Remembering Sheikh Khalifa: A brief timeline of his journey

The late His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the second president of the UAE. He served as the president from 2004 until he passed away on May 13, 2022. He also served as the ruler of the emirate of Abu Dhabi during the same time. 

Sheikh Khalifa was born in Al Ain and belonged to the Bani Yas tribe. He received his school education in Al Ain at the city's first school built by his father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Sheikh Khalifa was born in Al Muwaiji Fort in Al Ain in 1948, and was the eldest son of Sheikh Zayed. His mother was Sheikha Hessa bint Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Al Muwaiji village was a centre of influence for the Al bu Falah subsection of the Bani Yas tribal confederation and the Al Nahyan ruling family.

Sheikh Khalifa spent most of his childhood in the oases of Al Ain and Al Buraimi with the company of his father, who governed the Al Ain region at that time.

When late Sheikh Zayed moved to Abu Dhabi city to become the ruler of the emirate in August 1966, he appointed Sheikh Khalifa, then 18, as his representative in the Eastern Province and the president of its legal system.

Sheikh Khalifa went on to hold a number of major posts. He became the main executive leader of his late father's government, overseeing, both on the local and federal levels, the implementation of all major projects.

On February 1, 1969, Sheikh Khalifa was nominated as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. The following day, he was appointed as the head of the department of defence in Abu Dhabi.

He oversaw the setting up of the Abu Dhabi Defence Force (ADDF), which later became the nucleus of the UAE armed forces.

On July 1, 1971, as part of the restructuring of the government of the emirate, he was appointed as the ruler of Abu Dhabi and minister of defence and finance.

On December 23, 1973, Sheikh Khalifa assumed the post of deputy prime minister in the second cabinet.

Shortly afterwards, on January 20, 1974, he was appointed as the first chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, which replaced the emirate's local cabinet.

He was elected for presidency on November 3, 2004, after the death of his father, the late Sheikh Zayed, who passed away on November 2, 2004.