Khalifa bin Zayed, president of the UAE.

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan (Arabic: خليفة بن زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان‎, born 1948) is the current president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He succeeded to the post on 3 November 2004, replacing his father Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahayan, who had died the day before. He had effectively been acting president earlier, since his father was in ill health. He is also the hereditary emir and ruler of Abu Dhabi. Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed. ... Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... November 3 is the 307th day of the year (308th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 58 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sheikh Zayed Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (Arabic:الشيخ زايد بن سلطان أل نهيان)‎, (1918 — 2 November 2004), the principal architect of the seven United Arab Emirates, was the ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE for over 30 years (1971-2004). ... Entrance to the emirs palace in Bukhara. ... Abu Dhabi or Abu Zaby (Arabic language: أبوظبي) is the largest of the seven emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates and was also the largest of the former Trucial States. ...

Following the establishment of the UAE on 2 December 1971, Sheikh Khalifa became deputy prime minister of the federal state under his father, who was president. In May 1976 he became deputy commander of the UAE armed forces. He also heads the Supreme Petroleum Council, which enjoys wide powers in energy matters. December 2 is the 336th day (337th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday. ...

Sheikh Khalifa is known for his interest in sports traditional to UAE, chiefly horse and camel racing. A building in the theology department at Lampeter is named after him, due to his being a benefactor. He is generally regarded as a pro-Western modernizer. Early in his term, in April 2005, he authorized a 15-25% salary increase for employees of the state. University of Wales, Lampeter Prifysgol Cymru, Llanbedr Pont Steffan   University of Wales, Lampeter (Welsh: Prifysgol Cymru, Llanbedr Pont Steffan) is a university in Lampeter, Wales, the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales, and the third oldest in England and Wales after Oxford and Cambridge. ...

On 1 December 2005 the President announced that half of the members of the Federal National Council, the closest body the country has to a parliament, will be indirectly elected. However half of the council's members will still need to be appointed by the leaders of the emirates. The 40-member FNC serves in an advisory capacity. No date has been set for elections as of Oct 2006. December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• List of national leaders
• List of rulers of separate Emirates of the United Arab Emirates