Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan elected president of UAE

The de facto leader of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was elected to the presidency on Saturday by the Federal Supreme Council, the public news agency WAM said, after years of pulling the strings behind the scenes while his half-brother President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was pushed aside by poor health.

The leaders of the seven UAE sheikhs decided in a meeting. It was after Sheikh Khalifa passed away on Friday at the age of 73.

Following his election, Mohamed expressed his gratitude for the “precious confidence” placed in him by the council members, WAM added.

It described the vote as unanimous among the leaders of the country’s sheikhs, which also includes the studded city of high-rise Dubai.

“We congratulate and pledge allegiance, and our people pledge allegiance,” Dubai’s leader, Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, tweeted after the vote. “The whole country is led by him to the paths of glory and honour, God willing.”

A few hours later, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, congratulated Al Nahyan upon his election.

“I congratulate my long-time friend Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on his election as President of the United Arab Emirates,”

Biden said in a statement, adding that he looked forward to working with the leader “to strengthen the bonds between our countries and peoples.”