The President of the United Arab Emirates appointed his eldest son, Sheikh Khaled, as the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, securing his family’s hold on power and positioning him as the likely next leader of the oil-rich Gulf monarchy. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan chose Sheikh Khaled, a 41-year-old enthusiast, for the position, which is traditionally held by the leader-in-waiting.
This move was part of a significant political shake-up that occurred after Sheikh Mohamed became president in May 2022, following the death of his half-brother, who had been sidelined by ill health for years.
Sheikh Khaled’s appointment as crown prince, which had been anticipated, was welcomed by other Gulf rulers, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as well as the leaders of the UAE’s other six emirates. The UAE has become a significant power in the Middle East, and Sheikh Khaled’s appointment consolidates power within Sheikh Mohamed’s close family.
Sheikh Khaled has already served on the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and as chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, and he sits on the board of state oil giant ADNOC. He has also been active in youth, environmental, and sports initiatives, promoting and helping to bring NBA basketball games to Abu Dhabi.
According to Abdul Khaleq Abdallah, a political science professor from the UAE, Sheikh Khaled had already represented his father on trips abroad as part of his preparations for leadership. Although Sheikh Khaled’s father is still in the early days of his presidency, he has been groomed for the role and is ready for it, having earned his father’s trust and coming across as personable and easy to get along with.
Prime Minster Shehbaz Sharif greeted the newly appointed crown price of Abu Dhabi in a tweet.
