During his visit to the Umm Kulthum Café in historic Cairo, French President Emmanuel Macron was drawn to a photo of the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God rest his soul). Captured by cameras, the rare photo of Sheikh Zayed (may God rest his soul) caught the attention of the French president, who chatted about it with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during their tour of the famous Umm Kulthum Café in the popular Khan el-Khalili district, where he was warmly welcomed by Egyptians. The two presidents toured the streets of Khan el-Khalili, one of the most historic tourist attractions in Old Cairo. The story of the photo dates back to 1971, when the legendary singer Umm Kulthum visited Abu Dhabi to perform in support of the war effort. The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God rest his soul) ordered the urgent construction of a theater for the concert. The theater was built at Al-Ahly Club (currently Al-Wahda). Let’s not forget that Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, honored Umm Kulthum, the “Star of the East,” in appreciation of her role in igniting the enthusiasm of the Arab and Egyptian people, especially because Egypt held a special place in his heart.
I also remember that the Egyptian Ismaily team visited Abu Dhabi and played against Al-Khalidiya (currently Al-Jazira), defeating them by a large margin. Ismaily had won the 1967 African Clubs Championship.
The visit of the “Star of the East” and “Lady of Arab Singing,” Umm Kulthum, to Abu Dhabi in November 1971 was an extraordinary event, one that the state paid special attention to.
Umm Kulthum regularly visited Arab countries and held concerts, the proceeds of which went to support Egypt’s war effort. These are highlights in the career of this great artist and in her glorious history, replete with artistic and national achievements. Umm Kulthum was truly respected and loved by Arab audiences from the Atlantic to the Gulf, to the point that some observers said, “Arabs have never united in their love for a person more than they did for Umm Kulthum.” These are snapshots published in my book “Sports in Zayed’s Thought” in 2018. The book was launched in Cairo to commemorate Umm Kulthum’s visit to the country in 1971 and the friendly match between Egypt’s Ismaily SC and the Abu Dhabi national football team in 1973.
