DUBAI: UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan selected his eldest son Sheikh Khaled as crown prince of Abu Dhabi. The oil-rich capital of the Gulf state, and named his brothers to prominent responsibilities, state media said on Wednesday.
After controlling the US-allied OPEC oil producer for years, Prince Mohammed chose his brother Sheikh Mansour as UAE vice president.
This looked to centralise authority in Abu Dhabi. That is the political capital of the UAE federation of seven emirates due to its oil wealth. Dubai dominates Gulf tourism and business.
Sheikh Mohammed appointed his brothers Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser. As well as Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan as Abu Dhabi’s deputy rulers.
He maintained “some power-sharing balance, but only inside (Abu Dhabi’s) Al Nahyan clan” by appointing important brothers.
Most Gulf Arab monarchies prefer sons over brothers for succession, including Saudi Arabia.
Since 1971, Abu Dhabi has led the UAE.
Analysts claim Sheikh Mohammed, known as MbZ, groomed his son for security, intelligence, economy, and administration positions.
After his brother’s death last May, MbZ took control at a time when the UAE’s longtime ties with the US were strained over perceived US disengagement from the region.
He orchestrated a realignment of the Middle East in 2020 when the UAE, Bahrain, and Israel formed a new anti-Iran alliance while still interacting with Tehran to reduce tensions for economic reasons.
Russia and China have strengthened ties with the UAE.
The nation of less than 10 million has political and economic stability. It boasts a high per-capita income and millions of expatriate employees.
In a second decree on Wednesday, MbZ appointed Sheikh Khaled as Abu Dhabi’s executive council head, the latest restructuring of key entities in the world’s wealthiest state investor.
