Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Not to be confused with Khalifa bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan.

In this Arabic name, the surname is Al Nahyan.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (Arabic:  خليفة بن زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان‎; 7 September 1948 – 13 May 2022)^[3][4] was the second president of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Abu Dhabi, serving from November 2004 until his death in May 2022.^[5]

Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Khalifa in 2010
2nd President of the United Arab Emirates
In office	3 November 2004 – 13 May 2022
Prime Minister	Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum (2004–2006) Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (2006–2022)
Vice President	Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Predecessor	Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Successor	Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi
Reign	2 November 2004 – 13 May 2022
Predecessor	Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Successor	Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Born	(1948-09-07)7 September 1948 Al Ain, Trucial States (now United Arab Emirates)
Died	13 May 2022(2022-05-13) (aged 73) Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Burial	Al Bateen Cemetery^[1]
Spouse	Shamsa bint Suhail Al Mazrouei ​ ​ (m. 1964)​ ^[2]
Issue	8, including Sultan and Mohammed
Father	Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Mother	Hassa bint Mohammed Al Nahyan
Religion	Sunni Islam

Khalifa was the eldest son of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president of the United Arab Emirates. As crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Khalifa carried out some aspects of the presidency in a de facto capacity from the late 1990s when his father experienced health problems.^[6] He succeeded his father as the ruler of Abu Dhabi on 2 November 2004, and the Federal Supreme Council elected him as president of the UAE the following day. As ruler of Abu Dhabi, he attracted cultural and academic centres to Abu Dhabi, helping establish the Louvre Abu Dhabi, New York University Abu Dhabi and Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. He also established Etihad Airways.^[7]

During Khalifa's presidency, the United Arab Emirates became a regional economic powerhouse and its non-oil economy grew.^[8][7] Khalifa was viewed as a pro-Western modernizer whose low-key approach helped steer the country through a tense era in regional politics and forged closer ties with the United States and Israel.^[9] As president during the financial crisis of 2007–2008, he directed the payment of billions of dollars in emergency bailout funds into Dubai.^[7] On 4 January 2010, the world's tallest man-made structure, originally known as Burj Dubai, was renamed the Burj Khalifa in his honor.^[10]

In January 2014, Khalifa had a stroke and was in stable condition after surgery.^[11] He then assumed a lower profile in state affairs but retained ceremonial presidential powers. His half-brother Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan carried out public affairs of the state and day-to-day decision-making of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.^[12] In 2018, Forbes named Khalifa in its list of the world's most powerful people.^[13] Following his death on May 13 2022, Khalifa was succeeded by his brother Mohamed.

Early life and education

Khalifa was born on 7 September 1948 at Qasr Al-Muwaiji, Al Ain, in Abu Dhabi (then part of the Trucial States), the eldest son of Hassa bint Mohammed Al Nahyan and Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.^[14][15] He was a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.^[16]

Political career

As Ruler's representative and Crown Prince: 1966–1971

When his father, Zayed, became Emir of Abu Dhabi in 1966, Khalifa was appointed the Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi and Head of the Courts Department in Al Ain.^[17] Zayed was the Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region before he became the Emir of Abu Dhabi. A few months later the position was handed to Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.^[18]

On 1 February 1969, Khalifa was nominated the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and on the next day he was appointed Head of the Abu Dhabi Department of Defence. In that post, he oversaw the build up of the Abu Dhabi Defense Force, which after 1971 became the core of the UAE Armed Forces.^[6]

As Deputy Prime Minister

Following the establishment of the UAE in 1971, Khalifa assumed several positions in Abu Dhabi as head of the Abu Dhabi Cabinet. After the reconstruction of the Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates, the Abu Dhabi Cabinet was replaced by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and Khalifa became the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (23 December 1973) and the Chairman of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi (20 January 1974).^[19][20]

In May 1976, he became deputy commander of the UAE Armed Forces, under the President.^[21] He also became the head of the Supreme Petroleum Council in the late 1980s. The post granted him wide powers in energy matters.^[22] He was also the chairman of the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency.^[23]

As President: 2004–2022

He succeeded to the post of Emir of Abu Dhabi and was elected President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 3 November 2004, replacing his father Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who had died the day before. He had been acting president since his father became ill prior to his death.^[6]

On 1 December 2005, the President announced that half of the members of the Federal National Council (FNC), an assembly that advises the president, would be indirectly elected. Half of the council's members were still appointed by the leaders of the emirates.^[24]

In 2009, Khalifa was re-elected as President for a second five-year term.^[25]

 

Khalifa and U.S. President George W. Bush at Abu Dhabi International Airport, 13 January 2008

In 2010, Khalifa was described in a WikiLeaks cable signed by then U.S. ambassador Richard G. Olson as a "distant and uncharismatic personage."^[26] The cable said that Khalifa had risked his reputation and the UAE’s future since 1990, when he described the United States as willing to shed blood to maintain international order and stability in the Gulf.

In March 2011, Khalifa sent the United Arab Emirates Air Force to support the military intervention in Libya against Muammar Gaddafi, alongside forces from NATO, Qatar, Sweden and Jordan.^[27][28]

Khalifa pledged the full support of the UAE to the Bahrain in the face of pro-democracy uprising in 2011.^[29]

Later that year Khalifa was ranked as the world's fourth-wealthiest monarch, with a fortune estimated to be worth $15 billion.^[30] In 2013, he commissioned Azzam, the longest motor yacht ever built at 590 ft (180 m) long, with cost between $400–600 million.^[31][32]

In January 2014, Khalifa had a stroke and was reported to have been in a stable condition after undergoing an operation.^[11]

During his presidency in February 2022, the UAE signed partnership agreements with Israel on tourism and healthcare.^[33]

Personal life

 

Sheikh Khalifa with his father Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan

Khalifa was the eldest son of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Hassa bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan.^[34]

He was married to Shamsa bint Suhail Al Mazrouei, and had eight children: Sultan, Mohammed, Shamma, Salama, Osha, Sheikha, Lateefa and Mouza.^[35][36]

Investments and foreign aid

Seychellois government records show that since 1995 Sheikh Khalifa has spent $2 million buying up more than 66 acres of land on the Seychelles' main island of Mahé, where what was to be his palace is being built.^[37] The Seychelles' government has received large aid packages from the UAE, most notably a $130 million injection that was used in social service and military aid, which funded patrol boats for the Seychelles' antipiracy efforts. In 2008, the UAE came to the indebted Seychelles government's aid, with a $30 million injection.^[37]

Sheikh Khalifa paid $500,000 for the 29.8-acre site of his palace in 2005, according to the sales document. A Seychelles planning authority initially rejected the palace's building plans, a decision overturned by President James Michel's cabinet.^[37] A month after the start of construction of the palace, the national utility company warned that the site's plans posed threats to the water supply. Joel Morgan, the Seychelles' minister of the environment, said the government did not tender the land because it wanted it to go to Sheikh Khalifa. Morgan said "the letter of the law" might not have been followed in the land sale.^[37]

In February 2010, the sewage system set up by Ascon, the company building the palace, for the site's construction workers overflowed, sending rivers of waste through the region, which is home to more than 8000 residents.^[37] Local government agencies and officials from Khalifa's office responded quickly to the problem, sending in technical experts and engineers. Government officials concluded that Ascon ignored health and building codes for their workers, and fined the company $81,000. Ascon blamed the incident on "unpredicted weather conditions".^[37] Khalifa's presidential office offered to pay $15 million to replace the water-piping system for the mountainside, and Seychelles' government representatives and residents say Ascon has offered to pay roughly $8,000 to each of the 360 households that were affected by the pollution.^[37]

Through the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, the UAE supported the Yemeni people in August 2015 with 3,000 tonnes of food and aid supplies.^[38] By 19 August 2015, the foundation had sent Yemen 7,800 tonnes of food, medicine, and medical supplies.^[38][39][40]

In April 2016, Sheikh Khalifa was named in the Panama Papers by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists;^[41] he reportedly owned luxury properties in London worth more than $1.7 billion via shell companies that Mossack Fonseca set up and administers for him in the British Virgin Islands.^[42]

Death

Sheikh Khalifa died on 13 May 2022, at the age of 73.^[43][44] He was buried at Al Bateen Cemetery in Abu Dhabi.^[45] His half-brother Mohamed succeeded him as ruler of Abu Dhabi upon his death,^[46] and was elected as president of the UAE the next day.^[47]

The Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced a 40-day national mourning with flags at half-mast along with a three-day suspension of work in private firms and the official entities at the federal and local levels of institution.^[48] State mourning was also announced in many other Arab League nations. Bahrain,^[49] Lebanon,^[50] Oman,^[51] Mauritania,^[52] Qatar,^[53] Egypt,^[54] Morocco,^[55] Maldives^[56] declared official mourning and flags at half-mast for three days. In Jordan, mourning was declared for 40 days^[57] while flags will fly half-mast in Kuwait.^[58] Saudi Arabia declared three days of mourning with all recreational, sporting events and festivities postponed.^[59] Pakistan announced a three-day mourning and flags were raised at half-mast.^[60][61] Brazil declared three days of mourning,^[62][63] Algeria declared two days of mourning with flags to be flown at half-mast.^[64][65] Palestine declared a day of mourning and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast.^[66] India also declared a period of national mourning with flags at half-staff for one day starting from 14 May 2022.^[67][68] Bangladesh declared one day of state mourning on Saturday.^[69] Cuba declared one day of mourning on 17 May.^[70][71]

Honours

Styles of President of the United Arab Emirates
Reference style	His Highness
Spoken style	Your Highness
Alternative style	Ra'is

• Brazil: Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross (12 November 2021)^[72]
• Spain:
  • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic of Spain (4 December 1981)^[73]
  • Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Civil Merit (23 May 2008)^[74]
• United Kingdom:
  • Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (25 November 2010)^[75]
  • Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George
• The Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (8 January 2012)^[76]
• South Korea: Member of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa (21 November 2012)^[77]
• Ukraine: Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise I degree (26 November 2012)^[78]

Ancestry

Ancestors of Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

16. Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakbut Al Nahyan 8. Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan (= 24) 4. Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan 2. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan 10. Sheikh Butti bin Khadem Al Qubaisi 5. Sheikha Salma bint Butti Al Qubaisi 1. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan 24. Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan (= 8) 12. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan 6. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan 3. Sheikha Hassa bint Mohammed Al Nahyan

See also

•  Biography portal
•  Royalty portal

• List of rulers of individual Emirates of the United Arab Emirates
• List of royalty by net worth

References

1. "UAE President Sheikh Khalifa laid to rest". The National. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
2. "Memories of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain in the Early Nineteen-Sixties" (PDF). National Archives. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
3. "UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed passes away". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
4. "UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed passes away on 13 May 2022 at the age of 73". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
5. "Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zayed Al Nahyan | Biography, Family, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
6. "H. H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan". United Arab Emirates. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
7. "UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan dies aged 73". The Guardian. 13 May 2022.
8. "The UAE economy's transformation under Sheikh Khalifa's leadership". The National. 14 May 2022.
9. "Modernising UAE leader Khalifa moved UAE closer to U.S." Reuters. 13 May 2022.
10. "World's tallest building opens in Dubai". BBC News. 4 January 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
11. "Sheikh Khalifa's condition stable as he recovers from stroke". The National. Abu Dhabi. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
12. "UAE president stable after suffering stroke". Financial Times. 26 January 2014.
13. "The World's Most Powerful People". Forbes. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
14. "Sheikha Hessa, mother of Sheikh Khalifa, dies". The National. United Arab Emirates. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
15. "The UAE President". Crown Prince Court. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
16. "Things You Didn't Know About Khalifa bin Zayed". UAE-Voice. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
17. "From childhood in Al Ain to revered leader: Sheikh Khalifa's path to UAE presidency". Al Arabiya. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
18. "Abu Dhabi's Ruler's Representative hails leadership's support for renewable energy". Emirates News Agency. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
19. "The UAE Cabinet - The Official Portal of the UAE Government". u.ae. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
20. . 14 November 2021. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
21. "UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed passes away". Gulf News. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
22. Turak, Natasha (13 May 2022). "UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed has died at age 73, country announces 40-day mourning period". CNBC. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
23. "UAE President Sheikh Khalifa, Who Steered Nation To Economic Prominence, Dies At 73". Benzinga. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
24. "Sheikh Khalifa: key milestones in his life". The National. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
25. "Sheikh Khalifa re-elected UAE president". Hindustan Times. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
26. Coker, Margaret (29 November 2010). "Leaked Papers Show Arab Leaders Critical of Iran, Neighbors". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
27. "UAE updates support to UN Resolution 1973". Emirates News Agency. 25 March 2011. from the original on 6 April 2016.
28. "Libya Live Blog – March 24". Al Jazeera. 24 March 2011. from the original on 24 March 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
29. . Khaleej Times. 3 March 2011. Archived from the original on 1 June 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
30. . Forbes. 29 April 2011. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011.
31. "Emirati royals knock Abramovich off top of yacht league". CNBC. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
32. Daniel Fisher (5 April 2012). "German Shipyard Launches World's Largest Private Yacht At 591 Feet". Forbes. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
33. "Israel, UAE sign tourism, healthcare agreements - Twitter". Reuters. 8 February 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
34. "UAE: Death of Sheikha Hassa Bint Mohammed marks end of MBK era | Cross-border Information". www.crossborderinformation.com. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
35. "Home". Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
36. "H. H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Humanitarian & Science Foundation". www.sbkf.ae. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
37. Margaret, Coker (9 September 2010). "Sheikh Abode a Sore Point in Seychelles". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
38. "Khalifa Foundation sends 3,000 tonnes of aid to Yemen". ReliefWeb. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
39. "In Pictures: UAE's humanitarian aid efforts over the past 50 years". Gulf News. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
40. "UAE has pledged $110 million in humanitarian aid to Socotra since 2015". The National. 31 July 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
41. "Panama Papers: The Power Players". International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
42. "Panama Papers: 12 world leaders linked to offshore dealings - and the full allegations against them". The Independent. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
43. "President Sheikh Khalifa dies aged 73". The National. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
44. "UAE president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed dies". Reuters. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
45. Reporter, A. Staff. "Look: Sheikh Khalifa laid to rest at Al Bateen cemetery". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
46. "Mohamed bin Zayed, Sheikhs perform funeral prayer for late UAE President". Emirates News Agency. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
47. "Federal Supreme Council elects Mohamed bin Zayed as UAE President". Emirates News Agency. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
48. "UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed passes away". Gulf News. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
49. "Bahrain mourns Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, announces mourning and flags at half-mast". سكاي نيوز عربية (in Arabic). Retrieved 13 May 2022.
50. "Lebanon declares official mourning for Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed and flags at half-mast for 3 days". www.albayan.ae (in Arabic). Retrieved 13 May 2022.
51. "سلطنة عمان تعلن الحداد 3 أيام على روح الشيخ خليفة بن زايد". العين الإخبارية (in Arabic). 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
52. "Mauritania declared three days of national mourning". العين الإخبارية (in Arabic). 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
53. "The Emir of Qatar mourns Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed". صحيفة الخليج (in Arabic). Retrieved 13 May 2022.
54. "Egypt declares three days of mourning over passing of UAE president". Al-Ahram. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
55. . moroccolatestnews.com. 13 May 2022. Archived from the original on 16 May 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
56. "National flag to be flown at half-mast for three days, following death of UAE President". raajje.mv. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
57. البيان. "Jordan announces 40 days of mourning for the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed". www.albayan.ae (in Arabic). Retrieved 13 May 2022.
58. "The death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed... Kuwait announces 3 days of mourning, and flags fly at half-mast for 40 days". العين الإخبارية (in Arabic). 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
59. "Saudi Arabia postpones events, festivities following death of UAE President | Saudi – Gulf News". Gulfnews.com. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
60. "Pakistan announces 3 days national mourning over demise of UAE President". dunyanews.tv. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
61. "Pakistan announces three days mourning over demise of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan". Radio Pakistan. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
62. "Brazil declares three-day mourning on the passing of Sheikh Khalifa". Gulf News. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
63. "Brazil declares three-day mourning on passing of Sheikh Khalifa". bignewsnetwork.com. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
64. "Algerian President offers condolence over death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed". Emirates News Agency. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
65. "Algerian President condoles UAE on death of Sheikh Khalifa". sharjah24.ae. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
66. "President Abbas mourns death of president of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa". Palestinian News & Information Agency (WAFA). 13 May 2022.
67. "India Declares State Mourning Tomorrow After UAE President's Death". NDTV.com. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
68. "Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi" (PDF). mha.gov.in. 13 May 2022.
69. "Bangladesh announces state mourning on Saturday for UAE President Sheikh Khalifa". bdnews24.com. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
70. "Cuba decreta duelo por la muerte del presidente de los Emiratos Árabes Unidos" [Cuba decrees mourning for the death of the president of the United Arab Emirates]. swissinfo.ch (in Spanish). 17 May 2022.
71. "Cuba decreta duelo por muerte del presidente de los Emiratos Árabes Unidos". oncubanews.com (in Spanish). 17 May 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
72. "Bolsonaro condecora líderes do Oriente Médio antes de viagem à região". noticias.uol.com.br (in Portuguese). Retrieved 12 November 2021.
73. "Otras disposiciones" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado. 4 December 1981. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
74. "REAL DECRETO 890/2008" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
75. "Khalifa, Queen Elizabeth II exchange orders". Gulf News. 26 November 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
76. "Khalifa welcomes HM Queen Beatrix of Netherlands". Khaleej Times. 8 January 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
77. "Korean leader hails UAE achievements". Khaleej Times. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
78. "Янукович і Президент ОАЕ обмінялися орденами". ukranews.com (in Ukrainian). 26 November 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2022.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

 

Wikinews has related news:

• UAE President Sheikh Khalifa dies at 73

• at the Wayback Machine (archived 31 January 2018) Biography of U.A.E. President

Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan House of Al Nahyan Born: 25 January 1948 Died: 13 May 2022
Regnal titles
Preceded by Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan	Ruler of Abu Dhabi 2 November 2004 – 13 May 2022	Succeeded by Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Political offices
Preceded by Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan	President of the United Arab Emirates 3 November 2004 – 13 May 2022	Succeeded by Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan