Know the UAE’s new President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed — at a glance
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan was elected as the UAE president on Saturday, official media said, a day after the death of former leader Sheikh Khalifa.
Sheikh Mohamed was elected by the Federal Supreme Council, WAM news agency said.
Sheikh Mohamed met members of the Federal Supreme Council, made up of Rulers of the UAE's seven emirates, for the official ceremony.
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed is the son of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, 'Father of the Nation' and the first President of the UAE, and the brother of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. Sheikh Mohamed is married to Her Highness Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, and has four sons and five daughters:
Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Sheikha Shamsa bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Sheikha Fatima bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Sheikha Shamma bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Sheikha Hassa bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
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.
Working in the Military Field
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.
In addition to His Highness' military responsibilities, Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed was the key advisor for his late father Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan regarding security issues.
He was also Deputy Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in November, 2003.
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed became Vice President of the Executive Council, and later its Chairman in November, 2004.
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed is an active member of the Supreme Petroleum Council, which covers oil and energy sectors.
He received a lot of decorations and medals from the United Arab Emirates and other countries such as Kingdom of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, USA, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, China, South Korea, Malaysia as well as the UN.
Interests and Activities
— Economic Development
Economic diversity is considered one of Sheikh Mohamed's key issues, within efforts to achieve comprehensive up rise of the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
He holds the post of Chairman of the UAE Offset Program Bureau (Offset) which work on executing investments through establishing projects of feasibility within the different sectors, which help with the UAE's economy diversification.
To help create this diversification, Mubadala Development Company was established in 2002 to become one of Abu Dhabi Government's main investment entities, and aspire to achieve sustainable social and economic benefits for the emirate.
— Research and Education
Education has always been a priority of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed, whether its public or private from elementary till secondary school, and higher education. He is the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Education Council, which was established in 2005.
Since its establishment, the Abu Dhabi Education Council oversees and develops the education sector within the emirate by conducting studies and activating the role of students and parents in the assessment processes, and communicate with high international educational institutions to exchange innovative initiatives that aim to develop the education sector.
He also chairs the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, which oversees the publishing of critical academic studies and analysis related to key issues relevant to both, the UAE and the region.
— Environment Protection
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed is known for his passion for protecting wild falcons and bustards, as well as the Arabia Oryx, enriching the UAE's and the world's wildlife, which reflects throughout the establishment and heading of the Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.
Sheikh Mohamed's passion for raising falcons, drove him to focus on protecting them, beside other endangered species in addition to plants.
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed is also known for his great interest in the animals of the Arabian Peninsula, especially the Arabian Oryx and bustards.
Sheikh Mohamed’s efforts to preserve the nature lead to adopting alternative energy projects, particularly Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, which is an initiative to establish a carbon-emission-free city, which will enable Abu Dhabi to lead international research within energy development and sustainable techniques fields.
