The Ministry of Presidential Affairs in the United Arab Emirates announced the unanimous election of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, as President of the UAE, succeeding Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who passed away yesterday, Friday.
The Emirates News Agency stated that the Federal Supreme Council of the UAE held a meeting today, Saturday, at Al Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi, headed by His Highness, the Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, where the Council unanimously elected His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in accordance with Article 51 of the Constitution, as President of the United Arab Emirates.
Sheikh Khalifa held the position of President of the Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi in 2004 after the death of his father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who established the state in 1971.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed was born in the city of Al Ain (the Emirate of Abu Dhabi) in 1948. He is the eldest son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and he held the first official position, as the representative of the ruler of Abu Dhabi in the Eastern Province and head of the courts in September 1966.
It is worth recalling that according to the UAE constitution, the Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Ruler of Dubai) holds the position of president of the country until the meeting of the Federal Supreme Council, which includes the rulers of the seven emirates, within 30 days to elect a new president of the country.
