Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan GCMG (Arabic: محمد بن زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان; born 11 March 1961), colloquially known by his initials as MBZ,[1] is the third president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the ruler of Abu Dhabi. He is seen as the driving force behind the UAE's interventionist foreign policy and is a leader of a campaign against movements in the Arab world.[2][3]
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan | |
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![]() Mohamed in 2021 | |
3rd President of the United Arab Emirates | |
Tenure | 14 May 2022 – present |
Prime Minister | |
Vice President | Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum |
Predecessor | Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
Ruler of Abu Dhabi | |
Reign | 13 May 2022 – present |
Predecessor | Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
Born | Al Ain, Trucial States | 11 March 1961
Education | |
Spouse | |
Issue |
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Father | Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan |
Mother | Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United Arab Emirates |
Service/ | United Arab Emirates Air Force |
Years of service | 1979–present |
Rank | General |
Commands held | Commander-in-Chief Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Commander of the Air Force and Air Defence |
Website | Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Twitter Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Instagram |
Mohamed is the third son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was the first president of the UAE and the ruler of Abu Dhabi. Zayed died in November 2004 and was succeeded in his posts by his eldest son, Mohamed's half-brother Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed. When Khalifa suffered a stroke in January 2014, Mohamed became the de facto ruler of Abu Dhabi, controlling almost every aspect of UAE policymaking.[4] He was entrusted with most day-to-day decision-making of the emirate of Abu Dhabi as the crown prince of Abu Dhabi.[5] Academics have characterized Mohamed as the strongman leader of an authoritarian regime.[6][7][8][9] In 2019, The New York Times named him as the most powerful Arab ruler and one of the most powerful men on Earth.[9][10] He was also named as one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2019 by Time.[11] After the death of Sheikh Khalifa on 13 May 2022, Mohamed became the ruler of Abu Dhabi;[12] he was elected to the presidency of the United Arab Emirates the next day.[13]