Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan
politician emir Sheikh President of the State
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was born on September 7, 1948 in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He is the eldest son of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. His mother is Sheikha Hessa, the daughter of Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Sheikh Khalifa memorized the Holy Quran at an early age and received his elementary education at the al-Nahyaniya school that had been established by his father in al-Ain. Later he graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Sheikh Khalifa spent much of his early life accompanying his father and witnessing his father's political career and achievements. On September 18, 1966, he received his first official positions as the Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region and as the Chairman of the Courts. The positions would prove to be very significant in his life as it provided him with an opportunity to interact with the people on a daily basis that, in turn, aided him in identifying their needs, hopes and ambitions.
On 1 February 1969, Sheikh Khalifa was nominated as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, this being followed on 2 February 1969 by his appointment as the Head of the Abu Dhabi Department of Defense, in which post he oversaw the building up of the Abu Dhabi Defense Force (ADDF), which later became the nucleus of the UAE Armed Forces.
On 1 July 1971, as part of the restructuring of the government of the emirate, Sheikh Khalifa was appointed Prime Minister of Abu Dhabi and Minister of Defense and Finance. On 23 December 1973, Sheikh Khalifa assumed the post of Deputy Prime Minister in the second UAE Federal Cabinet. Shortly afterwards, when the Cabinet of Abu Dhabi Emirate was dissolved, as part of the process of strengthening the institutions of the UAE Federation, Sheikh Khalifa was appointed, on 20 January 1974, as the first Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, which replaced the Emirate's Cabinet.
Under his direction, and in accordance with the instructions of Sheikh Khalifa, the Executive Council oversaw the realization of a wide-ranging development program in Abu Dhabi, including the construction of housing, water supplies and other essential services, roads and general infrastructure that led to the emergence of the city of Abu Dhabi as the modern city that it is today.
Of particular importance in terms of ensuring that citizens were able to benefit from the country's increasing wealth was the establishment by Sheikh Khalifa in 1981 of the Abu Dhabi Department of Social Services and Commercial Buildings, charged with the provision of loans to citizens for construction.
The establishment of the department, popularly known as the “Khalifa Committee,” followed another decision taken by Sheikh Khalifa in 1979 to alleviate the burden on citizens of the repayment of loans from the commercial banks.
A further step to ensure that citizens were able to build the properties that they needed, both for residential and for investment purposes, came with the creation by Sheikh Khalifa of the Private Loans Authority, early in 1991.
Sheikh Khalifa has also been involved extensively in other areas of the country's development. In May 1976, following the unification of the armed forces of the Emirates, HH Sheikh Khalifa was nominated as Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. In this capacity, he devoted much attention to the building up of the country's defensive capability, through the establishment of many military training institutions and through the procurement of the latest military equipment and training.
Sheikh Khalifa has held a number of other top posts in the Abu Dhabi government. Since the late 1980s, for example, he has been Chairman of the Supreme Petroleum Council, responsible for oversight of Abu Dhabi's upstream and downstream oil and gas industries, although he has also actively encouraged diversification of the country's economy away from dependence on its depletable reserves of hydrocarbons.
After the passing of Sheikh Zayed on November 2, 2004, Sheikh Khalifa succeeded him as Ruler of Abu Dhabi Emirate. Shortly thereafter, the Federal Supreme Council elected him President of the UAE for a term of five years following which, in 2009, he was re-elected.
As President, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa has always stressed the importance of consultation as a political basis for the Country to ensure justice and security and to encourage all Emirati citizens to actively participate in the running of the Nation. A key objective of any successful government has to be the development of leadership skills for the new generation. Consequently, under H.H. Sheikh Khalifa's Presidency, education, culture, health, and family issues of Emirati citizens are a top priority. Simultaneously, the government has committed to strengthening the private sector, enhancing industry and to encouraging tourism and investment.
He is also Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Investment Council (which replaced the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) in mid-2006 and manages the emirate's financial reserves and investments) and Honorary Chairman of the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) and was until 2006 the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), which oversees the country's international development assistance program.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a hereditary ruler of Abu Dhabi, richest emirate in the UAE. He is among the world's wealthiest monarchs and runs one of the world's largest sovereign wealth fund. He supervised the formation of the Abu Dhabi Defense Force. On January 4, 2010, the world's tallest man-made structure, originally known as Burj Dubai, was renamed the Burj Khalifa, in honor of the Sheikh.
As President, Sheikh Khalifa has always stressed the importance of consultation as a political basis for the Country to ensure justice and security and to encourage all Emirati citizens to actively participate in the running of the Nation. A key objective of any successful government has to be the development of leadership skills for the new generation. Consequently, under Sheikh Khalifa's Presidency, education, culture, health, and family issues of Emirati citizens are a top priority. Simultaneously, the government has committed to strengthening the private sector, enhancing industry and to encouraging tourism and investment.
In his message to the nation on the occasion of the UAE's National Day on 2 December 2005, he noted:
"The years ahead require a bigger role for the Federal National Council by empowering it to be an authority that would provide great support and guidance for the executive arm of the government. We shall work to make the Council more capable, more effective and more sensitive to the issues affecting the nation and the people. This would be done by ensuring a more participatory process and the entrenchment of the policy of “Shura” consultation. And through a gradual, organized course, we have decided to start activating the role of the FNC through electing half of its members through councils for each emirate and appointing the other half. By doing this, we will embark on a march that culminates in more participation and interaction from all the citizens of the country. . . . Today, we stand at a threshold of a new era, whose ultimate objective is to entrench the rule of law and due process, accountability, transparency and equal opportunity."
Quotations:
“The Federation preserves our identity and enhances our capabilities. It is a strong shield for protecting the security and stability of the Arabian Gulf Region.”
“The Federation is a means for loyalty and belonging and an expression of national identity, as well as an unlimited sense of giving and sacrifice, and a real living.”
“The Federation is an investment in national manpower, an undertaking for renaissance and sustainable plan of action.”
The shaping of Sheikh Khalifa's leadership, charisma, behavior and thoughts was due largely to the time spent with his father, Sheikh Zayed, who schooled him in leadership, politics and ideology.
The people of the UAE admire him for his noble qualities of generosity, kindness, ethics and vision as well as for shouldering enormous responsibilities from an early age. Sheikh Khalifa is renowned as being a good listener, modest, affable and interested in his people, frequently conducting direct outreach through official missions and other occasions.
Sheikh Khalifa is a reader of literature, history and poetry and his majlis frequently plays host to leading intellectuals and poets. He takes a keen interest in sports and often follows sporting events. He has also made contributions to sporting teams and clubs and to Emirati teams participating in various tournaments. Sheikh Khalifa has a passion for falconry that was nurtured by his father, who was an internationally renowned expert in the sport. Another of his leisure time interests is fishing that is indicative of his peaceful and reflective nature.
Sheikh Khalifa is married to Sheikha Shamsa bint Suhail Al Mazrouei, and together they have eight children: two sons and six daughters. He is also a grandfather to several grandchildren.
He was the first President of the United Arab Emirates.
