Winds of Destiny (H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan), 2024

Winds of Destiny (H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan)

“Winds of Destiny: A Story of the Desert and the Stars” is a powerful fine art oil painting that captures the timeless connection between heritage, nature, and destiny.

The Story Behind the Painting:
In the heart of a timeless desert, beneath a sky ablaze with cosmic fire, six noble horses gallop forward—each one representing a force that shaped the soul of a nation. Their hooves strike the sand with thunderous resolve, a metaphor for the unbreakable spirit of the United Arab Emirates.
From left to right, they charge as symbols of heritage, unity, strength, progress, wisdom, and hope. They are not ordinary steeds—they are guardians of the Emirati dream, born from centuries of resilience and vision. The celestial burst and comet overhead signify a divine turning point, a moment in history where the stars aligned to birth a nation destined for greatness.
Towering in the background stands a leader, his eyes lifted toward the heavens—not with fear, but with purpose. His expression holds the weight of responsibility and the light of a visionary. Behind him, a radiant array of feathers fans outward, each one glowing with the colors of dawn and desert, symbolizing the wings of ambition and protection. These feathers evoke the falcon—the national symbol of the UAE—soaring with grace and sharp purpose.
He is not just one man—he embodies the founding fathers and the enduring leadership of the Emirates. His gaze connects past and future, watching over the horses—the nation—as they race into the horizon of tomorrow.
This painting tells the story of a journey from sand to stars, from tradition to transformation. It celebrates the fire of the past, the power of the present, and the limitless promise of the future.
On UAE National Day, this artwork becomes more than a painting. It becomes a prayer, a celebration, and a vow:
That the spirit of unity shall never fade, and the march of progress shall never stop.

Every detail, from the dynamic motion of the horses to the celestial background, was hand-painted with precision by Elnaz Baris (Asgharzadeh) using professional-grade oil paints on premium canvas.