Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (Arabic:الشيخ زايد بن سلطان أل نهيان)‎, (1918 — 2 November 2004), the principal architect of the seven United Arab Emirates, was the ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE for over 30 years (1971-2004).

Related Topics:
Sheikh - Arabic - 1918 - 2 November - 2004 - United Arab Emirates - Abu Dhabi

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Sheikh Zayed was the youngest son of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the traditional ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1922 to 1926. He was named after his famous grandfather, Zayed bin Khalifa al Nahyan, who ruled the emirate from 1855 to 1909. On August 6, 1966 he succeeded his brother, Sheikh Shakhbut Bin-Sultan Al Nahyan, as emir of Abu Dhabi after the latter was deposed in a bloodless palace coup. Zayed was first elected to the presidency of the UAE in 1971 and was reelected on four further occasions: 1976, 1981, 1986, and 1991. These elections were not by popular vote, for no democratic institutions exist in the UAE. He was in fact appointed by the other six ruling Sheikhs that sit with him on the Supreme Council. He was considered a relatively liberal ruler, and allowed private media, although they practice self-censorship and never criticized Zayed or the ruling families generally.

Related Topics:
Sultan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan - Zayed bin Khalifa al Nahyan - August 6 - 1966 - Shakhbut Bin-Sultan Al Nahyan - 1971 - 1976 - 1981 - 1986 - 1991

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