HH Mohamed bin Zayed announces official name of martyrs' memorial site as "Wahat Al Karama"

WAM – The memorial site created to honour the UAE’s brave heroes will be named "Wahat Al Karama", His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, announced during his visit to the site, located east of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated that ‘Wahat Al Karama’ is a cultural landmark that reflects the UAE’s pride in the sacrifices made by its heroes and where the values of dignity, unity, and solidarity for the sake of the nation are enshrined, making the UAE a true oasis of honour.

Accompanying H.H. on his visit were Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoun bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, Director of the Martyrs' Families' Affairs Office at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court; Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court; and Lt. General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.

H.H. stressed that the people of the UAE would forever remember the brave sacrifices made by its heroes to keep the country free, sovereign, and proud.

H.H. emphasized that the UAE’s heroes are an example to be followed, and would inspire future generations of young Emiratis to be devoted and loyal to their homeland, and spare no effort to uphold its values, its freedom, and the dignity of its people.

H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed further emphasized that the UAE’s heroes gave their lives to preserve the UAE’s achievements, allowing citizens and residents alike to carry on in the same spirit of hard work and ambition established by the Founding Fathers of the nation.

H.H. stressed that, the UAE – leadership, citizens, and residents alike – would express its deepest gratitude for the heroes and their families and for their unmatched sacrifices that have ensured the safety, stability, and wellbeing of the nation’s future generations.

H.H. underlined that Wahat Al Karama is a national landmark to unite the people of the UAE in gratitude for the heroes that have honoured the UAE, adding that it would tell the heroic tales of those who have given their lives for the country. H.H. concluded by saying that the site would immortalise the heroes’ memory, and forever bear witness to their sacrifices, inspiring future generations of young Emiratis to adhere to their country’s national values.

H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Visits ‘Wahat Al Karama’ H.H. began his tour at the Memorial Plaza, which includes a large space that will be used as a venue for national ceremonies.

The Memorial consists of 31 metal panels, each leaning on the other, in an expression of strength, mutual support and solidarity, reflecting the unbreakable bond between the UAE’s leadership, its people, and those who sacrificed their lives for the country.

H.H. was also shown the poems engraved on the panels of The Memorial, written by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of the UAE, as well as the memorial’s long supportive spine which bears the pledge of allegiance of the UAE Armed Forces.

The tour continued to the Pavilion of Honour, which contains the names of each of the UAE’s Heroes since the time of the country’s unification in 1971. Each Hero’s name is displayed on an illuminated panel made from aluminium reclaimed from Armed Forces vehicles.

‘Wahat Al Karama’: The Pride of the UAE Housing The Memorial and the Pavilion of Honour, "Wahat Al Karama" is situated across from Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and to its east.

"Wahat Al Karama" covers an area of 46,000 square metres, symbolically located between the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the General Headquarters of the UAE Armed Forces. Wahat Al Karama is open to the public 24 hours a day.

The site includes the Memorial Plaza, a large open area of over 4,000 square metres which will host the annual Commemoration Day ceremony. A circular pool of water – 15mm deep – occupies the centre of the Memorial Plaza. The pool provides a unique reflection of the Mosque and also the Memorial’s panels..

Next to the plaza is The Memorial; designed by British artist Idris Khan, the Memorial comprises 31 aluminium-clad panels, each leaning on the other, representing the unity, solidarity and mutual support that binds together leadership and citizens. The panels are engraved with poems written by the UAE’s Founding Father, His Highness the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The long spine at the rear of the Memorial is engraved with the pledge of allegiance of the UAE Armed Forces.

Wahat Al Karama also includes the Pavilion of Honour. The Pavilion’s roof is made from eight large panels, seven of which represent the UAE’s emirates and the eighth representing the nation’s heroes. At the centre of the pavilion are seven massive glass panels, representing the seven emirates; on each is written the Armed Forces’ pledge of allegiance.

WAM/basher