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| A comprehensive
guide
to current and future events and exhibitions in
the UAE |
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Valuable concise reference source on the UAE,
covering political system, economy, business, history and
heritage,
education, women, healthcare, tourism and environment. |
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Natural history of the UAE,
covering all animals and plants recorded in the
Emirates. |
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Report by National US Arab Chamber of Commerce on the
UAE. Vol XV, No 3, June 2007. Includes analysis of UAE economy. |
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SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN ZAYED, PRESIDENT
OF THE UAE
The United Arab Emirates, which
was fortunate to be have been founded by a visionary leader, continues
today to enjoy a wise and far-sighted leadership in the person of its
new President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose
public service spans the two historic stages of his nation's
development. He was personally very close to the leadership of his late
father, took inspiration from his example during his life-time, and
acted as the main executive leader for his Government in the first stage
of the foundation of the state. Today, he continues his leadership role
in a new stage of development for the UAE that will witness the
empowerment of his nation and its emergence on the global scene as a
major world player.
To understand the leadership qualities that
characterise the man, it is important to acknowledge the defining and
formative influences of his early years. HH Sheikh Khalifa, the eldest
son of the late Sheikh Zayed was born in Al Muwaiji Fort, Al Ain, in
1948. Though Al Muwaiji village was then a small place compared to the
other villages in the cluster of oases dominated by Al Ain and Buraimi,
it was, nevertheless, a centre of influence for the Al bu Falah
subsection of the Bani Yas tribal confederation and the Al Nahyan ruling
family in the numerous oasis of the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi as well
as in the interior of eastern Arabia. Sheikh Khalifa spent his early
childhood years in this fort which still stands opposite the Court
(diwan) of the Ruler's Representative at the outskirts of Al Ain,
and in which his late father had settled in his youth in 1946 after
being assigned by his brother, the then Ruler of the Emirate, to take
the leadership of the Eastern Region on his behalf.
The oases of Al Ain and Al Buraimi, where Sheikh
Khalifa spent his early years, was a place of strategic and vital
economic significance for Abu Dhabi Emirate as a main agricultural
producer and as a major strategic centre for the security of the region,
positioned at the crossroads that linked the coast to the interior of
eastern Arabia. The very difficult task of Sheikh Zayed at that time was
to take leadership of the discordant tribes there and in the surrounding
region, to ensure internal stability and security, to consolidate state
authority, and to bring prosperity to the tribes despite the paucity of
resources.
Sheikh Khalifa received his early education in the
sole school that had been built in Al Ain by his father at that time.
What is now the city of Al Ain was then a collection of six scattered
villages lacking basic infrastructure services such as roads,
electricity or modern means of education. But as his father always
maintained, the best kind of education is the one received in public
majalis (the daily congregations that take place in the presence
of a ruler or senior tribal leader.) Sheikh Khalifa was fortunate to
have the benefit of two such public councils of the time, which were the
finest schools for teaching the skills of political leadership and kept
him close to the tribes, learning their ethos and characteristics, and
acquiring management and communication skills.
The first council that developed his talents was the
majlis of his father, Sheikh Zayed, who was recognised by all
observers at the time as the most charismatic personality in the region
with evident strong leadership capabilities. Sheikh Zayed, in fact, was
keen to take his eldest son on most of his daily movements and visits in
the area, and so instilled in him from childhood the values of
responsibility and trust, bringing him close to the tribes who loved him
and whom he loved with equal devotion. Sheikh Khalifa saw during those
formative years his father's dedication to bringing prosperity and
well-being to the tribes, to maintain security and unity, and to care
for the environment and preserve the heritage of his people. He learnt
that a real leader is one who is wholly concerned with the welfare of
his people. In the company of his father, he was able to learn at close
hand the qualities and political and communication skills that made a
great leader, and it gave him the opportunity to come closer to the
tribes, learning their values and their aspirations.
The second majlis which honed and
complimented his leadership skills was that of his grandfather from his
mother's side, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa, the senior figure of the Al
Nahyan at the time, who was known for his wisdom, knowledge and insight
and who was respected and admired by all until his death in 1979. Along
with his mother's attention, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa also enjoyed
special care and attention from his grandmother Sheikha Salama, who
occupied a high position among her people in her own right as she was
known for her sophistication, wisdom and perception Ð gained despite the
relative isolation of the emirate from the outside world at that time.
When his father moved to Abu Dhabi City to become
the Ruler of the emirate in August 1966, he appointed his son, who was
18 at that time, as his representative in the Eastern Province and the
President of its legal system. Given the strategic importance of Al Ain,
which was very close to Sheikh Zayed's heart, this delegation of
authority was seen as a mark of the high confidence Sheikh Zayed had in
his son. In effect, Sheikh Khalifa followed in the footsteps of his
father and continued the implementation of major development projects in
the Eastern Province, especially those designed to improve agriculture
through the digging of new wells and the reparation of the old
aflaj (underground canal) system. His notable success in Al Ain
was the stepping stone to a long career in public service that saw
Sheikh Khalifa assume his leadership role with ease and skill, marking
every point of new departure with major accomplishments and
achievements.
During the following years, Sheikh Khalifa held a
number of major posts contributing to helping his father realise a
seemingly impossible dream. He became the main executive leader of his
late father's Government, overseeing, both on the local and federal
levels, the implementation of all his major projects in the early
historic stages of the founding the state. Throughout this early phase
of leadership, Sheikh Khalifa exhibited the same unique characteristics
inspired by his father, based on a modest and open management style.
Fully dedicated to bringing prosperity and progress to his people,
Sheikh Khalifa always dealt with those who worked with him with dignity
and respect, giving them flexibility to take the initiative, skilfully
maintaining their trust and motivating them to constant effort.
His responsibilities covered all fields on the local
and federal levels in the domains of politics, the economy, oil, defence
and external affairs. He was appointed as Abu Dhabi Crown Prince in
1969, and moved to Abu Dhabi City where he assumed the command of the
newly-created army, which was later to become the nucleus for the
federal army. He was then appointed as the first Prime Minister of the
Abu Dhabi government, prior to the establishment of the UAE federation,
in which he also assumed the portfolios for Defence and Finance and
oversaw the launching of the first development projects in the emirate,
then lacking in every conceivable infrastructure or service. Sheikh
Khalifa assumed the office of Deputy Prime Minister in the first federal
cabinet, and in 1974, he presided over the Executive Council of Abu
Dhabi Emirate which replaced the local cabinet, and which became in
effect the executive branch of local government overseeing the social
and economic transformation of the emirate. In 1976, he was appointed as
the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, where he continued
his interest in developing the defence capabilities of the UAE.
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa has also paid special
attention to the oil sector as he assumed the management of the
emirate's oil resources. He played a distinctive role in redressing the
balance in his emirate's partnership with the international cartel of
oil companies operating in the country. He approved major investments in
new oil and gas fields while introducing the latest technology for
improving recovery rates in the old fields. He also oversaw the
diversification of the country's economic base and directed major
investments in building a vast industrial complex in the Western Region
to develop petrochemical and oil-related industries.
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa was also in charge of a
number of corporations and authorities formed to supervise the
development process. Those included the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority,
which has today become the world's most successful investment fund, set
to guarantee the prosperity and welfare of the coming generations.
Motivated by his keen interest in promoting the welfare of his citizens,
he set up the Khalifa Housing Fund in 1979 to finance the construction
of residential and commercial buildings for nationals at low
administrative fees, allocating several billion dirhams to the fund,
which became the main driver for the construction boom in Abu Dhabi. He
also launched a number of prizes to support the development programmes
inside the emirate, including the Khalifa Education Prize, Khalifa
Excellence Prize, and the Khalifa Fund to support small and medium
enterprises.
His Highness has personally, as well as through Abu
Dhabis Development Fund, launched an extensive programme of foreign aid
and social development in developing countries. He established and
continues to fund overseas schools, charity establishments, hospitals
and orphanages. As well as his social work, His Highness has played an
active role in strengthening the UAE's external relations with its Gulf,
Arab, Islamic and international partners, through the exchange of
official visits and through meetings with Arab and foreign officials and
leaders and participating in international conferences.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed was undoubtedly a full
partner in the leadership of his country in its foundation stages, in
that he actively shared in the execution of his late father's plans and
in the fulfilment of his vision under his direct supervision and
direction. He was instrumental during this process in developing the
machinery of administration and government so as to transform the state
from its early tribal origins to grow to be the fully modern and
institutionalised country it has become today, so as to ensure its safe
transition and survival in the twenty-first century.
And so when the late President passed peacefully
away in 2004, it was natural that his son and Crown Prince became the
Ruler of Abu Dhabi, while Sheikh Khalifas brother, HH Sheikh Mohammed
bin Zayed Al Nahyan, became the new Crown Prince for the new era. At the
same time, HH Sheikh Khalifa was unanimously elected as the UAE's new
President by the Supreme Council of the federation. His confirmation as
the new leader signalled to the people of the UAE and to the world that,
as an historic epoch of the foundation of the state came to its close,
during which an ambitious vision was achieved, turning a dream into
reality, a new era had arrived. This will evidently be an era of
empowerment for the UAE as it continues to strive for excellence and
distinction on a regional and global stage.
HH Sheikh Khalifa's broad vision for this new era
has been set out in a number of official papers. Perhaps the most
important were two strategic documents. The first is the policy agenda
of Abu Dhabi Government issued by Abu Dhabi Executive Council for
2007/2008. The second was in an official speech made before the Federal
National Council in February 2007.
Abu Dhabi's policy agenda sets out a vision for the
overall development of the country. Its stated objective is to ensure
the welfare of its citizens. In order to achieve this, it sets out
programmes to develop an open economy, based on sustainable knowledge,
that can compete internationally and with distinction, providing the
best services in education, health and developed infrastructure within a
legislative environment distinguished by efficiency and transparency.
The emirate's strategy documents give equal importance to developing a
transparent and efficient government apparatus to ensure the
implementation of plans with a high-level of effectiveness and
coordination, and to make use of all the country's potential and
resources, including the participation of the private sector, both
locally and internationally. The country's security, its international
relations, safeguarding its environment, and promoting its heritage and
culture remain cornerstones of the UAE's vision.
HH Sheikh Khalifa's speech to the Federal National
Council spelt out the federal Government's commitment to consolidate a
political system based on consultation, justice and security, which
enables the citizens (men and women) to actively and positively
participate in running their country. The speech stressed the
Governments vision in launching new programmes and legislation to
support culture, family development, education and health as an integral
development project. It declared its commitment to train and motivate a
new generation of young leaders. It also stressed the Governments
commitment to strengthen the private sector, encourage investment
projects, and expand in industry, tourism, construction while protecting
the environment.
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