Full name
Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan bin Zayed bin Khalifa bin Shakhbut bin Theyab bin Issa bin Nahyan bin Falah bin Yas Arabic: محمد بن زايد بن سلطان بن زايد بن خليفة بن شخبوط بن ذياب بن عيسى بن نهيان بن فلاح بن ياس

House

Al Nahyan

Father

Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

Mother

Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi

Education

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

Religion

Sunni Islam

Military career

Allegiance

United Arab Emirates

Branch

United Arab Emirates Air Force

Years of service

1979–present

Commands held

United Arab Emirates Armed Forces
United Arab Emirates Air Force

Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (born March 11, 1961), often called MBZ, is the third and current president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the ruler of Abu Dhabi. He is a member of the royal family of the UAE.

Mohamed grew up in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. After finishing his early education, he went to the famous Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom and graduated in 1979. He then joined the UAE Armed Forces, where he became a pilot in the air force and later a top general.

He is the third son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was the first president of the UAE. When his father passed away in 2004, his older brother, Sheikh Khalifa, became president. At that time, Mohamed was named the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, meaning he was next in line to rule.

In 2014, his brother Sheikh Khalifa became ill, and Mohamed took over most of the presidential duties, becoming the de facto (acting) leader of the UAE. After his brother's death in May 2022, Mohamed officially became the president of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi. In 2023, he named his son, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, as the new crown prince.

Early Life and Family
Education and a Lesson from His Father
Political Career
- Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
- Working with Other Countries
Domestic Policy
- How the UAE is Governed
- Economic Development
Military Leadership
Charity and Culture
Personal Life
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Family

Mohamed bin Zayed was born on March 11, 1961, in the city of Al Ain. At that time, the area was known as the Trucial States, before the United Arab Emirates was formed.

He is the third son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE, and his third wife, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi. Mohamed has many brothers and sisters. He and his five younger full brothers are often called the Bani Fatima, which means "sons of Fatima."

Education and a Lesson from His Father

Mohamed went to schools in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. He also spent a summer at Gordonstoun, a school in Scotland. When he was 18, he attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK. There, he trained in flying planes and helicopters and learned military skills. He became good friends with Abdullah of Pahang, who later became the king of Malaysia.

In the 1980s, Mohamed traveled to Tanzania on vacation. He met the Masai people and saw that they were living in poverty. When he returned home, his father asked him if he had helped them. Mohamed said he hadn't because they were not Muslims. His father looked at him seriously and said, "We are all God's creatures." This was an important lesson for Mohamed.

Political Career

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi

Mohamed and U.S. president George W. Bush at Camp David.

In 2004, Mohamed became the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. A crown prince is the person who is chosen to be the next ruler. He also became the deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces in 2005 and was promoted to the rank of general.

As crown prince, he was in charge of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, which plans the future of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He also worked as a special adviser to his brother, President Khalifa.

When his brother became unwell in 2014, Mohamed took on the role of the UAE's main leader. He was the one who met with leaders from other countries. On May 13, 2022, he officially became the ruler of Abu Dhabi, and the next day, he was elected president of the UAE.

Working with Other Countries

Israeli president Isaac Herzog meets Mohamed during his official visit to the UAE in January 2022.

Mohamed has built strong relationships with countries all over the world. In 2018, he traveled to Ethiopia and promised a $3 billion donation to help the country's economy. He has also led efforts to raise money to help people in Somalia during times of drought.

The UAE has been involved in several regional conflicts. Mohamed supported the government of Yemen in its civil war and joined a group of countries led by Saudi Arabia to help them.

United States

Mohamed with U.S. president Joe Biden at a summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in July 2022.

Mohamed sees the United States as a key partner. He has worked closely with American leaders, including former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. He had a good relationship with the Obama administration at first, but they disagreed on some issues, like the Iran nuclear deal.

His relationship with President Donald Trump was strong. They shared similar views on Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist political group. In 2020, with help from President Trump, Mohamed announced that the UAE would establish a peaceful relationship with Israel. This historic agreement is known as the Abraham Accords.

Russia

Russian president Vladimir Putin meeting with Sheikh Mohamed in Saint Petersburg on October 11, 2022.

Mohamed also has a strong relationship with Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin. They speak on the phone often. Putin has called Mohamed a "big friend of Russia." With Russia's help, the UAE trained its first astronauts and sent one, Hazza Al Mansouri, to the International Space Station.

In June 2023, Mohamed met with Putin at a major economic event in Russia, showing the UAE's desire to keep strong ties with the country.

Turkey

Mohamed with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi at the G7 Summit in Italy, June 14, 2024.

For years, the UAE and Turkey had disagreements and supported opposite sides in conflicts in the region. However, in 2021, Mohamed began to improve relations with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The two leaders now work together more closely.

Domestic Policy

How the UAE is Governed

Mohamed bin Zayed and other Arab leaders at the GCC+3 summit in Jeddah, July 16, 2022.

The UAE is governed differently from many Western countries. It does not have the same kind of elections, and there are more rules about what people can say or do. This system is sometimes described as authoritarian, where a strong leader makes most of the important decisions.

Experts say that Mohamed believes this style of leadership is best for the UAE. He has focused on making the country secure and modern, with a strong economy based on business and trade.

Economic Development

Mohamed bin Zayed at the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, October 23, 2024.

Mohamed has played a big role in the UAE's economy. He has been in charge of important organizations like the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and the Mubadala Investment Company. These groups invest money around the world to help Abu Dhabi grow.

In 2018, he approved a 50 billion AED plan to boost the economy and support new building projects. He is also the chairman of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), which manages the country's large oil and gas resources.

Military Leadership

Mohamed as Chief of Staff in his air force uniform greeting U.S. Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen in 1997.

Mohamed has a long history in the military. He served as a pilot in the UAE Air Force and later became its commander. In 2005, he was named deputy supreme commander of all UAE Armed Forces.

He worked hard to make the UAE's military one of the most modern and well-trained in the region. He even bought advanced F-16 fighter jets for the air force. Because of his efforts, the UAE military is sometimes called "Little Sparta" by American military leaders, a nickname that highlights its strength and skill.

In 2014, he started a military service program for young Emirati men. He also made jujitsu, a martial art, a required activity in schools to promote discipline and fitness.

Charity and Culture

The BAPS presents Hindu literature to Sheikh Mohamed and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Abu Dhabi.

Mohamed is known for his work in charity and culture. He has given millions of dollars to global health programs, such as fighting diseases and providing vaccines for children in countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan.

He has also supported the arts by helping to create world-class museums like the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

A nature lover, Mohamed has worked to protect wild animals like falcons and the Arabian oryx. He started a fund to protect endangered species around the world. A species of wood lizard from Peru, Enyalioides binzayedi, was named after him to thank him for his support.

Personal Life

Mohamed is married to Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan. They married in 1980 and have nine children: four sons and five daughters. They also have many grandchildren.

He has always loved falconry, a traditional sport in the UAE that involves hunting with falcons. He learned it from his father. To keep the tradition alive, he started the Mohamed bin Zayed Falconry and Desert Physiognomy School to teach it to younger generations.

Images for kids

Mohamed meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, April 13, 2025.
Mohamed meets with President of the European Council Charles Michel on September 8, 2022.
Mohamed meets with Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Abu Dhabi, April 15, 2023.
Mohamed and U.S. president Donald Trump in Abu Dhabi during Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East, May 2025.
Mohamed representing the UAE at the 2012 Nuclear Security Summit.
Mohamed with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., May 2017.