Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (Arabic: زَايِد بِن سُلْطَان آل نَهْيَان, romanized: Zāyed bin Sulṭān Āl Nahyān; 6 May 1918 – 2 November 2004) was an Emirati politician, statesman, and philanthropist who served as the first president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 1971 until his death in 2004.[1][2] He is credited as the founding father[3][4][5][6] and the principal driving force behind the formation of the UAE, uniting seven emirates. He was also the ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1966 until his death.[7]
| Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Official portrait, 1971 | |||||
| 1st President of the United Arab Emirates | |||||
In office | 2 December 1971 – 2 November 2004 | ||||
Prime Minister | |||||
Vice President | Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum | ||||
| Predecessor | Post established | ||||
| Successor | Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan | ||||
| Emir of Abu Dhabi | |||||
| Reign | 6 August 1966 – 2 November 2004 | ||||
| Predecessor | Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan | ||||
| Successor | Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan | ||||
| Born | 6 May 1918[1] Abu Dhabi (majority view, see text), Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Trucial States (now the UAE) | ||||
| Died | 2 November 2004 (aged 86) Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | ||||
| Burial | |||||
| Spouse |
| ||||
| Issue | see list | ||||
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| House | Al Nahyan | ||||
| Father | Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan | ||||
| Mother | Salama bint Butti Al Qubaisi | ||||
Zayed replaced his older brother Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan as the ruler of Abu Dhabi on 6 August 1966 after Shakhbut was deposed through a bloodless coup by members of the ruling family with British support.[8]