Wahat Al Karama

Wahat Al Karama (Arabic: واحة الكرامة‎), which is also known by its English translation Oasis of Dignity, is a war memorial and monument in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates located across Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque to commemorate all Emiratis who are killed in the line of duty. The memorial was unveiled on the United Arab Emirates Commemoration Day on 30 November 2016.[1] The memorial is composed of three structures: the leaning pillars, the pavilion of honor, and the memorial plaza. The names of all Emirati soldiers who are killed in duty are inscribed in the pavilion of honor.[2]

Wahat Al Karama
واحة الكرامة
United Arab Emirates
Leaning pillars of Wahat Al Karama
For all Emirati's killed in action (1971-present)
Unveiled30 November 2016
Location24°24′48.47″N 54°28′43.6″E
Designed byIdris Khan
Statistics source: www.wahatalkarama.ae

British artist Idris Khan was commissioned to deliver this artwork as the centerpiece of the new United Arab Emirates Memorial Park in Abu Dhabi.[3] Commissioned by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the memorial honors the members of the UAE Armed Forces and the sacrifices made in support of their country’s sovereignty, dignity and freedom.

History

The memorial is the first war memorial in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and documents the names of all the fallen Emiratis who were killed in the line of duty. The first name is of a 20-year-old policeman, Salem Suhail bin Khamis, who declined to lower the Ras Al Khaimah flag in the Greater Tunb and was killed in the Seizure of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs.[4] The date of his death is marked as the UAE's commemoration day.

Members of the Federal Supreme Council gather in the site annually on commemoration day on November 30 in a ceremony honoring the fallen soldiers.[5] The site also sometimes serves as a meeting place for the Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates.[6]

Architecture
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paying tribute to fallen Emirati soldiers during a visit to Abu Dhabi in 2018.

The memorial is a 46,000-square-meter site opposite the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. This project was produced in collaboration with UAP and Bureau Proberts.

Leaning Pillars

The Leaning Pillars are inscribed with the national pledge of the UAE and Arabic poems by UAE founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, prime minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Wahat Al Karama". abudhabiculture.ae. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  2. Al Nowais, Shireena (27 November 2018). "Abu Dhabi's war memorial is an 'oasis of dignity' for UAE's heroes". The National.
  3. Shah, Devanshi (31 March 2017). "British artist Idris Khan designs first memorial dedicated to Emirati soldiers". Architectural Digest. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  4. "UAE's first martyr remembered". The National. 6 December 2012.
  5. "UAE leaders pay homage to martyrs at Wahat Al Karama". Khaleej Times. 30 November 2018.
  6. "UAE Cabinet dedicates Year of Giving strategy to martyrs". The National. 5 March 2017.
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