Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan

The Sheikh Jalifa Bin Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahayan (in Arabic: خليفة بن زايد سلطان آل نهيان, Abu Dabi, January 25, 1948-ABU DABI, May 13, 2022) was a president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He took office on November 3, 2004, replacing his father Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan, who had died the previous day. He had been serving as de facto president since his father became ill. He also held the position of emir and ruler of Abu Dhabi.

He was considered one of the richest men in the world according to Forbes magazine; His fortune amounted to 18 billion dollars, placing him in third place on the list of the richest rulers in the world, compiled by the aforementioned magazine. Likewise, he was known for his regional interests in sports, mainly horses and camel racing. A theology faculty building in Lampeter is named after her, because she was his benefactor. He was considered a pro-Westernist who favored modernization. Early in his term, in April 2005, he authorized an increase of between 15 and 25% in the salaries of state employees.

Biography

1966-1971

Eldest son of Sheikh Zayed, Khalifa was appointed as the Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi (the mayor) and as Head of the Courts Department in Al Ain in 1966, as his father Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan came to be the new ruler of Abu Dhabi. Zayed was the representative of the Ruler in the Eastern Region. A few months later, the position was handed over to Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.

On February 1, 1969, Sheikh Khalifa was nominated as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and the following day he was appointed Head of the Abu Dhabi Defense Department, a position in which he oversaw the construction of the Abu Dhabi Defense Force Dhabi, ADDF, which later became the core of the UAE Armed Forces.

Honorary distinctions

• Sovereign Grand Master of the Order of the Union (United Arab Emirates).
• Sovereign Grand Master of the Order of Independence (United Arab Emirates).
• Sovereign Grand Master of the Order of Zayed (United Arab Emirates).
• Sovereign Grand Master of the Order of Al Nahayan (Emirate of Abu Dhabi).
• Knight great cross of the Royal Order of Isabel la Católica (Reino de España, 04/12/1981).
• Order of Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy el Grande (Republic of Turkmenistan, 27/02/2008).
• Knight of the Order of the Civil Merit (Reino de España, 23/05/2008).
• Knight of the Order of the Golden Eagle (Republic of Kazakhstan, 20/02/2009).
• Grand Cross of Honor of the Most Honorable Order of the Bathroom (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 25/11/2010).
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Dutch Lion (08/01/2012).
• Knight of the Order of Mugunghwa (Republic of Korea, 21/11/2012).
• Big Knight of the National Order of the South Cross (Federal Republic of Brazil, 12/11/2021).

Ancestors