Abu Dhabi's ruling Al-Nahyan dominated the federal government until early 2006, when Dubai's charismatic ruler, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (MBR), was named federal vice president and prime minister. Dubai has become known as much for its debt crisis as for its showy and record-breaking architecture. From 2006, it played an increasing role in federal affairs, but its debt crisis resulted in power shifting back towards Abu Dhabi, which aspires to a more closely bound federation than its neighbour.
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