Starting October 26, 2005, Al Arabiya News Channel will broadcast a documentary on late UAE president Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. “Zayed: The Wise Man of the Arabs” will run for three consecutive days and will offer a glimpse into the life of a man who transformed an empty desert and warring tribes into a modern state.
The documentary highlights the early days of unification between Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 1945, which initiated a process that would culminate in the establishment of the UAE in 1971. Furthermore, it offers a glimpse into the political life of Sheikh Zayed which is indicated by his participation in Arab summits and his support of different Arab causes.
Interesting pieces of historical information dominate this feature: as ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed was the first Arab leader to support Syria’s independence at a time when few knew his name outside the UAE; he supported Egypt and Syria during the 1973 October War and the use of oil as a political weapon; and, he led an initiative to repair damages in Arab relations during the Iraq crisis.
The documentary took a year to produce with O3 Productions doing extensive research into archived speeches and rare pictures of Sheikh Zayed and TV interviews with important figures in his life and concludes with background on current UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed, his Crown Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed and the Zayed sons.
Al Arabiya will broadcast “Zayed: The Wise Man of the Arabs” at 19:30 GMT (23:30 UAE) for 3 consecutive days beginning next Wednesday, October 26, 2005.
MBC Group is a Dubai based diversified media company. It owns and operates Middle East Broadcasting Centre (MBC) the first and leading pan-Arab free-to-air satellite network, MBC2, the non-stop Western movie channel that is the most watched in the Middle East; MBC3, the TV channel just for kids that offers high quality programs; and Al Arabiya, the independent, ground breaking 24 hour news and information channel. Additionally MBCfM is the leading authentic Gulf music and entertainment radio station based in Saudi Arabia, and Panorama FM, which is the leading pan-Arab music and talk radio station.
