Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan the current President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
He is the third son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president of the UAE and the 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi.
MBZ was born on March 11, 1961, in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi.
Family Members.
Mohammed bin Zayed is the third son of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi.
In fact, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed has 18 brothers:
Hamdan, Hazza, Issa, Nahyan, Saif, Tahnoun, Hamed, Mansour, Falah, Theyab.
Abdullah, Omar, Khalid, the late Khalifa, the late Sultan, the late Saeed, the late Nasser, and the late Ahmed.
He also has eleven sisters.
Mohammed bin Zayed Wife is Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, since 1980.
They have nine children together, four sons and five daughters and two adopted daughters.
Sheikha Mariam, Sheikh Khaled, Sheikha Shamsa, Sheikh Theyab,Sheikh Hamdan, Sheikha Fatima, Sheikha Shamma, Sheikh Zayed, Sheikha Hessa.
While Sheikha Amina and Sheikha Salha are Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed’s adopted daughters.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Policy.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan adopts a strong work ethic and commitment to developing the country.
He has always been praised for his efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.
UAE President has played a key role in the UAE’s economic development.
He has overseen the country’s diversification away from oil and gas.
Also he has promoted investment in renewable energy, tourism, and technology.
We should also mention his efforts to improve the UAE’s education and healthcare systems.
Moreover, His Highness has played a prominent role in international affairs.
Because he is a strong supporter of the fight against terrorism.
Also he is working to promote interfaith dialogue and understanding.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan the Influential International Leader.
Mohammed bin Zayed is a visionary leader, committed to building a better future for the UAE.
His strong leadership has helped to make the UAE a global player.
In 2019, The New York Times named him as the most powerful Arab ruler.
Also he was named as one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2019 by Time magazine.
In 2023, the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre ranked him as the eighth-most influential Muslim.
Education
His father Sheikh Zayed sent him to Morocco intending for it to be a disciplinary experience.
He gave him a passport showing a different last name, so that he would not be treated like royalty.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed spent several months working as a waiter in a local restaurant.
He made his own meals and did his own laundry, and was often lonely.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed described his life back then by saying:
“There’d be a bowl of tabbouleh in the fridge, and I’d keep eating from it day after day until a kind of fungus formed on the top”.
Sheikh Mohammed was further educated at schools in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and a summer at Gordonstoun until the age of 18.
In 1979, he joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst graduating in April 1979.
During his time at Sandhurst, he completed the below:
-Fundamental armor course.
-Fundamental flying course.
-Parachutist course.
-Training on tactical planes and helicopters, including the Gazelle squadron.
During his time in Sandhurst, he became good friends with Abdullah of Pahang, who would later become the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia.
They were both officer cadets at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.
Mohamed then returned home to the UAE to join the Officers’ Training Course in Sharjah.
He has held a number of roles in the UAE military, from that of an officer in the Amiri Guard (now called Presidential Guard) to a pilot in the UAE Air Force.
Political career
Emirate of Abu Dhabi
In November 2003, Sheikh Zayed appointed his son Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed as deputy crown prince of Abu Dhabi.
Upon the death of his father, Sheikh Mohammed became crown prince of Abu Dhabi in November 2004.
By January 2005, he was appointed deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Later that month, he was promoted to the rank of general.
Since December 2004 he has also been the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
Which is responsible for the development and planning of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and is a member of the Supreme Petroleum Council.
He also served as a special adviser to his older brother, Khalifa bin Zayed, president of the UAE at the time.
As a result of Sheikh Khalifa’s ill health, Mohamed became the de facto ruler of Abu Dhabi in January 2014.
Also he was responsible for welcoming foreign dignitaries in the capital district of the UAE in the city of Abu Dhabi.
On 13 May 2022, he became the ruler of Abu Dhabi, following the death of his brother Khalifa.
By 14 May 2022, he was elected as president of the United Arab Emirates.
Nuclear energy
Under Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed leadership, the UAE built the first-ever nuclear power reactor in the region.
With the name Barakah nuclear power plant.
The UAE and US signed a bilateral agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation.
That enhances international standards of nuclear non-proliferation.
The UAE President was at the Nuclear Security Summit of 2012 and 2014.
Which were hosted by South Korea and the Netherlands respectively.
Military
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed served as an officer in the Amiri Guard (now known as Presidential Guard) in many positions:
– Pilot in the UAE’s Air Force.
– Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defense.
-Deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces.
-Deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
-Lieutenant general.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed made jujitsu compulsory in schools.
In 2014, he established the military draft, conscripting young Emiratis to attend a year of boot camp.
Initially running a pilot project within his own family.
According to the New York Times, as a result of His Highness vision.
The UAE Armed Forces became the best equipped and trained military in the region.
Under his leadership, the UAE Armed Forces also became commonly nicknamed as “Little Sparta”.
By US Armed Forces General and former US defense secretary James Mattis.
As a result of their active and effective military role.
According to a 2020 study, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed reforms successfully increased the effectiveness of the UAE military.
Philanthropy
UAE President has gifted AED 55 million to the UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking.
And also committed to raise US$100 million for the Reaching the Last Mile Fund.
Pledged US$50 million for children vaccine efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He also contributed US$30 million to the Roll Back Malaria Partnership.
The University of Texas chair for scientific and medical knowledge in cancer research is named after him.
As a result of a funding grant to MD Anderson Cancer Center.
He has organized the Zayed Charity Marathon in New York City since its inauguration in 2005.
The race raises awareness about kidney disease, and the proceeds go to the US’s National Kidney Foundation.
Mohammed bin Zayed has also set up art museums.
Such as Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2017 and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in 2012.
As well as cultural heritage sites such as Qasr Al Hosn.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed has made strong efforts to protect wild falcons, bustards, and the Arabian oryx.
He donated US$1 million to an initiative aimed at preventing the power line-related deaths of wild birds.
As part of launching the 20-million-dollar Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Foundation.
He heads the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.
A species of woodlizard — Enyalioides binzayedi — named after him as the creator of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.
Which provided financial support to the expeditions.
And also led to the discovery of the species in the Cordillera Azul National Park in Peru.
In 2017, Acer binzayedii, a rare species of maple tree found in the mountainous cloud forest of Jalisco in Western Mexico, also named after him.
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