HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a remarkable man, following in the footsteps of his extraordinary father. Born in Al Ain in 1948, and growing up in Al Ain, he remained very close to the leadership of his father.
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa grew up in Al Ain, which at the time, lacked the basic structures of a city including; schools; roads; electricity…etc.
Although lacking modern infrastructure, Al Ain was of fundamental economic value for Abu Dhabi due to it being a large agricultural producer and a strategic base for security of the region since it was positioned amongst links to eastern Arabia. Al Ain was separated into six villages at the time, in which each village had its own tribe. Sheikh Zayed’s challenge was to take leadership of all six separate villages, and unite them as one region. This brought prosperity, and internal stability and security to Al Ain.
HH Sheikh Khalifa attended the only school in his village at the time, which his father had built. His Highness Sheikh Zayed appointed Sheikh Zayed’s representative and President of legal systems of Al Ain at the early age of eighteen. HH Sheikh Zayed gained his first set of leadership skills by attending the majlis (the daily congregations that take place in the presesence of a ruler or senior tribal leader) of his father. Sheikh Zayed was recognized by everyone in his majlis as having the most charismatic personality with strong leadership capabilities. Sheikh Khalifa would join his father on almost all of his daily visits and brought him close to the tribes. HH Sheikh Khalifa learned the values and aspirations of the tribes which is what makes him the noble leader that he is today. The importance of values such as responsibility and trust, were introduced to Sheikh Khalifa as a child, as well as beginning a close relationship between him and the people that he now represents as leader of their nation. In turn, the tribe grew very close to HH Sheikh Khalifa and loved him as he loves them with equal devotion.
With influence from his late father, HH Sheikh Zayed, Sheikh Khalifa adopted the mentality that a true leader, is one whose devotion focuses solely on the welfare and concerns of his people.
HH Sheikh Khalifa earned another set of leadership skills from his grandfather on his mothers side, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa, the senior figure of the Al Nahyan family at the time. Sheikh Mohammed was respected by all and was known for his intellect, and insight. His grandmother, Sheikha Salama, led a high position among her tribe, as she was known for her sophistication, intellect, and insight, in which she remarkably gained seeing as how isolated, Al Ain was from the rest of the world.
At the youthful age of eighteen, Sheikh Khalifa was appointed Sheikh Zayed’s representative and President of legal systems, in Al Ain. This occurred during the same time that Sheikh Zayed moved to Abu Dhabi to become ruler of that particular emirate. Due to Al Ain’s high value of significance, the mere fact that Sheikh Zayed appointed his eldest son Sheikh Khalifa his representative in Al Ain was evidence of Sheikh Zayed’s confidence and trust in his eldest son. Sheikh Khalifa in turn, made his father proud and took his new leadership role with no difficulty and marked his leadership with successful projects.
Sheikh Khalifa paid close attention his father’s leadership. He implemented large development project for Al Ain, many of which were designed to improve agriculture throughout the emirate. This right of passage for Sheikh Khalifa paved the way for the rest of his life.
Once he proved worthy of the confidence his father instilled in him, Sheikh Khalifa showed initiative by working his way to become the main executive leader of Sheikh Zayeds Government, and overseeing on both local and federal levels, the implementation of all major projects to develop the state. This included responsibility for all fields in the sectors of politics, the economy, oil, defense and external affairs. He did all of this with modesty and with the dignity and respect of his people, and gave his helpers the opportunities to take initiative; all of which are skills that he acquired from his late father. This approach to leadership has successfully proven with his father, and now with Sheikh Khalifa, to maintain trust of a nation, and to motivate them to consistent endeavor.
In 1969, Sheikh Khalifa was appointed as Abu Dhabi Crown Prince. He moved to the city of Abu Dhabi and was given command of a new army, which after some time was seen as a base for the federal army. Shortly after, Sheikh Khalifa was appointed the first Prime Minister of the Abu Dhabi government. Once the United Arab Emirates was declared a federation, Sheikh Khalifa acquired leadership for Defence and Finance. He also oversaw the first development projects in the emirate which at the time lacked modern infrastructure. In the first federal cabinet, Sheikh Khalifa acquired the office of Deputy Prime Minister in 1974. He supervised the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi which then replaced the local cabinet and became the executive branch of local government which oversaw the social and economic transformation of the emirate of Abu Dhabi. Later, in 1976, Sheikh Khalifas interest in developing the defense potential of the United Arab Emirates was finally branching out and he was appointed the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Although very occupied with overseeing sectors of the government, Sheikh Khalifa maintained his interest in developing his country. While doing all of this, he was still able to pay close attention to the oil sector and acquired responsibility in managing Abu Dhabi’s oil resources. He approved large investments in new oil and gas fields, all the while introducing the most modern technology for increasing recovery rates of the oil fields. This successfully balanced Abu Dhabi’s partnership with the international oil companies in the emirate. Sheikh Khalifa took it upon himself to make sure that Abu Dhabi had a large industrial complex to develop petrochemical and oil-related industries.
Keeping the welfare of his people, his main priority, Sheikh Khalifa was in charge of many corporations that were formed to supervise the development process, among them was the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. This has become today’s most successful investment fund in the world, which was set to guarantee the prosperity and welfare of future Emirati generations. In 1979, his success in the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority motivated Sheikh Khalifa to create the Khalifa Housing Fund, which is made to finance the construction of residential and commercial buildings for UAE Nationals, at low administrative fees. He allocated several billion Dirhams to the fund, thus without knowing, creating the main driver for the increase of construction in Abu Dhabi. To support the development programs, Sheikh Khalifa launched the Khalifa Education Prize, the Khalifa Excellence Prize. To support small and medium enterprises, he developed the Khalifa Fund.
Sheikh Khalifa not only keeps his nation in mind, but also those nations that are facing struggles. He personally, and through Abu Dhabi’s Development Fund, launched vast programs of foreign aid and social development in many developing countries. He established, and maintains funds for overseas schools, charity establishments, hospitals, as well as orphanages.
Sheikh Khalifa maintains his responsibility to social work and as leader, by continuing strong ties with the rest of his Arab, Islamic, and international partners through official visits, meetings, and international conferences with Arab and foreign officials.
In 2004, when his father Sheikh Zayed passed away peacefully, Sheikh Khalifa became Ruler of Abu Dhabi by unanimous decision from the Supreme Council of the federation.
His entire life, beginning from childhood, has been devoted to the people and to the nation of the UAE. He has proven on multiple occasions, without failure, that he has taken the opportunity given to him and used it to the advantage of the nation as a whole. With influence from his late father, Sheikh Khalifa is genuinely and skillfully continuing the heritage, the political skills, the wisdom, and the insight, in which his father left him with.