Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of oil-rich Abu Dhabi since 2004, has died at the age of 73, and his powerful brother will become the next Gulf leader.
Sheikh Khalifa, who led the UAE’s rapid economic transformation, retired from public life after suffering a stroke in 2014. He handed over decision-making to his half-brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the powerful heir to the throne of Abu Dhabi. Sheikh Mohammed is ready to become the next president.
“The UAE has lost its righteous son and leader of the ’empowerment phase’ and guardian of its blessed journey,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Twitter.
The son of the UAE’s founding president, Sheikh Zayed, Sheikh Khalifa was “known for his modest style and generous, decent character,” said Abdulhalek Abdullah, a professor of political science. “And thanks to his able heir to the throne, the country was not at a loss when he had to resign due to illness. The de facto leader is now becoming the de jure leader. ”
Sheikh Mohammed’s full control over political and economic issues removes all questions about policy directions during the succession period. Under Sheikh Mohammed, the UAE has become a more prominent geopolitical player in the Middle East, intervening in an attempt to stem the rise of Islamism and fill a perceived void in the United States’ commitment to the Middle East. The Gulf monarchy has also become a leading global investor, while building local industry and financial services as it seeks to diversify away from hydrocarbons.
His rise to the position of ruler of Abu Dhabi and then president of the UAE created an opportunity for a new heir to the throne. It is unclear whether he will follow tradition and choose a brother or, as many believe, choose his eldest son for the role.
The United Arab Emirates gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1971. In his early days as a sovereign state, Sheikh Khalifa was appointed responsible for the development of Abu Dhabi. Its eponymous committee lends to citizens who want to build towers for a growing number of companies and expatriates seeking to take advantage of the oil boom.
The move helped expand wealth among key families in the emirate, whose citizens are now some of the richest in the world. The legacy of this period is visible in downtown Abu Dhabi, designed as a Manhattan-style matrix of skyscraper-lined streets.
In the 1990s, when his father’s health was deteriorating, Sheikh Khalifa acted as an effective president. During this period, the energetic Sheikh Mohammed emerged with his five full brothers as a leading force in government. The group includes National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnun, Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah.
When Sheikh Khalifa took over from his father, Abu Dhabi launched a major real estate investment and development program led by his brother, which transformed the capital as it sought to match the global ambitions of neighboring Dubai. Over time, Sheikh Mohammed became a preferred figure for diplomats and business figures.
Observers said Sheikh Khalifa was happy to cede the outward-looking role to his more engaged and energetic brother. But Sheikh Khalifa still acted as a constraint on Sheikh Mohammed’s growing autonomy. Cautious about the sudden breakthrough of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa kept the last word on oil policy and public spending.
When Dubai’s second emirate in the UAE was on the verge of bankruptcy after a property collapse in 2008, the city-state merely avoided sovereign default by asking for more than $ 20 billion in rescue loans from the capital.
Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, renamed the world’s tallest tower from Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa when it opened in 2010. The homage was interpreted as a tribute to Sheikh Khalifa’s help for Dubai in his time of need.
The Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced 40 days of mourning, with half-raised flags and a three-day closure for state organizations and the private sector.
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