Some people say that the "age of leaders has ended." I first agreed with this statement, until I found it inaccurate. Despite very difficult circumstances, life can sometimes help one find certain figures who dispel our fears and give us, Arabs and Egyptians, a new hope. Such leaders are not easy to be found, one can suddenly come forth every quarter or half a century. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE's Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is one of those significant figures. He is the son of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan «founding father» and the first president of the UAE. He is also the brother of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. A proven track record and unique character His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed was born in Al Ain city on March 11, 1961. He is the third son of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding president of the UAE. He grew up under the care of his father and mother, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed studied in the state schools of Al Ain and Abu Dhabi cities and graduated at the age of eighteen.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed assumed numerous positions including: Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi in November 2004, Chairman of the Executive Council of the same emirate in December 2004 and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces in January 2005. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed's personality has been built and refined by assuming several military positions including: Commander of the Air force and Air defense, Vice president and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces on December 30, 1992. He was then promoted Air Marshal on January 24, 1994. According to a federal decree issued December 30, 2004, His Highness was appointed as Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Another federal decree was issued on January 2, 2005, promoting him to First Marshal. In addition to his military responsibilities, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed acts as principal adviser to the President regarding national security issues. He's always contributed to political and legislative debates, and participates actively in the Supreme Petroleum Council, which assumes wide authority in oil and energy issues. His Highness is also the head of Mubadala Corporate, and a board member of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which is considered the second largest sovereign fund in the world. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed contributed significantly in the development of the UAE armed forces, in terms of strategic planning, military training and organizational structure, inspired by the instructors of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The direct guidance and leadership of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has helped to make the UAE Armed Forces a leading institution appreciated by a large number of international military institutions. Like many citizens of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed loves sports and is keen to meet with Emirati athletes of both genders and pay tribute to their achievements. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed received many decorations and medals from state, as well as many countries including: Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco, Malaysia, Pakistan, United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, China, South Korea, as well as the United Nations. These awards are as follow: Medal of Throne - officer degree was granted by the late King Hassan II of Morocco in June 1986. Medal of Merit was granted by General Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of US-led coalition forces in April 1991 in recognition of his role in the Kuwait War, known as "Operation Desert Storm". Medal of Service Excellence was granted by Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces in May 1992. Medal of Merit (shield of Man of the Year in 1993) for military superiority was granted by the Lebanese Monday Magazine in March 1994. Medal of Military Merit was granted by the late King Hassan II of Morocco in April 1994. Medal of Kuwait liberation was granted in September 1994 by Ibrahim Abdullah Mansour, Ambassador of Kuwait to the UAE, in recognition of His Highness's efforts the Kuwait War. Grand Medal of the Brilliant Yellow Flag was granted by Prime Minister of the Republic of China, Liang Cheng in September 1994. Medal of Kuwait - First Class was granted by the late Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah in June 1995. Medal of Renaissance - First Class was granted by the late monarch of Jordan Hussein Bin Talal in December 1996. Medal of Renaissance - First Class was granted by the Jordanian King Abdullah Bin Al Hussein in June 1999. Medal of Oman Second Class was granted by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said in February 2000. Medal of Merit for Great Officer was granted by French President Jacques Chirac in June 2002. Scarf of Independence was granted by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar in January 2005. Man of the Year in 2005 by the Arabian Business Magazine was awarded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Defense Minister of the UAE back then, in November 2005. Gold Medal of Honor was granted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), handed by Dr. Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the organization in April 2007. Medal of Honor for Food Security from the FAO, and the International Certificate of Merit from the Institute of Professional Environmental Practice (IPEP), both were granted by Dr. Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the Organization in September 2008. Medal of Jerusalem was granted by the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in October 2008. Medal of Federal Merit was granted by German Foreign Minister Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, in October 2008. Medal of Merit – First Class was granted by His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain in May 2008. Gold Medal from the World Children Foundation in March 2009. Medal of Grand knight was granted by His Majesty King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin of Malaysia on June 17, 2011. Medal of Goa Longhua was awarded by the Korean President Lee Myung-bak on November 21, 2012. National Medal of Merit was granted by French President Francois Hollande on January 15, 2013. Pendant of Arab's Wise - First Class from the Arab Media Unity Council in 2015. In spite of his huge responsibilities, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has also spiritual interests. He is known for his passion for hunting and falconry, as inherited from his father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He also has a deep passion for poetry, for which he is always keen to support competitions as well as other cultural activities. In sports, His Highness Mohamed bin Zayed was chosen as best Arab sportsman for 2003 a survey organized by Egyptian Mehwar Satellite Channel. His Highness is now the Chairman of Al-Ain Sports Club. The engineer for comprehensive development His Highness Sheikh Mohamed realized from the beginning that his country's priorities are education, health, innovation, economic diversity and security. He depended on human development and avoided corruption and cronyism; citizens' behavior reflected these trends. They quickly realized the greatness of a leader by a behavior and attitude change. Many citizens of the UAE refused to take advantage of the law which exempts the only son in the family from the obligatory national service. This confirmed patriotism, who have not been affected negatively by their life of luxury. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed believes that the basic foundation of the UAE is its unity, which is the source of the survival of the nation and its strength. Inspired by the past ... Powered by the present ... Promise for future His Highness Sheikh Mohamed adopts a three-dimensional vision which has several axis. Inspiration obtained from the past, power from present which gives a promising future for UAE. He links the past with the present and the future realistically, which was clearly explained in his speech at the governmental summit in February 2015. His speech did not include useless slogans, His Highness expressed his respect for the past, as he recalled a historical incident of his father, when he was told by a journalist that his father has spoiled his people. He said that there is a big difference between «spoil» and «duty», and all what his father did to his people was a duty. In the mid-seventies he participated in the establishment of the investment body, and it is now the most important investment entity in the world. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed did not only link past and present, but also the future. He spoke about the future of the UAE after the end of the oil age and energy resources, which is currently the mainstay of the economy. He asserted that the future lies in young people who have better education, revealing that the UAE will launch clean nuclear energy projects. The Crown Prince asserted on his respect for women and their role in development, saying that they are partners of nation-building, revealing that they resemble 83% of the total workers of the UAE airframe factory, which produces vital components for Boeing and Airbus aircrafts. Council of Mohammed bin Zayed Mohamed bin Zayed Council is an annual Council that hosts the elite among scholars, clerics, intellectuals, experts and innovators from different countries around the world, to present their views, experiences and scientific theories on various public topics and vital issues related to the developments of the current age. This council has became a think-tank for the different views, and the exchange of opinions. It was my pleasure to be a guest in this Council in 2008 when I gave a lecture titled "Brotherhood in eighty years". The Council of Mohamed bin Zayed is a unique experience that benefits from the think-tanks, specialists, researchers and thinkers. It is a chance to understand other point of view, and promote this dialogue to enrich knowledge aiming to achieve a deeper understanding reaching better community solutions to various issues. Economic Development The economic diversity is a key feature for the overall advancement of Abu Dhabi as per His Highness Sheikh's opinion. His Highness' is now the chairman of UAE Offsets Group (Offset Program Bureau OPB) which is working on the implementation of viable projects in various sectors, to provide the diversity of UAE economy. On the other hand, Mubadala Development Company that was established in 2002 as to be one of the main investment arms of Abu Dhabi government, and to achieve permanent social and economic benefits for the emirate. Research and Education "We must give priority to human resources, education and health over the next 25 years"... This saying reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed for education, as he considers education to be one of the top priorities, whether public or private education from elementary stage up to secondary school on to university. It worth mentioning that His Highness is the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Education Council, since it was founded in 2005. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed was known for his great efforts to enhance educational standards in Abu Dhabi. His Highness was to reach the levels of international standards. Since he assumed his position, he has been working tirelessly to establish partnerships with globally prestigious educational institutions, and intellectual centers. He has announced that a number of those centers will start operation in Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi Education Council, since its inception, has been overseeing the education sector in the emirate and has made some developments. It has conducted studies, activated participation of students and parents for assessment. They also managed communication with other international educational institutions for exchanging initiatives that aim at the development of the educational sector. His Highness also chairs the UAE Center for Strategic Studies and Research which manages the publication of academic studies and analyses topics of interest to the UAE and the region. Environmental Protection His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed is known for his great interest in the protection of falcons, wild birds of prey, and the Arabian oryx, which is reflected through the establishment of the Mohamed bin Zayed Fund to protect live species. His passion for breeding falcons pushed him to focus on protecting them as well as other endangered species and plants. His interest of animals led him to adopt alternative energy projects, particularly the city of Masdr in Abu Dhabi, which is an initiative to create a city with zero waste and zero carbon emission. This initiative will enable Abu Dhabi to be the world pioneer in research and development emissions of renewable energy and sustainable technologies. The enemy of Muslim Brotherhood Following the so-called "Arab Spring" and the rise of political Islam groups, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya ... etc., some regimes and figures showed weakness and aligned themselves with them. The UAE and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed opposed those groups because of his awareness of their malicious intentions and their plans. He knew that they were the new tool of a new version of colonialism, and part of the demolition plan of Arab regimes. They had the aim to seize their wealth and destroy their armies. His Highness has refused to deal with the Brotherhood Guidance Office and Khairat Al-Shater as well as other group members. He realized that Egypt, which he knew and loved, was kidnapped by the hands of this group. The relations between the UAE and Egypt were severely muted until Egypt resolved this and recovered. The realization of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed of the plot, and his strong position against schemes aiming to divide the region, stemmed mainly from his personality which was burnished by military and strategic sciences. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed was graduated from the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in 1979. His military training included basic armor and aviation courses as well as basic paratroops. The Prince was also the commander of the Air Force and Air Defense and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, before he was promoted to be Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces in 1993 and then became Marshal after only one year. After the death of his father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in 2004 and the election of his elder brother, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed was appointed as deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces in January 2005, and was promoted to be first Marshal. Egypt's first lover There is a rather strange spiritual relation between Egypt and UAE. It is a passion mix between love and friendship, that is rather hard to find in the world today. When we talk about the passion of Egypt, we must recall the stances of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed which affirm his love and his passion for Egypt, particularly during the Egyptian economy conference. His statement and word are the best evidence to this love as he always stressed that the UAE will continue to support Egypt. The UAE strategy towards Egypt was reflected in His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed's words in more than an occasion: "the relation with Egypt is historical and strategic and it has the full support and follow-up from the head of state, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. According to this approach, as was founded by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, we shall stand with our brothers in Egypt. During the different times and under all conditions, to achieve its goals. UEA's leadership vision towards Egypt is focused responding to Egyptian's state ambitions for building a proper future, marked by stability and prosperity. The UAE continues to support Egypt during the next phase, to support pillars of stability and strengthen the elements of growth and development, and meeting the various challenges, thus reaching people's state ambition." The visit of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Cairo two days before the economic conference came to confirm the UAE support for Egypt. His Highness came to discuss with Egyptian government the UAE role during the economic conference and beyond it, in the framework as put forth by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan who asserted to support brothers under all circumstances. The guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed helped many Emirati economic entities to participate in the economic conference including: the National Bank of Dubai NBD, and the Al-Futtaim Group. The latter announced that it has allocated about $4.3 billion of this year's budget, for the implementation of major projects in Egypt, in addition to the KBP company which plans to invest nearly $2 billion in Egypt. Finally, I want to emphasize that the crisis of the Arab countries lies in the lack of intellects, despite brain abundance. We are in bad need for more minds such as His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, a mind of construction, development and strategic planning. The mind that is capable to address all levels, internal, regional and global. A mind that knows how to keep the balance between national interest and regional duties to the Arab nations. God bless His Highness ... I cannot forget your famous saying "If Egypt falls all Arabs will fall too". Egyptians return your passion with love too.
