Abu Dhabi:
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the longtime de facto ruler of the UAE, was elected president on Saturday, official media said, a day after the death of former leader Sheikh Khalifa.
Sheikh Mohamed, often known as ‘MBZ’, met members of the Supreme Federal Council, made up of rulers from the UAE’s seven emirates, as the oil-rich country enters a period of mourning for his half-brother Sheikh Khalifa.
His ascent, widely anticipated, formalizes his position as leader of the desert state of 10 million people, after he ruled for years while Sheikh Khalifa was sidelined by ill health.
Under his quiet leadership, the United Arab Emirates put a man in space, sent a probe to Mars and opened its first nuclear reactor, while using its oil-funded power to develop a more assertive foreign policy.
Closely associated with Saudi Arabia, it has emerged as a leader of a reformed Middle East since the withdrawal of traditional powers and the reduced involvement of the United States, forging ties with Israel and engaging in a war against Iran-backed militants in Yemen.
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