Obverse. Photo © Heritage Auctions
  • 1000 Dirhams 1996, X# M4, United Arab Emirates, Zayed, 30th Anniversary of the Accession of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
  • 1000 Dirhams 1996, X# M4, United Arab Emirates, Zayed, 30th Anniversary of the Accession of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Description

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.

Obverse

Depicts a portrait of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan facing right, wearing a traditional cloak and headpiece enclosed by inscriptions in Arabic "His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan" above and "The 30th Anniversary of the Accession Day" below.

The traditional men's headwear in some Middle Eastern areas consists of three components: a knitted skull-cap known as the "keffiyeh," (also referred to as a ghutrah, shemagh, or ḥaṭṭah) a large cotton headscarf, typically plain white or with a red-and-white checkered pattern, called the "ghutra," and a black cord named the "agal," which secures the ghutra in place.

صاحب السمو الشيخ زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان
1996 ١٩٩٦
الذكرى الثلاثون لعيد الجلوس

Reverse

Depicts the emblem of the event (the Accession Day of H.H Sheikh as a circle in the center surrounded by his name Zayed eight times in Althuluth calligraphy) inscriptions "Years of welfare and giving" above and "President of the United Arab Emirates" below in Arabic.

سنوات الخير والعطاء
عيد جلوس صاحب السمو الشيخ
زايد زايد زايد زايد زايد زايد زايد زايد
رئيس دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material Gold
Fineness 0.9166
Weight 40 g
Diameter 40 mm
Thickness -
Shape round
Alignment Medal