Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

He is married to Shamsa bint Suhail Al Mazrouei since 1964 and they have eight children.

Sheikh Khalifa was born on 7 September 1948, in Al Muwaji Fort in Al Ain. He is the eldest son of the Late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Hessa bint Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. His family, traces its history to the Bani Yas tribe, the original people of the UAE

He completed his initial education at the city school in Al Ain and thereafter graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Sheikh Khalifa was mentored by his father in his early years. He was constantly spoken to by public majlis, who trained and educated him in skills of leadership, administration, and politics.

He was also guided by his grandfather Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa, his grandmother Sheikha Salama, and his mother.

In 1966, his father, in capacity as the Emir of Abu Dhabi appointed Sheikh Khalifa as his representative in the Eastern Province; Sheikh Khalifa was only 18 years old at that time.

As the representative of the Eastern Province, he initiated make several changes and implemented developmental projects that were aimed at improving local agriculture. His success at this juncture assured the public of his leadership skills.

He went on to hold several posts, including that of the main executive leader of his father’s government and oversaw the implementation of projects.

In February 1969, he was named the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and was subsequently appointed the Head of the Department of Defence. He supervised the growth of Abu Dhabi Defence Forces, which later became the core of UAE Armed Forces.

In 1971, he was made the Emir or Ruler of Abu Dhabi and the Minister of Defence and Finance. In a couple of years during the cabinet allocation, he was given the post of Deputy Prime Minister.

After the death of his father in November 2004, he was elected as the President on 3 November 2004. His father, Sheikh Zayed, had served as the President from 1971 to 2004. He took oath to continue the legacy of his father and ensure the country’s prosperity.

He focused on developing the oil and gas sector, toured the country to understand the country’s requirements, and launched initiatives to developed projects related to social services, education, housing, and infrastructure.

He also took an interest in sports, particularly football. He encouraged local teams to participate across regional and international tournaments.

He was re-elected as the President in 2009. He succeeded not only in improving the country’s growth but also reached out to other countries to build healthy relations. He also remains a generous donor to many crises in the world and has offered help in cases of many natural disasters.

He has launched several successful initiatives, including the Khalifa Excellence Award, Khalifa Award for Education, Debt Settlement Fund, and the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation.