Ruler:

Sheikh  Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the Arab Emirates and Emir of Abu Dhabi, born January 25, 1948

Biography:

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan received his formal education in the UAE and England and graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1979. His military training included courses in basic armor, basic flying, helicopter conversion, tactical flying, and basic paratroops. He has also completed the Staff College course. As General, Al Nahyan's experience includes commanding an armored unit, a Gazelle helicopter squadron, the Air School and the Air College.

The eldest son of Sheikh Zayed, Khalifa was appointed as Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi and as Head of the Courts Department in Al Ain in 1966, as his father Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan became the new ruler of Abu Dhabi. Zayed was the Ruler's Representative in the Eastern Region. Few months later the position was handed to Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.

On February 1st, 1969, Sheikh Khalifa was nominated as the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and on the next day he was appointed as the Head of the Abu Dhabi Department of Defence, in which post he oversaw the building up of the Abu Dhabi Defence Force, ADDF, which later became the nucleus of the UAE Armed Forces.  

Independend in 1971 Following the establishment of the UAE in 1971, Sheikh Khalifa became the Prime Minister of Abu Dhabi (and head of Abu Dhabi Cabinet, under his father), Minister of Defense and Finance. Following the reconstruction of the Federation Cabinet including the abolishing of Abu Dhabi Cabinet and setting up of Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, he became the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates on 23 December 1973 and Chairman of Executive Council of Abu Dhabi on 20 January 1974, under his father. In May 1976 he became deputy commander of the UAE armed forces, under the President. He also heads the Supreme Petroleum Council in the late 1980s (until today), which enjoys wide powers in energy matters. He was the Chairman of the Environmental Research and Wildlife Development Agency, ERWDA.    

He succeeded to both posts on 3. November 2004, replacing his father Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who had died the day before. He had effectively been acting president earlier, since his father was in ill health.