Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan bin Zayed bin Khalifa bin Shakhbout bin Theyab bin Issa bin Nahyan bin Falah bin Yas), born on 11 March 1961 in Al Ain, is a statesman of the United Arab Emirates.^【1】He is the third President of the United Arab Emirates and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

On 14 May 2022, he was elected President of the United Arab Emirates by a decision of the members of the Federal Supreme Council, the rulers of the emirates.^【2】He became Ruler of Abu Dhabi on 13 May 2022.^【3】He is also the Commander-in-Chief of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces. Previously, he served as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Between 1993 and 2005, he held the position of Chief of Staff of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces.^【4】

Family and Lineage

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder and first President of the United Arab Emirates. His father became Ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966 and was elected the first President of the United Arab Emirates upon the country’s formation in 1971.^【5】

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed is the third son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. His mother is Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. His full name is Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan bin Zayed bin Khalifa bin Shakhbout bin Theyab bin Issa bin Nahyan bin Falah bin Yas. His wife is Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan. He has nine children: four sons and five daughters.

His elder brother, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, served as President of the United Arab Emirates and passed away on 14 May 2022. It is widely reported that after suffering serious health complications following an illness in 2014, Sheikh Khalifa was no longer able to govern effectively, and since then Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has been the de facto leader of the country.

Early Life

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was born on 11 March 1961 in Al Ain, a city within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. When Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed was ten years old, the United Arab Emirates was established in 1971. His childhood and early youth coincided with the country’s rapid growth and transformation.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in childhood. - (The Official Portal of the UAE Government)

Oil was discovered in Abu Dhabi in 1962, and his father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, became Ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966. In 1971, his father assumed office as the first President of the United Arab Emirates.^【6】

Education

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan began his education in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. He completed primary, secondary, and high school education in these cities until the age of 18. In 1979, he enrolled at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, where he received training in armored units, helicopter flight, tactical aviation, and parachuting. He graduated from Sandhurst in April 1979.

After graduation, he returned to the United Arab Emirates and attended the Officer Training Course held in Sharjah. Following his military training, he assumed various roles within the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces.^【7】

Military Career

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan began his career as an officer in the Emiri Guard Unit, the UAE’s elite security unit. He later served as a pilot in the United Arab Emirates Air Force.

According to official records, he rose steadily through the military hierarchy and was appointed Chief of Staff of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces in 1993. He held this position until 2005. In January 2005, he became Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces.

In addition to his military duties, he served as an advisor to his father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, on security matters.

Political Roles and Rise

In addition to his military responsibilities, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has held various political and administrative roles in the United Arab Emirates. In 1992, he was appointed Chairman of the UAE Offset Program Bureau, an institution later renamed the Tawazun Economic Council.

In 2002, he became Chairman of Mubadala Development Company. Mubadala Development Company is one of the principal investment entities of the Abu Dhabi Government. In November 2003, he was appointed Deputy Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

Following the death of his father in November 2004, his elder brother Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan became President of the United Arab Emirates, and in November 2004, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed was proclaimed Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. In December 2004, he became Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, having previously served as its Deputy Chairman.

From 1993 to 2005, he served as Chief of Staff, and from 2005 onward, he held the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces. On 13 May 2022, he became Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

On 14 May 2022, he was elected President of the United Arab Emirates by the Federal Supreme Council.^【8】

Work in Education and Research

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has held several institutional roles in education. In September 2005, he was appointed Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), which was later renamed the Department of Education and Knowledge.

He has worked to raise educational standards in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and established partnerships with educational institutions and think tanks worldwide. He has led initiatives to equip national educational institutions with modern technology and information infrastructure.

Economic Policies

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has held various roles in the economic development of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. In 1992, he was appointed Chairman of the UAE Offset Program Bureau, which was later renamed the Tawazun Economic Council.

In 2002, Mubadala Development Company was established and began operating as one of the principal investment entities of the Abu Dhabi Government. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed assumed the chairmanship of the company. Mubadala is an investment institution aimed at delivering sustainable social and economic benefits to the emirate.

In 2008, the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 program was implemented. In 2016, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) was restructured. In 2018, the “Ghadan 21” program was approved, with a stimulus package of AED 50 billion announced to support economic development.

Global Initiatives

Following the serious health complications experienced by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2014, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has been regarded as the de facto leader of the country. During and after this period, various international initiatives and programs have been launched.

In 2019, the United Arab Emirates declared the Year of Tolerance. As part of this initiative, the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, met in Abu Dhabi and signed the “Document on Human Fraternity”.

It has been reported that since 2011, the UAE has donated $247.8 million USD (AED 911.4 million) to combat polio. In January 2023, the UAE declared 2023 the “Year of Sustainability”.

In September 2023, COP28 was inaugurated, and it was announced that a fund of $30 billion USD would be established to support global climate solutions. In February 2024, the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative was launched.

In March 2024, the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Initiative was announced, with a commitment of $5.45 billion USD.

Additionally, the Mohamed bin Zayed Majlis and Future Generations Initiative was established, with the aim of bringing together young people with the leaders and forward-thinking thinkers of the United Arab Emirates.

Personal Interests

According to official statements, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is interested in hunting and falconry. It is noted that this interest was passed down to him from his father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

He is also said to have an interest in Nabati poetry, a traditional form of poetry native to the region. He has sponsored competitions and cultural events in the field of Nabati poetry.

He is reported to support cultural, artistic, literary, and innovation-driven social initiatives. He is said to follow various sports in the United Arab Emirates and regularly meets with Emirati athletes.

Awards and Honors

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has received various orders and medals from the United Arab Emirates and several other countries.

The countries that have conferred awards and medals upon him include the Kingdom of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Jordan, Morocco, Pakistan, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, China, South Korea, and Malaysia.^【9】