The announcement of the historic event witnessed the establishment of the United Arab Emirates

Umm Kulthum in Dar Zayed .. With “All Love” .. (Video)

• Photos from the book "Umm Kulthum in Abu Dhabi" issued by the National Archives and Library.

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The visit of Kawkab Al Sharq, the late artist Umm Kulthum, to Abu Dhabi in 1971, to commemorate the emirate's celebrations of the fifth sitting of the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, and near the dawn of the United Arab Emirates, is an important historical and cultural event, as it reflects This unique occasion is Sheikh Zayed’s vision and strategy in building the state from the beginning, as he has not lost sight of, in the midst of the burdens of establishing the state, the cultural dimension that highlights the countries with their own identity and distinctive heritage, according to what His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of The Presidential Office, in its presentation of the book "Umm Kulthum in Abu Dhabi", which documents this event, which was issued by the National Archives and Library in conjunction with the celebration of the "Year of Zayed" in 2018.

His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan added: "The artistic ceremony and the important historical occasion marked the beginning of a new phase for our beloved country, the stage of independence, renaissance and construction."

Feast

The book "Umm Kulthum in Abu Dhabi", which was supervised by the Emirati writer Muhammad Al-Murr, and included a large set of pictures documenting the event, photographed by Muhammad Badr, Muhammad Lutfi, and Mahmoud Aref, lists the background of the historical visit, and a detailed follow-up to that important artistic event, as he reveals. The late artist was a witness to the establishment of the union of the United Arab Emirates, after she participated in the celebration of Sheikh Zayed's sitting day, may God rest his soul.

Muhammad Al-Murr indicates that during the visit of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, to Egypt, which was headed at the time by the late President Mohamed Anwar Sadat (April 1971), Dr. Mana Saeed Al-Otaiba (the Minister of Petroleum and Industry at the time), and Abdel Moneim Al-Malwani (the press advisor), to the lady of Arab singing, Umm Kulthum, to visit her at her home and discuss with her to perform a concert in Abu Dhabi, on the occasion of the national holidays. Zayed, and they discussed with her the subject of her visit to Abu Dhabi and the performance of concerts there. Umm Kulthum welcomed the idea and conveyed her greetings and appreciation to Sheikh Zayed.

Umm Kulthum announced, after accepting the invitation, that she would start her winter singing season for this year in Abu Dhabi, as a tribute to Sheikh Zayed, may he rest in peace.

And since the theaters in Abu Dhabi at that time were cinemas and the largest hall that could not accommodate more than hundreds of spectators, while Umm Kulthum fans were in the thousands, a temporary theater was established on the land of Al Ahly Club (which later became Al Wahda Club) and in record time. Not exceeding three weeks, the theater was built and prepared to accommodate thousands of people.

big ovation

The writer Muhammad Al-Murr describes the scene of Umm Kulthum’s arrival in Abu Dhabi, that when the Kuwait Airways plane landed at Al Bateen Airport in Abu Dhabi on November 26, 1971, the woman of Arab singing was received by many important Emirati personalities, led by Minister Al Otaiba, and Director of the Protocol Department in Abu Dhabi Saeed Al Darmaki. Ali Al-Shurafa, Deputy Director of the Department.

The Hall of Honor at Abu Dhabi Airport was opened for Umm Kulthum in honor of her and her pioneering artistic role.

From the airport, "Kawkab Al Sharq" - she and the accompanying delegation - moved to her residence in the "Al Ain Palace" hotel, and the delegation included her band (about 42 musicians), a number of media professionals, as well as members of the artist's great family.

After Umm Kulthum’s arrival in Abu Dhabi, she sent a letter of thanks that was later published in the Al-Ittihad newspaper, in which she said: “I am pleased to pay this greeting on the pages of the Union to the greatness of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, and his honorable people, and I thank you for the warmth you received from the moment.” The first, in which I arrived in this precious Arab land.

And it increases my happiness that I came on the occasion of the anniversary of His Majesty Sheikh Zayed’s sitting and preparing to announce the establishment of the State of the Union of the Arab Emirates, which will add to the Arab nation a new balance of strength and support.”

two parties

On the evening of November 28, 1971, the first concert of Umm Kulthum was held in the presence of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, and a group of dignitaries, along with a large audience until those present had to sit on the ground or watch the ceremony standing, as the capacity of the theater was 3000 seats, while a crowd of nearly 4000 people inside.

Kawkab Al Sharq presented a number of its famous songs, including "Agad Alqak" and "Al Hob Kulla".

On November 30, 1971, Sheikh Zayed received Umm Kulthum at Al-Manhal Palace, and gifted her a pearl necklace consisting of 1,888 natural pearls in nine rows, adorned with green and red frames.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum displayed this rare piece in 2019 in an exhibition entitled "10,000 Years of Luxury".

The artist wore the necklace in her second concert in Abu Dhabi.

During the visit, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, held a grand dinner in honor of Umm Kulthum, which was attended by a large group of women from Abu Dhabi and the sisterly Arab countries.

After the Egyptian artist finished her two-hour visit to Al-Manhal Palace, she toured Abu Dhabi's landmarks, including the Abu Dhabi Corniche.

On the evening of the same day, the second concert was performed at "Dar Zayed", and the proceeds were allocated to the Egyptian war effort.

The conclusion of Umm Kulthum's visit to Abu Dhabi coincided with the historical event, as she stayed in Abu Dhabi's hospitality to witness the happy day, which was the declaration of the UAE on December 2, 1971.

The ceremony witnessed the raising of the Union flag at Al-Manhal Palace.

Upon her departure from Abu Dhabi Airport, heading to Cairo Airport, she was seen off by Foreign Minister Ahmed Khalifa Al-Suwaidi, along with a group of officials.

• November 28, 1971, the first ceremony of Umm Kulthum was organized in the presence of the late Sheikh Zayed.

• 1888 natural pearls included in the necklace gifted by Sheikh Zayed to the planet of the East.

To watch the video,

To view a special supplement on the occasion of the celebration of 50 years of Emirati-Egyptian relations (2-4),

The Lady of Arabic Singing:

• “I thank you for the hospitality that I received from the first moment, when I arrived in this precious Arab land.”

hinge year

The year 1971 was pivotal in the history of the Emirates, as the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, made a great effort to crown his federal efforts with success. He who is familiar with his diaries this year finds it full of diplomatic visits to various Arab and international countries such as Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan and Britain. He also finds that his diaries are also full of internal political activity, which was represented in the reception of many diplomatic delegations, and in his continuous meetings with the rulers of the Emirates to prepare for the great event that will culminate in the establishment of the United Arab Emirates.

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