AFP/Abu Dhabi
 Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan was re-elected president of the United Arab Emirates for a second five-year term yesterday, the official news agency Wam announced.
The Supreme Federal Council, made up of the rulers of the seven emirates in the UAE, selected Sheikh Khalifa, 61.
He first rose to the presidency as Abu Dhabi’s ruler in 2004 on the death of his father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, who founded the Gulf state in 1971.
The federal council designates both the president and vice president.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is also the country’s prime minister, defence minister and ruler of Dubai, has served as UAE vice president since 2006.
An Opec member which produces 2.2mn barrels of oil per day, the UAE held its first indirect legislative election in 2006 to designate members of the consultative Federal National Council.
Sheikh Khalifa has been involved in the running of the UAE since its establishment almost 40 years ago. He was Abu Dhabi’s crown prince when Sheikh Zayed died on November 2, 2004.
He has carried on with his father’s cautious foreign policy, including toward Iran facing the UAE across the Gulf.
Despite close ties with Washington and although Tehran controls three Gulf islands claimed by the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa has said he will never allow the country to be used for “hostile activities” against Iran.
As president, Sheikh Khalifa has supervised economic development, especially in the real estate and tourism sectors. He also heads Abu Dhabi’s Supreme Petroleum Council.
The UAE is the fourth-largest oil producer in Opec and has an estimated 97.8mn barrels of petroleum reserves. Abu Dhabi accounts for 90% of oil production in the country.
Due in part to Khalifa’s conservative economic policies, Abu Dhabi managed to avoid the brunt of the world economic crisis, especially in comparison to Dubai.
Two years after becoming president, Khalifa organised the UAE’s first, albeit limited, elections. Electoral colleges chose half of the 40 members of the Federal National Council, while the other 20 were selected by the rulers.
Sheikh Khalifa was born in the oasis of Al Ain, his father’s hometown, in 1948. His mother was Sheikha Hassa bint Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Nahyan, a cousin of Sheikh Zayed.
He was named Sheikh Zayed’s representative in the eastern region and head of the courts there after Sheikh Zayed became ruler of Abu Dhabi on September 18, 1966.
Sheikh Khalifa at the age of 21 was named crown prince of Abu Dhabi on February 1, 1969. He became Abu Dhabi’s prime minister in 1971 and also held the defence and finance portfolios in the local government. |
