Shaykh Zayed bin Sultan, the founder of the United Arab Emirates, is one of the most prominent Arab and global leaders. His political intelligence and foresight helped unite seven emirates in a single federation on 2 December 1971, raising the flag of the union for the first time and becoming a nation that truly believes nothing is impossible. The UAE’s founding father was responsible for an innumerable list of achievements that helped the nation reach the status it enjoys today. He laid the foundations for every sector in the country and set plans for their future. This study sheds light on the history of the UAE and the family tree of Shaykh Zayed, the Al Nahyan, setting out the most significant achievements made by both.