The federal supreme council which is the highest constitutional authority in the United Arab Emirates UAE has, in a unanimous vote, voted Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan as the new president of the country. The votes were cast following the announcement of the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the country’s former president, and the results were announced on Saturday.
According to reports, the decision of Mohammed as a replacement for the late Sheikh was based on Article 51 of the UAES constitution. The elections were held during a symposium at the al Mushrif’s palace in Abu Dhabi which was headed by his highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai.
At the time of writing, the elections would make Sheikh Mohammed the third president of the country since the union was formed in 1971. He was born on the 11th of March 1961, ten years before the formation of the union. Mohammed is no stranger to ruling having been named crown prince of Abu Dhabi in November 2004 and assuming the role of acting president in 2014 when a stroke and several surgeries rendered the late Sheikh khalifa unable to rule.
