Mohammed Bin Zayed – a president-in-waiting

General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan (MBZ), the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the armed forces, has already taken on day-to-day presidential duties, as the health of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan deteriorates. It has long been assumed that the presidency will be his on his half-brother’s death. The first president of the UAE, MBZ’s father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, made clear his intentions when he named MBZ deputy crown prince in 2003; when Sheikh Zayed died the following year, Sheikh Khalifa became ruler of Abu Dhabi and MBZ his heir.