Here are some rare childhood photos of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed on his birthday
- 11 Mar 2023
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
As the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan turns 62 on Saturday, Gulf Today shares from its archives some rare childhood photos of the leader.
The photo series documents some historic moments in Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed’s life.
The photos show his school life, spending time late UAE founder Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
A picture depicts his military training at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England.
It also shows Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed getting advice from late Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Sheikh Mohamed was elected by the Federal Supreme Council on May 14, 2022.
Sheikh Mohamed was born March 11, 1961, he also played an active role, participating in the development of the emirate of Abu Dhabi for more than three decades where it witnessed a rapid economic and social transformation.
Sheikh Mohamed, is known, and for a long time, to be the directing force behind many initiatives that contributed into supporting and enforcing the security of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and motivate its economic growth and diversity.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was educated at schools in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi until the age of 18. In 1979, he joined the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where he trained in armour, helicopter flying, tactical flying and paratroops.
After graduating, he returned home to the UAE to join the Officers' Training Course in Sharjah, another Emirate of the UAE.
His training included a fundamental armor course and a fundamental flying course, helicopters and tactical planes, as well as parachutist course. His Highness has an experience in flying the Gazelle helicopter armor and fleet, fly school and air college.
Before His Highness became Armed Forced Chief of Staff in 1993, he was assigned to two positions, Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defense and Deputy Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff, he was capped as General a year after his graduation.
After the passing of the late Sheikh Zayed (may he rest in peace) in 2004, and the election of his elder brother, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al Nahyan as President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed was assigned as Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces in 2005, and was promoted to LT General.
He has held a number of roles in the UAE military, from that of Officer in the Amiri Guard (the UAE's elite security force) and Pilot in the UAE Air Force, to his current role as Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Guided by the directives of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the-then President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohamed helped develop the UAE Armed Forces in terms of strategic planning, training, organisational structure and promoting defence capabilities.
Sheikh Mohamed’s direct guidance and leadership, led the UAE Armed Forces to become a leading institution that is widely admired by many international military organisations.
Sheikh Mohamed also holds a number of political and economic roles at an Emirate level and a wider Federal level in the UAE.
Among his many interests, Sheikh Mohamed is known for his unwavering commitment to enhance educational standards in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and raise them to be on par with the best international standards.
Since Sheikh Mohamed took on the Chairmanship of the Abu Dhabi Education Council he has worked tirelessly to forge partnerships with prestigious world-class educational institutions and think-tanks, a number of which have subsequently announced plans to either establish a base in or join strategic joint ventures with existing academic establishments, under the direction of late president Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed.