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1966 The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (May he rest in peace) was appointed the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and issued a decree to establish Abu Dhabi.

1968 Their Highnesses Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid met in the border village of Al Sameeh and a bilateral union between Abu Dhabi and Dubai was announced.

This momentous agreement became known as the Union Accord. To strengthen the federation further, Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid invited the Rulers of other Trucial States to join in the negotiations for the formation of the union.

1971 The Union of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was announced and the Federal Supreme Council issued its first federal decision to elect Sheikh Zayed, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, as the first President of the UAE.

Sheikh Zayed, alongside the 5 rulers of each emirate (excluding Ras Al Khaimah), raised the UAE flag at Jumeirah Palace, the site of the establishment of the independent sovereign state of the UAE on December 2, 1971.