of the emirate’s celebrations launched by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council.
Running from UAE Flag Day on 3rd November to the 54th Eid Al Etihad on 2nd December, the campaign seeks to highlight the Union’s origins and the nation’s ongoing achievements.
Who created it?
The new artwork, designed by Emirati artist Ahmed BaFadhl, aims to visually narrate the Founders’ legacy while reflecting the UAE’s advancements across generations.
Artist Ahmed BaFadhl, whose work now towers over DIFC, is known for blending architectural precision with expressive visual design. Influenced deeply by his late grandfather, he developed an artistic style rooted in simplicity and emotion. Beginning with pencil and coffee sketches before moving into digital creation, BaFadhl’s work captures both the calm and complexity of national identity, reflecting the UAE’s landscape, spirit and evolving aspirations.
Shaima Al Suwaidi, Director of Brand Dubai, said the organisation is proud to partner with DIFC for the third consecutive year to commemorate key national occasions through creative works rooted in gratitude to the late Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid. She noted that their leadership laid the foundations of the Union and instilled values of determination, unity and national pride.
Al Suwaidi added that BaFadhl’s artistic interpretation combines the portraits of the Founding Fathers with visual elements representing the UAE’s progress in science, technology and space exploration. The result, she said, is a design that embodies the country’s ambitions for the future while strengthening the connection between generations and their collective journey of nation-building.
She emphasised that the partnership with DIFC reflects Brand Dubai’s belief in art as a powerful medium capable of expressing national values, deepening cultural identity and engaging communities in the country’s ongoing story of progress.
How was it created?
The installation covers 50 metres of the Gate Building’s façade, transforming one of DIFC’s most recognisable structures into a symbol of national pride. The backdrop of the artwork features the Hope Probe, Etihad-SAT, Rashid Rover 2 and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre’s Rashid Rover.
These elements represent milestones in the UAE’s scientific and space journey, celebrating the country’s leap from the historic meeting that initiated the Union in Al Khawaneej to its present-day advancements in space exploration. Together, the symbols convey a message of uninterrupted progress and a future shaped by innovation and ambition.
Al Suwaidi also extended appreciation to artist Ahmed BaFadhl for crafting a design that reflects national identity with subtle creativity, combining simplicity, imagination and an authentic Emirati perspective.
Why DIFC?
Alya Al Zarouni, Chief Operating Officer at DIFC, said the collaboration with Brand Dubai demonstrates the Centre’s commitment to fostering national initiatives that honour the UAE’s heritage. She highlighted that the artwork blends tradition with future-focused ambition, symbolising how economic leadership and innovation rely on strong national roots.
According to Al Zarouni, the art installation reinforces DIFC’s role in Dubai’s vision for progress and mirrors its pioneering spirit, which continues to influence emerging generations.
Amina Taher, Member of the #ZayedAndRashid Campaign Organising Committee, added that the artwork exemplifies how art serves as a tool for conveying national messages linked to belonging and loyalty. She said the campaign’s creative initiatives – from murals to community-focused activities – help strengthen young people’s connection to the UAE’s history and values.
#ZayedAndRashid campaign
Organised by Brand Dubai in collaboration with government, semi-government and private sector partners, the #ZayedAndRashid campaign honours the national legacy of the Founding Fathers and commemorates their historic meeting that set the course for the Union.
Events and activities under the initiative continue to take place across Dubai, forming a unified tribute that reflects the solidarity of Emirati society and its continued bond with the nation’s leadership. These activations aim to engage communities and highlight the rich heritage underpinning the UAE’s achievements.