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HH
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was elected to the post of President
of the United Arab Emirates when the seven-member federation was established
in 1971, and has been re-elected at successive five yearly intervals .
He has also been Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi since 6th August 1966.
Born in around 1918, Sheikh Zayed is the youngest son of Sheikh Sultan
bin Zayed, (Ruler 1922-1926), and grandson of Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa
(Ruler 1855-1909). Educated by local Islamic teachers, he was chosen by
his brother Sheikh Shakhbut (Ruler 1928-1966) as Ruler's Representative
in Abu Dhabi's Eastern Region, based in Al Ain. Chosen to succeed his
brother as Ruler in 1966, his first priority was to devote Abu Dhabi's
new oil revenues to the building of a modern infrastructure. In 1968 Sheikh
Zayed and the former Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum,
led moves to create a federation of the emirates, formerly known as the
Trucial States. During the 1970s, he presided over the UAE's rapid development,
largely funded by Abu Dhabi's oil income, and also set in train a major
programme of afforestation in desert areas. Externally, he established
good relations with the new country's Gulf neighbours. He also played
an important role in regional diplomacy, extending support to the Palestinians
and other Arab states during the 1973 Middle East War, and initiated a
major programme of financial assistance to poorer countries.
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