Sheikh Khalifa- The President of the UAE
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan was the ruler of Abu Dhabi till May 2022. He was the second president of the United Arab Emirates. He was born on 7 September 1948.
Sheikh Khalifa was the eldest child of Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, the first president of the UAE. He was the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. When his father got ill in the late 1990s, he came to the throne as the successor of this father.
During his rule, Khalifa attracted several cultural and academic centers to Abu Dhabi. He established the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the New york university of Abu Dhabi, Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, and Etihad airways.
During Khalifa's presidency, the United Arab Emirates became a regional economic powerhouse. During the financial crisis of 2007-2008, Khalifa directed the payments of billion dollars in emergency bailout funds into Dubai.
As a token of respect, the world's tallest manufactured structure, the Burj Dubai, was renamed Burj khalifa.
In 2011, Khalifa was ranked as the fourth most-wealthiest monarch in the world, with an estimated fortune of $15 billion.
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He married Shasma bint Suhail Al Mazrouei and had eight children: Sultan, Mohammed, Shamma, Salama, OSHA, Sheikha, Lateefa, and Mouza.
In January 2014, Khalifa had a Cerebral infraction and had to undergo a minor operation. He was soon reported to be in stable condition. Due to his health issues, he was assumed to have a lower profile in state affairs. He still retained the ceremonial powers of the president.
Public affairs and daily decision-making were being carried out by his half-brother Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan, who succeeded him after his death in May 2022.
