Abu Dhabi, Sep 13 The Indian community in United Arab Emirates has paid a tribute to the founder of the nation, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, by publishing a book on him in the Malayalam language.

The book was officially released at a special ceremony at the Indian Social and Cultural Centre here during a mass Iftar banquet Saturday, WAM news agency reported Sunday.

Indian businessman and the publisher of the book B.R Shetty, who handed out copies of the book to the dignitaries present at the function, said the book was a tribute from the Indians living in the UAE to the founder of the nation.

"The book is a tribute from the Indian community to the memory of Late Sheikh Zayed, a man who gave hundreds of thousands of Indians in the UAE an opportunity to contribute to the development of this country," Shetty said.

A large audience representing various nationalities attended the Iftar and the book releasing ceremony.

Authored by the prominent South Indian writer and journalist Jaleel Ramanthali, the book "Sheikh Zayed" is the first such book in any Indian language.

The book is a complete biography of Sheikh Zayed, the visionary ruler who transformed a region of barren land into a modern civilization.

The book contains 20 chapters and scores of rare pictures, and sheds light on the paramount qualities of Sheikh Zayed as a great politician, a visionary and a statesman.

The book is distributed as gift from the UAE Exchange.