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 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 Islamist movements in the Arab world.[2][3]
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan | |
|---|---|
 Mohamed in 2021 | |
| 3rd President of the United Arab Emirates | |
| Assumed office 14 May 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum |
| Vice President | Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum |
| Preceded by | Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
| Ruler of Abu Dhabi | |
| Assumed office 13 May 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 March 1961 Al Ain, Trucial States |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 9, including Khalid |
| Parents |
|
| Education | Royal Military Academy Sandhurst |
| 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 |
In January 2014, when his half-brother Sheikh Khalifa, the president of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi, suffered a stroke, 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]