Last modified: 23 November 2020
The country
The emirate is known as the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The emirate is being reigned by the Al Nahyan dynasty.
The origins of Abu Dhabi can be traced to a tribal federation, the Bani Yas, who were in control of the area of Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the late 18th century. The emirates were separated in the 19th century. Cultured pearls and since the 1950s also oil are the most important products. In 1966 the British helped Sheikh Zayed becoming the new ruler of Abu Dhabi, replacing his brother Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who didn’t want to invest in the production of oil. Sheikh Zayed was the driving force behind the formation of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. Abu Dhabi is the biggest of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates.
Sovereign
The current sovereign is Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Emir of Abu Dhabi, President of the United Arab Emirates. He was born at the Al Muwaiji Fortress in Al Ain on 7 September 1948.
He is the son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Emir of Abu Dhabi, President of the United Arab Emirates (1918-2004) and his first wife Sheikha Hassa bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan (-2018).
Enthronement
Sheikh Khalifa succeeded his father as Emir of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates after his death on 2 November 2004. He was elected President of the United Arab Emirates by the Supreme Council on 3 November 2004. He was elected for a term of five years, and in 2009 was re-elected. He had become Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi on 1 February 1969.
Other details
The Emir is a Muslim.
Marriage and descendants
Sheikh Khalifa is married to Sheikha Shamsa bint Suhail Al Mazrouei.
Their children:
- Sheikh Sultan (born 1965). has two wives. With his first wife Sheikha Sheikha Saif Mohammed Al Nahyan he has three sons, Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikh Zayed (born 1988) and Sheikh Khalifa, and three daughters, Sheikha Alyazia, Sheikha Hissa and Sheikha Shamma. With his second wife he has three daughters. Sheikh Mohammed is married since 2020 to Sheikha Fatima bint Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Sheikh Zayed is married since 2014 to a daughter of Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan. One of his daughters (called Dana?) is married since 2010 to Sheikh Suhail bin Butti bin Suheil Al Maktoum of Dubai.
- Sheikh Mohammed (born 1972)
- Sheikha Sheikha
- Sheikha Mouza
- Sheikha Osha
- Sheikha Salama. She is married to Sheikh Mansour bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan.
- Sheikha Shamma. She is married to Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
- Sheikha Latifa
Heir to the throne
The heir to the throne is Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He was born in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, on 11 March 1961. He is Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi since 2 November 2004.
He is a son of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Emir of Abu Dhabi, President of the United Arab Emirates and his fifth wife Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi.
The Crown Prince is married since 1981 to Sheikha Salama bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.
Their children:
- Sheikha Mariam. She is married since 2006 to Sheikh Mohammed bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan
- Sheikh Khaled. He is since 2008 married to Sheikha Fatima bint Surour bin Mohammed Al Nahyan. They have one son, Sheikh Mohammed (born 2013, twin), and two daughters Sheikha Shamma (born 2011?) and Sheikha Salama (born 2013, twin).
- Sheikha Shamsa
- Sheikh Diab/Theyab. He is married since 2013 to Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
- Sheikh Hamdan
- Sheikha Fatima. She is married since 2012 to Sheikh Nahyan bin Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.
- Sheikha Shamma (born 1992)
- Sheikh Zayed
- Sheikha Hassa (born 2001)
Postal address
Presidential Palace
Ras Al Akhdar
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
Bahrain
Succession
Abu Dhabi is a hereditary constitutional monarchy. I am not quite sure how the position of Emir is inherited. It however looks like the rule passes to the sons of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and probably afterwards the sons of his sons.
Titles
The emir is His Highness Sheikh .. (first name) bin .. (name of his father) Al Nahyan, Emir of Abu Dhabi. The heir to the throne is His Highness Sheikh .. (first name) bin .. (name of his father) Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
Rulers of Abu Dhabi
| Dhiyab bin Isa Al Nahyan (-1793) | 1761-1793 |
| Shakhbut bin Dhiyab Al Nahyan (-1816) | 1793-1816 |
| Muhammad bin Shakhbut Al Nahyan (-1818) | 1816-1818 |
| Shakhbut bin Dhiyab Al Nahyan | 1818-? |
| Tahnoun bin Shakhbut Al Nahyan (-1833) | 1818-1833 |
| Khalifa bin Shakhbut Al Nahyan (-1845) | 1833-1845 |
| Sultan bin Shakhbut Al Nahyan (-1845) | 1833-1845 |
| Isa bin Khalid Al Nahyan | 1845 |
| Dhiyab II bin Isa Al Nahyan | 1845 |
| Saeed bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan | 1845-1855 |
| Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan (1840-1909) | 1855-1909 |
| Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan (1857-1912) | 1909-1912 |
| Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan (-1922) | 1912-1922 |
| Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan (-1926) | 1922-1926 |
| Saqr bin Zayed Al Nahyan (-1928) | 1926-1928 |
| Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1905?-1989) | 1928-1966 |
| Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (1918?-2004) | 1966/1971-2004 |
| Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (1948- ) | 2004- |
Links
- United Arab Emirates
- The United Arab Emirates’ Government portal
- UAE Cabinet
- Crown Prince Court
- His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Twitter
- Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Instagram
- Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. Mother of the Nation
- Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
- The Holding Company of HH Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
- Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
- Our Allegiance to Sheikh Khalifa
- The Founder’s Memorial
- Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation
- Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation
- Qasr Al Muwaiji