(Abu Dhabi) Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has been named vice-president of the United Arab Emirates in a reshuffle of the highest ranks of state in the oil-rich country on Wednesday. of the Gulf.
The 52-year-old joins the ruler of Dubai and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, as vice president, nearly a year after his brother Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed became The head of state.
The president has also named his son Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed crown prince of Abu Dhabi, the wealthiest of the federation’s seven emirates, a post that usually means he will be the Emirates’ next president.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, often known as ‘MBZ’ and longtime de facto ruler of the UAE, was named president last May after the death of his half-brother Sheikh Khalifa, who has since declined. a stroke in 2014.
His appointment as head of state had sparked speculation about his succession as the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, with Sheikh Khaled or Tahnoun bin Zayed, a brother of MBZ, being tipped for the role.
Tahnoun bin Zayed, national security adviser and chairman of the ADQ sovereign wealth fund, was named deputy ruler of Abu Dhabi on Wednesday along with Hazza bin Zayed, another brother of the president.