Emirates Foundation is a charity set up by the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi .
82-591: Emirates Foundation (EF) was launched in April 2005 as an initiative from General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan , Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces . It is chaired by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan , Minister of Foreign Affairs . The foundation makes social investments in youth, through six key programs: Takatof , volunteering progamme; Kafa'at ,
164-570: A US-led coalition have also executed airstrikes on ISIL in Iraq and in Syria . Starting from September 2014, United States began closely co-operating with Saudi Arabia and Jordan to wage a co-ordinated aerial bombing campaign against IS targets across Iraq and Syria. In September 2015, Russian forces launched their military intervention in Syria to support that country's ally Bashar al-Assad in
246-627: A $ 10 million in 2013 for an alleged torture settlement after a lawsuit presented in the federal court in Los Angeles against three senior Abu Dhabi royals, including Mohamed bin Zayed. In June 2018, Mohamed approved a three-year AED 50 billion stimulus package. He also commissioned a review of building regulations in an effort to galvanize urban development. Mohamed is chairman of the Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs and
328-477: A classified cable released by WikiLeaks. He stated, "I strongly believe these guys have an agenda." Trump also shared Mohamed's views on Qatar, Libya and Saudi Arabia, even over the advice of cabinet officials and senior national security staff. In August 2020, Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohamed jointly announced the establishment of formal Israeli–Emirati relations . After
410-715: A coalition against ISIL except Australia and Poland , and furthermore Bahrain , Egypt , Iraq, Jordan , Kuwait , Lebanon , Oman , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , United Arab Emirates , Belgium , China , Czech Republic , Japan , the Netherlands , Norway , Russia and Spain . They committed themselves to supporting the Iraqi government with military assistance in its fight against ISIL, and they reaffirmed their commitment to UNSC Resolution 2170 of 15 August (condemning all trade with ISIL and urging to prevent all financial donations and all payments of ransoms to ISIL), so reported
492-576: A partial withdrawal from Syrian territory, citing the success of the ongoing ceasefire and greater security of the Syrian government . On 10 December 2017 Vladimir Putin ordered a similar withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria , stating that a complete withdrawal would be dependent on the ongoing situation. On 14 December 2015, Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud announced that 34 countries would join in
574-632: A pilot project within his own family and making his own daughters run as the sample size by making them attend boot camp. He invited Maj. Gen. Mike Hindmarsh , the retired former head of Australia's Special Operations Command, to help reorganize the Emirati military. According to the New York Times , as a result of Mohamed's vision, the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces became the best equipped and trained military in
656-785: A respected Egyptian Islamic scholar with connections to the Muslim Brotherhood , charge of his education. Mohammed later joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and graduated in April 1979. During his time at Sandhurst, he completed a fundamental armor course, a fundamental flying course, a parachutist course, and training on tactical planes and helicopters, including the Gazelle squadron. During his time in Sandhurst, he met and became good friends with Abdullah of Pahang , who would later become
738-586: A small number of troops to Iraq and started flying crewed aircraft over Iraq. In July 2014, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies , Iran sent Sukhoi Su-25 aircraft to Iraq , and Hezbollah purportedly sent trainers and advisers to Iraq in order to help Shia militias to monitor ISIL's movements. In August 2014, the US and Iran separately began a campaign of airstrikes on ISIL targets in Iraq. Since then, fourteen countries in
820-513: A society emancipated from religious conservatism and empowered by capitalist market structures... Abu Dhabi's paranoia over political dissidence was further fuelled by the developments of the Arab Spring to which MbZ internally reacted by further curtailing the freedom of speech, thought and assembly in the country... MbZ's fierce state has moved against any civil society activism in the country outside state control." Scholars have characterized
902-532: A statement that day from Kerry and U.S. Secretary of Defense Hagel . In September 2014, Jordanian and Saudi Air Forces began their co-ordination with United States to wage a joint aerial bombing campaign against IS bases in its territories across Iraq and Syria. On 17 October 2014, the Department of Defense formally established Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR)—"in order to formalize ongoing military actions against
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#1732765894474984-597: A youth empowerment program; Sanid , which provides emergency response volunteers; the Financial Literacy program , a program to help youth learn how to manage personal finances and Kayani , a program to develops sustainable social enterprises, providing jobs for youth with disabilities. The Emirates Foundation also administers the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Higher Education Grant programme. Emirates Foundation
1066-694: Is a member of the Supreme Petroleum Council . He also served as a special adviser to his older half-brother, Khalifa bin Zayed, president of the UAE at the time. As a result of Sheikh Khalifa's ill health, Mohamed became the de facto ruler of Abu Dhabi in January 2014 and was responsible for welcoming foreign dignitaries in the capital district of the United Arab Emirates in the city of Abu Dhabi. On 13 May 2022, he became
1148-774: Is an active member of the Arab Foundations Forum (AFF), the European Philanthropy Association (EVPA) and the OECD’s Network of Global Foundations, NetFWD. Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (born 11 March 1961), often referred to as MBZ or MbZ , is an Emirati royal and authoritarian ruler who currently serves as the third president of
1230-662: Is restricted, and there are no free and independent media. According to the human rights organizations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, the UAE practices torture, arbitrary detention, and forced disappearance of citizens and residents. Political scientist Christopher Davidson has characterized Mohamed's tenure as de facto UAE leader as entailing "a marked and rapid intensification of autocratic-authoritarianism." Democracy indicators show "recent and substantial efforts to tighten up almost all remaining political and civic freedoms." According to Andreas Krieg, Mohamed's political ideology holds that strongman authoritarianism
1312-466: Is the optimal governance system for the UAE. Krieg writes: "MbZ envisaged the creation of a new Middle Eastern state... Statecraft would be the prerogative of the autocratic, centralized ruler whose transactional relationship with his subordinates was supposed to be governed by both means of accommodation and repression. The ideal strongman, from MbZ's point of view, was in control of the security sector, both military and law enforcement, and governed over
1394-409: The de jure removal of corporal punishment and Sharia law outside of blood money claims and personal status matters of Muslims; the decriminalization of co-habitation, extra-marital relationships and alcohol consumption by Muslims; a legal process of children born outside of wedlock; and civil courts for personal status matters of non-Muslims residents. MBZ is known to be a fierce opponent of
1476-528: The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine , The Wall Street Journal reported that Al Nahyan refused to take phone calls with US President Joe Biden when Biden was asking for greater oil production from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates due to criticism of Biden's policy in the Gulf. In September 2024, Mohamed bin Zayed visited the United States, marking the first ever visit of an Emirati President to
1558-670: The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company . The council is the primary governing body of Abu Dhabi's financial, investment, economic, petroleum and natural resources affairs. Mohamed served as an officer in the Amiri Guard (now known as Presidential Guard), as a pilot in the UAE's Air Force, as commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defense, and as deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces. In 2005, he
1640-614: The Ba'athist regime for its purported state-sponsorship of terrorism , violent repression of Syrian revolution and extensive use of chemical weapons . The US-led coalition trained, equipped and supported secular Free Syrian and Kurdish militias opposed to the Assad government during its anti-IS campaign. In the months following the beginning of both air campaigns, ISIL began to lose ground in both Iraq and Syria . Civilian deaths from airstrikes began to mount in 2015 and 2016. In mid-2016,
1722-566: The Battle of Baghuz Fawqani , after which the group was forced into an insurgency . ISIL's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi , died during a US special operations raid in northern Syria in October 2019 and was succeeded by Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi . The United Nations estimated in August 2020 that over 10,000 ISIL fighters remained in Syria and Iraq , mainly as sleeper cells . On
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#17327658944741804-766: The Free Syrian Army rebels who were allied to Al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood — would be worse than the cancer of Bashar al-Assad . He also urged Obama to talk to the Russians about working together on Syria, and supported the Russian intervention in the Syrian civil war . The relationship deteriorated further when Obama made dismissive comments in a 2016 interview in The Atlantic , describing
1886-621: The French government . In retaliation for the November 2015 Paris attacks , the French Air Force significantly intensified airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria , hitting among other targets the Syrian city of Raqqa , the de facto capital of ISIL. The French Navy deployed the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle with eighteen Rafale , eight Mirage 2000 , two E-2 Hawkeye and 4 helicopters. The aircraft carrier travelled with
1968-827: The Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) , and agreed to a strategy that included: On 15 September 2014, at the 'International Conference on Peace and Security in Iraq ' hosted by the French President François Hollande in Paris , 26 countries were represented: the countries of a US -led coalition that on 5 September in Wales (see above) had agreed on
2050-891: The Islamic State , in both the Syrian civil war and the War in Iraq (2013–2017) , in response to its rapid territorial gains from its 2014 Northern Iraq offensives , universally condemned executions , human rights abuses and the fear of further spillovers of the Syrian Civil War . These efforts are called the war against the Islamic State (ISIS) , or the International military intervention against Islamic State (ISIS) . In later years, there were also minor interventions by some states against IS-affiliated groups in Nigeria and Libya . All these efforts significantly degraded
2132-693: The Muslim Brotherhood , Iran and its proxies in the Middle East . Since becoming de facto president, the UAE participated in the war against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, the Syrian civil war and was officially part of the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen until the MBZ disagreed with the Saudi Arabia 's approach in the war for its support of Al-Islah , a party which is known to have close connections with
2214-610: The Obama administration but the relationship deteriorated when Barack Obama did not consult with or even inform the UAE about the Iran nuclear deal . A further breakdown in relations was caused over their different positions on the Syrian civil war . According to an Emirati senior adviser, "His Highness felt that the UAE had made sacrifices and then been excluded." However, Mohamed continued talking to Obama regularly and offered him advice. Mohamed warned Obama that his proposed remedy in Syria —
2296-446: The U.S . began sending surveillance flights , including drones , into Syria to gather intelligence. The Syrian Arab Republic was not asked for permission. On 28 August, speaking about combating ISIL in Syria , President Obama said "we don't have a strategy yet." The British Royal Air Force has been operating over Syria in a surveillance role since 21 October 2014, making the UK
2378-642: The UAE armed forces . A report by United Nations experts highlighted that the attacks of the Saudi-led coalition, of which the UAE is a member, may have constituted war crimes , and that the Emirati forces controlled two centres where torture has been carried out. Following the 2018 French probe into the torture claims, France's top criminal court, the Court of Cassation , rejected in November 2022 attempts to reopen
2460-485: The US and Russia planned to begin coordinating their airstrikes; however, this coordination did not materialize. As of December 2017, ISIL was estimated to control no territory in Iraq , and 5% of Syrian territory, after prolonged actions. On 9 December 2017, Iraq declared victory in the fight against ISIL and stated that the War in Iraq was over. On 23 March 2019, ISIL was defeated territorially in Syria after losing
2542-608: The United Arab Emirates and Yemen . On 4 July 2014, the U.S . bombed the "Osama bin Laden" ISIL military base in the village of Uqayrishah, Syria . Two dozen American Delta Force operators then touched down in an effort to rescue hostages, including James Foley . The effort failed, with the hostages having been moved to another location days prior. In a series of videos , Foley, Steven Joel Sotloff , and several more hostages were murdered. On 26 August 2014,
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2624-406: The de facto president, he introduced policies which aimed at economic liberalization . This included the introduction of VAT in 2018, corporate taxes and bankruptcy laws ; the elimination of gas subsidies , as well as the removal of curbs of foreign ownership of businesses and the decriminalization of bounced cheques. MBZ also introduced liberal social policies under his watch, including
2706-693: The frigate Chevalier Paul and HMS Kent . At the end of September 2015, Russia , Iraq , Iran and Syria set up a 'joint information center' in Baghdad to gather, process and analyse intelligence regarding ISIL and operations near the Syria-Iraq border. On 30 September 2015, Russia began its air campaign on the side and in support of the Syrian government . Russia was also reported to have reached agreements on co-ordination of operations in Syria with Jordan and Israel . On 14 March 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced
2788-675: The 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia . They were both officer cadets at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. In the 1980s as a young military officer, he enjoyed vacationing in Tanzania , where he met the Masai people and saw their customs and the extent of poverty in the country. Upon his return he went to see his father. His father asked him what he had done to help the people he had encountered. Mohamed shrugged and said he had not helped them because
2870-509: The Emirates also pledged investments worth $ 97bn across ports, renewable energy, mining, agriculture, real estate, communications and manufacturing in Africa. In a decade, the UAE maintained a position amongst the top 4 investors of Africa. The Emirati influence in Africa has also been on the rise. Even though Dubai denied to extradite Gupta brothers , who were accused of looting South Africa by
2952-7221: The Emirates, they urged Macron to raise the issue of severe human rights violations in the UAE with Mohamed during the meeting. The letter also asked Macron to end the arms supply to the UAE, in wake of the Yemen war. War against ISIS [REDACTED] Joe Biden (from 2021) [REDACTED] Lloyd Austin (from 2021) [REDACTED] Keir Starmer (from 2024) [REDACTED] John Healey (from 2024) [REDACTED] Emmanuel Macron (from 2017) [REDACTED] Sébastien Lecornu (from 2022) [REDACTED] Anthony Albanese (from 2022) [REDACTED] Greg Moriarty (from 2017) [REDACTED] Alexander De Croo (from 2020) [REDACTED] Ludivine Dedonder (from 2020) [REDACTED] Hamad Al Khalifa [REDACTED] Mette Frederiksen (from 2019) [REDACTED] Troels Lund Poulsen (from 2023) [REDACTED] Justin Trudeau (from 2015) [REDACTED] Bill Blair (from 2023) [REDACTED] Olaf Scholz (from 2021) [REDACTED] Boris Pistorius (from 2023) [REDACTED] Giorgia Meloni (from 2022) [REDACTED] Guido Crosetto (from 2022) [REDACTED] Bashar al-Assad [REDACTED] Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani (from 2022) [REDACTED] Nechirvan Barzani (from 2019) [REDACTED] Khalifa Haftar (from 2014) [REDACTED] Saddam Haftar (from 2016) [REDACTED] Qasem Soleimani [REDACTED] Ali Khamenei [REDACTED] Michel Aoun [REDACTED] Shehbaz Sharif (from 2022) [REDACTED] Hibatullah Akhundzada (from 2016) [REDACTED] Abdel Fattah el-Sisi [REDACTED] Bola Tinubu (from 2023) [REDACTED] Mahamat Déby (from 2021) [REDACTED] Paul Biya [REDACTED] Abdourahamane Tchiani (from 2023) [REDACTED] Abdelmadjid Tebboune (from 2019) [REDACTED] Donald Trump (2017–2021) [REDACTED] Barack Obama (until 2017) [REDACTED] Chuck Hagel (until 2015) [REDACTED] Ash Carter (2015–2017) [REDACTED] Jim Mattis (2017–2019) [REDACTED] Mark Esper (2019–2020) [REDACTED] Liz Truss (2022) [REDACTED] Boris Johnson (2019–2022) [REDACTED] Theresa May (2016–2019) [REDACTED] David Cameron (until 2016) [REDACTED] Philip Hammond (2014) [REDACTED] Michael Fallon (2014–2017) [REDACTED] Gavin Williamson (2017–2019) [REDACTED] Penny Mordaunt (2019) [REDACTED] Robert Ben Lobban Wallace (2019–2023) [REDACTED] Rishi Sunak (2022–2024) [REDACTED] Grant Shapps (2023–2025) [REDACTED] François Hollande (until 2017) [REDACTED] Jean-Yves Le Drian (2014–2017) [REDACTED] Florence Parly (2017–2022) [REDACTED] Scott Morrison (2018–2022) [REDACTED] Malcolm Turnbull (2015–2018) [REDACTED] Tony Abbott (until 2015) [REDACTED] Dennis Richardson (2015–2017) [REDACTED] Sophie Wilmès (2019–2020) [REDACTED] Charles Michel (2014–2019) [REDACTED] Elio Di Rupo (until 2014) [REDACTED] Pieter De Crem (2014) [REDACTED] Steven Vandeput (2014–2018) [REDACTED] Didier Reynders (2018–2019) [REDACTED] Philippe Goffin (2019–2020) [REDACTED] Stephen Harper (until 2015) [REDACTED] Robert Nicholson (2014–2015) [REDACTED] Jason Kenney (2015) [REDACTED] Anita Anand (2021–2023) [REDACTED] Lars Løkke Rasmussen (2015–2019) [REDACTED] Helle Thorning-Schmidt (until 2015) [REDACTED] Nicolai Wammen (2014–2015) [REDACTED] Carl Holst (2015) [REDACTED] Peter Christensen (2015–2016) [REDACTED] Claus Hjort Frederiksen (2015–2019) [REDACTED] Trine Bramsen (2019–2022) [REDACTED] Morten Bødskov (2022) [REDACTED] Jakob Ellemann-Jensen (2022–2023) [REDACTED] Angela Merkel (until 2021) [REDACTED] Ursula von der Leyen (2014–2019) [REDACTED] Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (2019–2021) [REDACTED] Christine Lambrecht (2021–2023) [REDACTED] Mario Draghi (2021–2022) [REDACTED] Giuseppe Conte (2018–2021) [REDACTED] Paolo Gentiloni (2016–2018) [REDACTED] Matteo Renzi (until 2016) [REDACTED] Roberta Pinotti (2014–2018) [REDACTED] Elisabetta Trenta (2018–2019) [REDACTED] Lorenzo Guerini (2019–2022) [REDACTED] Mark Rutte (2014-2024) [REDACTED] Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (2014–2017) [REDACTED] Ank Bijleveld (2017–2021) [REDACTED] Henk Kamp (2021–2022) [REDACTED] Kajsa Ollongren (2022-2024) [REDACTED] Erna Solberg (until 2021) [REDACTED] Ine Eriksen Søreide (2014–2017) [REDACTED] Frank Bakke-Jensen (2017–2022) [REDACTED] Odd Roger Enoksen (2021–2022) [REDACTED] King Abdullah # (until 2015) [REDACTED] İsmet Yılmaz (2015–2016) [REDACTED] Vecdi Gönül (2015) [REDACTED] Fikri Işık (2016–2017) [REDACTED] Nurettin Canikli (2017–2018) [REDACTED] Hulusi Akar (2018–2023) [REDACTED] Dmitri Medvedev [REDACTED] Sergei Shoigu [REDACTED] Mustafa Al-Kadhimi (2020–2022) [REDACTED] Adil Abdul-Mahdi (2018–2020) [REDACTED] Haider al-Abadi (2014–2018) [REDACTED] Nouri al-Maliki (until 2014) [REDACTED] Masoud Barzani (until 2017) [REDACTED] Imran Khan (2018–2022) [REDACTED] Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (2017–2018) [REDACTED] Nawaz Sharif (until 2017) [REDACTED] Ashraf Ghani (2015–2021) [REDACTED] Akhtar Mansour † (2015–2016) [REDACTED] Goodluck Jonathan (until 2015) [REDACTED] Muhammadu Buhari (until 2023) [REDACTED] Idriss Déby † (until 2021) [REDACTED] Mohamed Bazoum (2021–2023) [REDACTED] Mahamadou Issoufou (until 2021) [REDACTED] Pierre Nkurunziza † (until 2020) [REDACTED] Abdelaziz Bouteflika (until 2019) [REDACTED] Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi (leader) 13,568+ Iraqi civilians killed by Islamic State 5,939+ Syrian civilians killed by Islamic State 8,317–13,190 civilians killed by Coalition airstrikes in Iraq and Syria (per Airwars ) 1,417 civilians killed by Coalition airstrikes in Iraq and Syria (per Coalition) 4,096–6,085 civilians killed by Russian airstrikes in Syria Major insurgent attacks Foreign interventions IS genocide of minorities IS war crimes Timeline Foreign intervention in behalf of Syrian rebels U.S.-led intervention against ISIL Many states began to intervene against
3034-415: The Emirati intelligence service, Ali Mohammed Hammad Al Shamsi. Two other UAE officials named in the indictment were Abdullah Khalifa Al Ghafli and Yousef Al Otaiba . Together, the officials were accused of giving Barrack the task to push the Emirati interests with the US. In 2022, Barrack was found not guilty on all charges. On 17 July 2022, Mohamed visited France to meet President Emmanuel Macron . It
3116-470: The Islamic State's capabilities by around 2019–2020. While moderate fighting continues in Syria, as of 2024, ISIS has been contained to a manageably small area and force capability. In mid-June 2014, Iran , according to American and British information, started flying drones over Iraq , and, according to Reuters , Iranian soldiers were in Iraq fighting IS. Simultaneously, the United States ordered
3198-470: The Muslim Brotherhood and its offshoot organizations. MBZ maintained a close relationship with former US President Donald Trump , with reports suggesting that MBZ was pushing Trump to take a tougher stance on Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood. In September 2020, the UAE, alongside Bahrain, and later Morocco and Sudan, signed the Abraham Accords , an agreement to normalize diplomatic relationship with
3280-642: The Muslim Brotherhood but has maintained his support of the Southern Transitional Council . MBZ fell out with the Obama administration on the Iran nuclear deal and supported the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal . The UAE was a leading party in the Qatar diplomatic crisis , in which the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and other Arab countries like Egypt and Jordan severed diplomatic relations with Qatar based on claims that Qatar supports
3362-608: The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), and said the Emirates wished to strengthen ties with Russia. Mohamed became the most prominent attendee, as the UAE was a special guest country at the event. Several major US and European politicians and investors used to attend the forum before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but the Western nations remained absent from the event in 2023. MbZ's diplomatic adviser, Anwar Gargash said it
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3444-433: The State of Israel, a deal which was brokered by Trump. The UAE has more recently been involved in an economic rivalry with Saudi Arabia, and opposed Saudi efforts for OPEC+ production cuts. In 2019, The New York Times named him as the most powerful Arab ruler, and was named as one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2019 by Time magazine. In 2023, the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre ranked MBZ as
3526-463: The Trump administration. In 2016, Mohamed was found involved in the Russian meddling of the US presidential elections , where his adviser George Nader arranged a meeting for him and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Seychelles with US and Russian delegates, including Erik Prince and Kirill Dmitriev . Mohamed was named in the final report of special counsel Robert Mueller on the alleged collusion between Trump campaign and Russia , which
3608-548: The UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi, after being chosen by the UAE Supreme Council, following the death of his brother on 13 May 2022. On 29 March 2023, MBZ appointed his son Sheikh Khalid as crown prince of Abu Dhabi and his future successor. Academics have characterized the UAE under MBZ as an authoritarian capitalist country. According to, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, the UAE practices arbitrary detention, torture, tight restrictions on free speech, and forced disappearances of citizens and residents. Mohamed became
3690-469: The UAE guarantees freedom of worship, unless it contradicts public policy or morals. The UAE government tightly controls and monitors Muslim practices. A government permit is required to hold a Quran lecture or distribute content related to Islam in an effort to combat decentralized preaching from Islamist groups. All imams must receive their salaries from the UAE government. Mohamed visited Pope Francis in 2016, and in February 2019, he welcomed Francis to
3772-439: The UAE military. On 17 July 2020, a French investigating magistrate was appointed to carry out the probe targeting Mohamed bin Zayed for "complicity in the of torture" citing the UAE's involvement in the Yemen civil war . One of the two complaints was filed with the constitution of civil party by six Yemenis, who claimed to have been tortured , electrocuted and burned by cigarettes in Yemeni detention centers controlled by
3854-406: The UAE raised funds to provide aid to Somalia during periods of drought. Mohamed is a supporter of Yemen's internationally recognized government after the Yemen civil war and supported the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen to drive out Irani-backed Houthi militants after the Houthi takeover in Yemen . During Mohamed's visit to France in 2018, a group of rights activists filed a lawsuit against
3936-438: The UAE under Mohamed bin Zayed's regime as a rentier state . He previously served as the head of Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development (ADCED), Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Mubadala Development Company , Tawazun Economic Council, and Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge . According to The Intercept and referencing the hacked emails of Yousef Al Otiaba, an American citizen Khaled Hassen received
4018-475: The UAE, marking the first papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula. Pope Francis's arrival coincided with a conference entitled "Global Conference of Human Fraternity". The conference featured talks and workshops about how to foster religious tolerance. As part of this visit, Pope Francis held the first Papal Mass to be celebrated in the Arabian Peninsula at Zayed Sports City in which 180,000 worshippers from 100 countries, including 4,000 Muslims, were present. Over
4100-425: The UAE’s backing of RSF could hinder Biden’s efforts to end the conflict. On 22 March 2022, Sheikh Mohamed met with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in Egypt. They discussed trilateral relations, Russo-Ukrainian War and the Iran nuclear deal . Mohamed maintains a strong relationship with Russia and Vladimir Putin , and has brokered talks between Russia and
4182-405: The United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu Dhabi . MBZ completed his education in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain and graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in April 1979. He later joined the UAE Military and held various posts before becoming a pilot in the UAE Air Force ; he was promoted to general in 2005. Sheikh Mohamed is the third son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan , who
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#17327658944744264-436: The United States as his chief ally and has a strong relationship with United States diplomats including US former Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis and US former national security advisor and counter-terrorism expert Richard A. Clarke . As unpaid advisers, Mohamed consults them and follows their advice on combating terrorism and enhancing the UAE's military strength and intelligence. Mohamed had an initially good relationship with
4346-490: The White House. MbZ met President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris separately, discussing the future bilateral economic and technological relations. Besides, Biden also designated the UAE as a “Major Defense Partner”, a decision that faced opposition due to the Emirates’ “secret” support to the RSF in Sudan conflict. Ahead of MbZ’s visit to Washington, the US lawmakers also sent a letter to Biden, asking him to discuss Sudan’s crisis with MbZ. The lawmakers stated that
4428-414: The authorities, Mohamed was welcomed in the state. Mohamed also donated around $ 1mn to upgrade a runway of an airport in the Eastern Cape province. In April 2023, Mohamed, his family and friends, traveled to Eastern Cape to stay at his private resort to celebrate Eid. The UAE’s presence was also seen in wars, including in Libya , Ethiopia and Sudan . In Ethiopia, the Emirates provided military support to
4510-452: The course of the last years, the UAE has seen the rise of the Indian population and Hindu advocacy. The government has allowed the building several privately-funded Hindu temples and the screening of the film The Kashmir Files . Political scientists have characterized Mohamed bin Zayed as the strongman leader of an authoritarian regime , as there are no free and fair elections, political and civil rights are limited, free speech
4592-447: The crown prince accusing him of being a "war criminal" who was "complicit in the torture and inhumane treatment in Yemen". The complaint filed on behalf of the French rights group AIDL said: "It is in this capacity that he has ordered bombings on Yemeni territory." In March 2023, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad conducted a state visit to the UAE where he was received with full honours in Abu Dhabi by Sheikh Mohamed. Mohamed regards
4674-406: The death of his father, Sheikh Mohamed became crown prince of Abu Dhabi in November 2004 and was appointed deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces in January 2005. Later that month, he was promoted to the rank of general. Since December 2004 he has also been the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council , which is responsible for the development and planning of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and
4756-553: The eighth-most influential Muslim . Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed was born at Oasis Hospital in Al Ain on 11 March 1961, in what was then known as the Trucial States . He is the third son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan , who became the founder and first president of the United Arab Emirates and the 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi , and his third wife, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi . Mohamed has 18 brothers: Hamdan , Hazza , Issa , Nahyan, Saif , Tahnoun , Hamed , Mansour , Falah, Theyab, Abdullah , Omar, Khalid,
4838-479: The fight against Muslim extremism , which he called a "disease." Based out of Riyadh , Saudi Arabia , the coalition includes Bahrain , Bangladesh , Benin , Chad , Comoros , Côte d'Ivoire , Djibouti , Egypt , Gabon , Guinea , Jordan , Kuwait , Lebanon , Libya , Maldives , Mali , Malaysia , Morocco , Mauritania , Niger , Nigeria , Pakistan , Palestine , Qatar , Saudi Arabia, Senegal , Sierra Leone , Somalia , Sudan , Turkey , Togo , Tunisia ,
4920-419: The fight against the Islamic State . Although Moscow officially portrayed its intervention as an anti-IS campaign and publicly declared support for the "patriotic Syrian opposition ", the vast majority of its bombings were focused on destroying bases of the Syrian opposition militias of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and Southern Front . On the other hand, United States and its Western allies have been opposed to
5002-426: The first Western country other than the United States to operate in both Iraq and Syria simultaneously. At the direction of President Obama, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency played an active role since the early stages of the Syrian Civil War . The U.S . initially supplied the vetted militias of the Free Syrian Army with non-lethal aid but soon escalated to providing training, money, and intelligence to
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#17327658944745084-423: The government in the war against the forces from Tigray . In 2019 and 2020, the UAE’s actions in the Libya war were controversial, where it supported the Libyan warload, Khalifa Haftar . In Sudan, the UAE was accused of fueling the war by supporting Hemedti ’s Rapid Support Forces , which the Emirates has repeatedly denied. Under Mohamed's leadership, the UAE built the first-ever nuclear power reactor in
5166-401: The gulf's rulers as "free riders" who "do not have the ability to put out the flames on their own". After the election of Donald Trump , Mohamed flew to New York to meet the president-elect's team and canceled a parting lunch with Obama. Mohamed shared similar ideas with President Trump regarding Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood, as Trump has sought to move strongly against both. When Mohamed
5248-614: The investigation and rule that there were "no grounds to accept an appeal." In October 2021, Mohamed's name was featured alongside four other Emirati officials in an indictment of Thomas J. Barrack , former adviser of Donald Trump. In July 2021, Barrack was arrested by the American authorities for allegedly failing to register as a foreign lobbyist for the UAE, obstructing justice and lying to investigators. Later, his seven-count indictment identified names of three Emirati royals, who were hosts at Barrack's reception in December 2016. It included Mohamed bin Zayed, Tahnoun bin Zayed and director of
5330-463: The investigation later concluded that there was no collusion between the meeting that occurred with Mohamed. Mohamed's strong relationship with both Russia and the United States, as well as the influence he wields across both countries, has led The New York Times to label him as the Arab World's "most powerful ruler". Putin calls Mohamed an "old friend" and "a big friend of our country, a big friend of Russia". The two leaders talk with each other on
5412-457: The late Khalifa , the late Sultan , the late Saeed , the late Nasser , and the late Ahmed . In addition to these, he has eleven sisters. He has five younger full brothers: Hamdan , Hazza , Tahnoun , Mansour , and Abdullah . They are referred to as Bani Fatima - or the sons of Fatima . Sheikh Mohamed attended schools in Al Ain , Abu Dhabi and a summer at Gordonstoun until the age of 18. In his youth, his father put Izzedine Ibrahim,
5494-488: The margins of the 4/5 September 2014 NATO summit in Wales , on 5 September 2014, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry invited Ministers of Australia , Canada , Denmark , France , Germany , Italy , Turkey and the United Kingdom , for a separate meeting in which he pressed them to support the fight against ISIL militarily and financially. Those nine countries agreed to do so by supporting anti-ISIL forces in Iraq and Syria with supplies and air support, according to
5576-431: The military had not done the necessary research and development. Mohamed said the UAE would pay for the research and development. The subsequent negotiations went on for years, and according to Clarke "he ended up with a better F-16 than the US Air Force had". Mohamed made jujitsu compulsory in schools. In 2014, he established the military draft, conscripting young Emiratis to attend a year of boot camp, initially running
5658-661: The nine countries of the above-mentioned 5 September coalition in Wales (see above); the extra 18 countries of the 15 September France -led coalition in Paris (see below) except for China and Russia ; and 33 additional countries: Albania , Austria , Bosnia-Herzegovina , Bulgaria , Croatia , Cyprus , Estonia , Finland , Georgia , Greece , Hungary , Iceland , Ireland , Kosovo , Latvia , Lithuania , Luxembourg , Macedonia , Moldova , Montenegro , Morocco , New Zealand , Portugal , South Korea , Romania , Serbia , Singapore , Slovakia , Slovenia , Somalia , Sweden , Taiwan and Ukraine . They styled themselves as
5740-430: The people he met were not Muslims. Mohamed said that his father "clutched my arm, and looked into my eyes very harshly. He said, 'We are all God's creatures.'" He has held a number of roles in the UAE military , from that of an officer in the Amiri Guard (now called Presidential Guard) to a pilot in the UAE Air Force . In November 2003, Sheikh Zayed appointed his son Mohamed as deputy crown prince of Abu Dhabi. Upon
5822-501: The phone regularly. In an official state visit to the Emirates, Putin gifted Mohamed a Russian gyrfalcon . The UAE also trained the first two Emirati astronauts Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi , and successfully launched the first Emirati and Arab astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri to the International Space Station with Russian help. On 11 October 2022, Sheikh Mohamed met with Putin in Saint Petersburg, days after OPEC + cut oil production. In June 2023, Sheikh Mohamed met Putin at
5904-556: The rebel commanders. In June 2014, Obama requested Congressional authorization of $ 0.5 billion to train, arm and support vetted Free Syrian militias as a counter-force against both Assad regime and IS . On 17 September 2014, the House of Representatives voted to authorize the proposal to train and arm pro-Western Free Syrian militias , with the objective of training 5,000–10,000 troops. Syrian opposition's National Revolutionary Coalition welcomed Obama's announcement of extending
5986-508: The region apart from Israel. Under Mohamed's leadership, the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces also became commonly nicknamed as "Little Sparta" by United States Armed Forces General and former US defense secretary James Mattis as a result of their active and effective military role despite their small active personnel. According to a 2020 study, Mohamed's reforms successfully increased the effectiveness of
6068-683: The region, the Barakah nuclear power plant . The UAE and US signed a bilateral agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation that enhances international standards of nuclear non-proliferation. Mohamed was at the Nuclear Security Summit of 2012 and 2014 , which were hosted by South Korea and the Netherlands respectively. Islam is the official religion of the UAE and there are laws against blasphemy, proselytizing by non-Muslims, and conversions away from Islam. The constitution of
6150-626: The rising threat posed by ISIS in Iraq and Syria ." On 3 December 2014, at the NATO headquarters in Brussels , diplomats and foreign ministers from 59 countries gathered to plot a way forward against the threat of ISIL. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told the gathering, that "defeating the ideology, the funding, the recruitment" of Daesh (ISIL) must be the primary focus of their discussion, more important than airstrikes and other military action. The countries represented on 3 December were:
6232-402: The ruler of Abu Dhabi, following the death of his brother Khalifa. On 14 May 2022, he was elected as president of the United Arab Emirates. In 2018, Mohamed travelled to Ethiopia to meet Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ahead of the first installment of a $ 3 billion donation from the UAE to Ethiopia , intended to tide over its foreign exchange shortage. Under Mohamed's encouragement and initiative,
6314-524: The two regional rivals – the UAE and Turkey – following the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban and the withdrawal of the US troops. The Emirates’ policy in Africa majorly involved three categories– Commercial, strategic and financial role. Under Mohamed’s leadership, the Emirates’ total investments into Africa increased to $ 110bn, as China was cutting down loans to the continent. In 2022 and 2023,
6396-667: Was a "calculated risk" that the UAE was willing to take for de-escalation in an increasingly polarized world. The UAE was, however, criticized for supporting Russia's war in Ukraine, where the Emirates also became a mediator in sending Chinese weapons to Russia. In August 2021, Mohamed held talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss reinforcing relations between their two countries. This came after years of each state supporting opposing sides in regional conflicts, such as that in Libya. Relations started to improve between
6478-404: Was a child, his father Sheikh Zayed unknowingly assigned a respected Muslim Brotherhood member, Ezzedine Ibrahim, as Mohamed's tutor. His tutor attempted an indoctrination that backfired. "I am an Arab, I am a Muslim and I pray. And in the 1970s and early 1980s I was one of them," Mohamed told visiting American diplomats in 2007 to explain his distrust of the Muslim Brotherhood, as they reported in
6560-810: Was appointed deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces and was accordingly promoted to lieutenant general. In the early 1990s, Mohamed told Richard Clarke, then an assistant secretary of state, that he wanted to buy the F-16 fighter jet. Clarke replied that he must mean the F-16A, the model the Pentagon sold to American allies. Mohamed said that instead he wanted a newer model he had read about in Aviation Week, with an advanced radar-and-weapons system. Clarke told him that that model did not exist yet;
6642-522: Was his first foreign travel since becoming the UAE president. However, a group of human rights organizations, including International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Gulf Center for Human Rights (GCHR) and the Ligue des droits de l'Homme , wrote an open letter to President Macron , highlighting the human rights situation in the UAE. Drawing attention to the repressive dictatorship practiced in
6724-421: Was the first president of the UAE and the 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi. MBZ became the crown prince of Abu Dhabi in November 2004, following the death of his father, when his brother, Sheikh Khalifa became the second president of the UAE and the ruler of Abu Dhabi. In 2014, Sheikh Khalifa suffered a stroke and MBZ became the de facto president of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi. MBZ officially became president of
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