Dubai – The United Arab Emirates’ president sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan named his eldest son sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed (pictured above) as crown prince of Abu Dhabi, making him the oil-rich country likely next leader. Sheikh Al Nahyan is also the emir of Abu Dhabi.
It was part of the political shake-up announced late on Wednesday (29) by the state media. The president’s brother sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, the owner of Manchester City football club, became vice-president of the Gulf state, joining Dubai’s ruler and UAE prime minister sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in the role.
The emir of Abu Dhabi, the capital and emirate that concentrates the largest oil reserves of the country, is a position traditionally held by the leader-in-waiting of the state founded in 1971. Consequently, the new crown prince, 41-year-old sheikh Bin Zayed, will be the next president of the UAE.
UAE’s long-time de facto ruler Mohamed Bin Zayed, sometimes known as “MBZ”, became the UAE president and Abu Dhabi leader last May following the death of his half-brother sheikh Khalifa.
Other Gulf rulers, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, welcomed sheikh Khaled’s appointment.
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Translated by Guilherme Miranda & Elúsio Brasileiro
