The Dubai Metro Founding Fathers tribute has transformed one of the city’s most iconic transportation networks into a moving gallery celebrating the UAE’s rich heritage. In a collaboration between Brand Dubai and the Roads and Transport Authority, thousands of daily commuters now experience a visual journey honoring the nation’s visionary leaders who laid the foundation for the country’s remarkable progress.
This creative initiative, launched as part of National Month celebrations, features striking images of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum across multiple metro carriages along the Red Line. The installation serves as more than just decoration. It represents a powerful connection between the UAE’s historical roots and its modern aspirations.
A Moving Tribute Across Dubai’s Transport Arteries
The Dubai Metro Founding Fathers tribute extends from Centrepoint station to Expo 2020 station, creating an immersive experience for passengers traveling along one of the busiest routes in the emirate. Each day, tens of thousands of residents, workers, and tourists witness this celebration of leadership and vision, making it one of the most visible public art installations in the city.
The creative display goes beyond simple imagery. Complementing the photographs of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum are verses from “The People and the Leader,” a poem by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. These carefully selected words reinforce the enduring values and principles that continue to guide the nation more than five decades after its founding.
The choice of the Dubai Metro as the canvas for this tribute is particularly meaningful. As one of the world’s longest fully automated metro networks, it represents the kind of forward thinking infrastructure development that the Founding Fathers envisioned. The metro system itself stands as a testament to their legacy of innovation and progress.
The ZayedAndRashid Campaign: Celebrating Unity and Partnership
This installation forms a central element of the second edition of the ZayedAndRashid campaign, organized by Brand Dubai under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council. The campaign takes its name from the two leaders whose partnership and shared vision proved instrumental in establishing the United Arab Emirates and setting it on a path toward prosperity.
Shaima Al Suwaidi, Director of Brand Dubai, emphasized the significance of this creative project in preserving and promoting national heritage. “This initiative honours the legacy of the Founding Fathers and celebrates their values, which continue to inspire current and future generations across the UAE,” she explained. Her words highlight the campaign’s dual purpose: remembering the past while inspiring the future.
The campaign recognizes that national identity remains vital even as societies modernize and evolve. By placing images of the Founding Fathers in a contemporary urban setting, the initiative bridges generations and reminds younger Emiratis and new residents alike of the foundations upon which their opportunities are built.
Strategic Partnership Between Heritage and Innovation
The collaboration between Brand Dubai and the Roads and Transport Authority demonstrates how government entities can work together to reinforce national values while enhancing public spaces. Fatma Al Khumiri, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communication at the Roads and Transport Authority, articulated this vision clearly: “The Dubai Metro has become a dynamic space that not only connects communities but also highlights shared values and strengthens collective belonging.”
This partnership reflects a sophisticated understanding of public engagement in the modern age. Rather than confining national celebrations to traditional venues or ceremonial occasions, the initiative brings heritage into daily life. Commuters don’t need to visit a museum or attend a special event to encounter their nation’s history. It accompanies them on their journey to work, school, or leisure activities.
The Dubai Metro Founding Fathers tribute also aligns with the Roads and Transport Authority’s broader vision of transforming public transport into more than just a functional service. The authority has consistently worked to make the metro experience enriching and culturally relevant, with various art installations and community initiatives over the years. This latest project represents perhaps the most significant integration of national identity into the transport network to date.
The Power of Public Spaces in Nation Building
Public transportation serves millions of passengers annually in Dubai, creating an unparalleled opportunity for cultural engagement. The metro system connects diverse communities across the emirate, bringing together Emiratis and expatriates from more than 200 nationalities. For many residents and visitors, the metro offers their first or most frequent encounter with Dubai’s public infrastructure.
By decorating carriages with images of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the initiative ensures that the Founding Fathers’ legacy remains visible and relevant in contemporary urban life. Expatriate residents gain insight into the values and history of their host country, while Emirati citizens experience a daily reminder of the principles that guide their nation.
The visual tribute also serves an educational purpose. For younger generations who may not have lived during the era of the Founding Fathers, these images and accompanying verses provide a tangible connection to historical figures who might otherwise seem distant or abstract. Parents traveling with children have natural opportunities to discuss the nation’s history and values.
National Month: A Celebration of Identity and Progress
The metro installation forms part of a comprehensive program of events and activations organized by Brand Dubai for National Month celebrations. This annual observance, running throughout November until December 2, offers residents and visitors multiple opportunities to engage with the UAE’s national story through various cultural and community experiences.
Other initiatives within the National Month celebrations include the Flag Garden at Umm Suqeim Beach, where visitors can walk among hundreds of UAE flags creating a sea of national colors against the backdrop of the Arabian Gulf. The large scale creative artwork on The Gate Building in Dubai International Financial Centre provides another prominent display, ensuring that the celebrations reach both beachgoers and business professionals.
These diverse activations reflect Dubai’s cultural and social diversity while creating moments of shared national pride. Each installation or event is designed to be accessible and engaging, inviting participation rather than passive observation. The hashtag ZayedAndRashid encourages audiences to document and share their experiences, extending the campaign’s reach across social media platforms.
The Legacy of Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid
Understanding the significance of the Dubai Metro Founding Fathers tribute requires appreciating the profound impact these two leaders had on the UAE’s development. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founder of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, provided visionary leadership that unified seven emirates into a single nation in 1971. His commitment to education, healthcare, and infrastructure development transformed the quality of life for all citizens.
Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai from 1958 to 1990, demonstrated remarkable foresight in diversifying his emirate’s economy beyond oil. He invested heavily in infrastructure, including Port Rashid and Dubai International Airport, laying the groundwork for Dubai’s emergence as a global business and tourism hub. His famous quote, “My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I drive a Mercedes, my son drives a Land Rover, his son will drive a Land Rover, but his son will ride a camel,” reflected his determination to build sustainable prosperity.
The partnership between these two leaders exemplified the spirit of cooperation and shared purpose that remains central to the UAE’s federal structure. Despite leading different emirates with distinct characteristics and priorities, they maintained a unified vision for the nation’s future. Their relationship set a precedent for collaboration that continues to characterize interactions between UAE leadership today.
Connecting Authenticity with Progress
One of the most striking aspects of the metro tribute is how it embodies the UAE’s approach to development: honoring tradition while embracing modernity. The Dubai Metro itself represents cutting edge technology and urban planning, yet it now serves as a venue for celebrating historical figures and timeless values.
This integration reflects a broader national philosophy that refuses to see heritage and progress as opposing forces. Instead, the UAE has consistently demonstrated that rapid modernization can coexist with cultural preservation and that technological advancement doesn’t require abandoning traditional values.
The verses from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s poem “The People and the Leader” reinforce this message. The poem explores the relationship between leadership and society, emphasizing mutual responsibility and shared purpose. These are themes as relevant today as they were at the nation’s founding.
Impact on Dubai’s Cultural Landscape
The Dubai Metro Founding Fathers tribute contributes to an evolving cultural landscape where public art and national identity intersect with daily life. Dubai has increasingly embraced public installations that serve both aesthetic and educational purposes, transforming the city into an open air gallery.
This approach to urban development recognizes that cities shape the people who inhabit them. By surrounding residents with meaningful imagery and messages, authorities can reinforce values and create a sense of shared identity even in highly diverse populations.
The metro tribute also demonstrates Dubai’s commitment to making culture accessible. Rather than confining art and heritage to galleries, museums, or exclusive venues, the city brings these experiences to ordinary citizens going about their daily routines. This democratization of culture ensures that engagement with national heritage doesn’t require special access or resources.
Looking Toward the Future
As the National Month celebrations continue, the metro installation will reach an estimated audience of millions, creating countless moments of reflection and connection. The initiative’s success may inspire similar projects in other public spaces, further integrating national heritage into the urban environment.
The campaign also sets a standard for how nations can celebrate their history in ways that resonate with contemporary audiences. Rather than relying solely on formal ceremonies or static monuments, the UAE demonstrates the power of dynamic, accessible displays that meet people where they are.
For future generations of Emiratis, initiatives like the Dubai Metro Founding Fathers tribute will help ensure that the values and vision of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum remain living principles rather than historical footnotes. By keeping these figures present in daily life, Dubai helps maintain continuity between past achievements and future aspirations.
Community Engagement and Social Media
The campaign encourages active participation through the ZayedAndRashid hashtag, inviting residents and visitors to share their experiences and reflections. This digital component extends the initiative’s reach far beyond the physical installation, creating a virtual community of people engaged with the UAE’s national narrative.
Social media engagement also provides valuable feedback for organizers, revealing how different communities interpret and respond to the tribute. These insights can inform future cultural initiatives, ensuring they remain relevant and impactful.
The hashtag campaign also serves an archival purpose, creating a distributed record of how people experienced and understood the tribute. These collective memories contribute to the ongoing story of the UAE’s development and the persistence of its founding values.
Conclusion
The Dubai Metro Founding Fathers tribute represents far more than an attractive display on public transportation. It embodies a sophisticated approach to nation building that honors history while embracing modernity, making cultural heritage accessible to diverse populations, and transforming ordinary spaces into opportunities for reflection and connection.
As thousands of passengers travel the Red Line each day, they encounter a powerful reminder of the vision, courage, and partnership that created the UAE. The images of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, accompanied by verses celebrating leadership and unity, connect past and present in a moving tribute to the Founding Fathers.
Through initiatives like this, Dubai demonstrates how cities can serve as living museums where heritage and daily life intertwine naturally. The collaboration between Brand Dubai and the Roads and Transport Authority shows what’s possible when government entities work together with creativity and purpose, turning public infrastructure into a canvas for national expression.
As National Month celebrations continue across Dubai, the metro tribute stands as a centerpiece of remembrance and inspiration. It is a journey through history for everyone traveling toward the future.
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