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The National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD), established in 1968 as Abu Dhabi's inaugural bank, was a trailblazer in the UAE's financial sector. It achieved the milestone of being the first UAE bank to open international branches, beginning in Cairo, Egypt in 1975, and later expanding to Oman and Sudan in 1976. By 1979, NBAD had further extended its reach to the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. Prior to its merger, NBAD had established a global presence across five continents and 17 countries. In December 2016, NBAD merged with the First Gulf Bank, subsequently operating under the name First Abu Dhabi Bank. NBAD was recognized as the largest lender in both the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE, and it had the largest market capitalization among UAE banks.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918–2004) was an Emirati leader, credited with founding the United Arab Emirates. He governed the Eastern Region before becoming Abu Dhabi's ruler in 1966 and later the UAE's first president until his passing in 2004. Revered as the "Father of the Nation," he played a pivotal role in uniting the seven emirates. Zayed succeeded his brother as Abu Dhabi's ruler after a peaceful coup in 1966.