Sheikh Khalifa's life and legacy remembered

A year after the UAE President's death on Friday, May 13, 2022, his contributions to society live on

Nasser Al Nowais, chairman of the Rotana Hotel Group, with the late President, Sheikh Khalifa. 'He cared about the well-being of people not only in the UAE, but all over the world,' says Mr Al Nowais. Photo: Nasser Al Nowais

Sheikh Khalifa in Dubai in 1971. Magnum Photos

An undated photo of Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

A young Sheikh Khalifa (seated). Wam

UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his son Sheikh Khalifa watch a military parade in 1978. Photo: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

Sheikh Zayed, centre, and Sheikh Khalifa seated to his right. Wam

Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Khalifa. Photo: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Zayed inspects plans for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with his sons Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Sultan. Photo: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Khalifa, left, greets Jordan's King Abdullah in Abu Dhabi on May 16, 2000. Wam

Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Zayed. Wam

Sheikh Khalifa performs Umrah. Wam

Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Wam

An image of Sheikh Khalifa is projected on to a building in Abu Dhabi. Antonie Robertson / The National

President, Sheikh Mohamed, left, with Sheikh Khalifa in 2009. Philip Cheung / The National

Sheikh Khalifa watches the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 1, 2009, with Nursultan Nazarbayev, president of Kazakhstan, and Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman. Ryan Carter / The National

Sheikh Khalifa attends National Day celebrations at Zayed Sports Stadium on December 2, 2011. Philip Cheung / Crown Prince Court

The UAE football team meet with Sheikh Khalifa on Saturday, January 19, 2012, after their 2-1 victory over Iraq in the Gulf Cup final in Bahrain. Wam

Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip with Sheikh Khalifa at Windsor Castle, England, on April 30, 2013. Reuters

Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

Sheikh Khalifa with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. Wam

Sheikh Khalifa at Al Bateen Palace, Abu Dhabi. Wam

It is a year to the day since the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, but the memories of his life and contribution to the nation remain.

His death was announced in the afternoon of Friday, May 13, 2022, and he was laid to rest that evening at Al Bateen cemetery, the last resting place of many prominent members of the Nahyan family.

The exception was his father, UAE Founding President the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who lies in the shadow of the Grand Mosque that carries his name.

His son was only the second President of the UAE, appointed unanimously by the Federal Supreme Council on the death of his father on November 2, 2004.

King Felipe VI of Spain walks with President Sheikh Mohamed at Abu Dhabi's Presidential Airport

President Sheikh Mohamed meets Israel's President Isaac Herzog, centre, Israel's Minister of Communications Yoaz Hendel, second from right, and Israeli ambassador to the UAE, Amir Hayek, right.

Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister of Defence with Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed, UAE National Security Adviser, at Abu Dhabi's Presidential Airport

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of Germany, is received by President Sheikh Mohamed.

Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, with President Sheikh Mohamed.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Britain's Chief of the Defence Staff, with President Sheikh Mohamed.

The President, Sheikh Mohamed, receives condolences from the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim, at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks with Sheikh Mohamed. Abdulla Al Junaibi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

President Joko Widodo of Indonesia offers condolences to Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office. Abdulla Al Neyadi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. Abdulla Al Neyadi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco offers condolences to Sheikh Mohamed at the Presidential Airport. Abdulla Al Junaibi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Asaad bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister of Oman, third from right, and Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan, fourth from left, offer condolences to Sheikh Mohamed. Abdulla Al Junaibi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

King Hamad of Bahrain, front right, and Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad, fifth from left, speak with Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, left. Abdulla Al Neyadi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Col Jaimie Norman, Military Assistant to the British Prime Minister, speaks with Lt Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior

The President, Sheikh Mohamed, receives Dr Muhammad Al Manfi, President of the Libyan Presidential Council. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

King Hamad of Bahrain walks with the President, Sheikh Mohamed. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

King Hamad of Bahrain and Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad offer condolences to Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa, adviser to the President, Sheikh Mohamed. Abdulla Al Neyadi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, speaks with Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, offers condolences to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. Abdulla Al Junaibi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Emir of Qatar, with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. Abdulla Al Junaibi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan and Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan, Minister of State. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Asa'ad bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister of Oman, right, and Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, third right, offer condolences to Sheikh Mohamed. Abdulla Al Junaibi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed receives a foreign delegate offering condolences. Abdulla Al Junaibi for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Maldives, with President Sheikh Mohamed.

Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia with Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed, UAE National Security Adviser.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of Germany, meets Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President.

Marzouq Al Ghanim, Speaker of the Kuwait National Assembly, with President Sheikh Mohamed.

Dr Nayef Falah Al Hajraf, Secretary General of the Gulf Co-operation Council offers condolences to Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region.

Saudi Arabia's Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz with President Sheikh Mohamed.

Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, with President Sheikh Mohamed.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan, with Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology.

Abul Kalam Abdul Momen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, offers condolences to Sheikh Mohamed.

Hussein Ibrahim Taha, Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation, with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.

Dr Nayef Al Hajraf, Secretary General of the Gulf Co-operation Council, centre, with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office.

King Felipe VI of Spain offers condolences to President Sheikh Mohamed at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi.

Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, with Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

Abul Kalam Abdul Momen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, with Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed.

Philip Mpango, Vice President of Tanzania, walks with Sheikh Shakhbut bin Nahyan, Minister of State, at the Presidential Airport.

Gen Mohamed Dagalo, Deputy leader of Sudan’s Transitional Military Council, with Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region.

Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Arab League Secretary General, offers his condolences to President Sheikh Mohamed.

Sheikh Khalifa was Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and his father's representative when the UAE flag was raised for the first time on December 2, 1971 and lived to see the country celebrate its 50th birthday in 2021.

He was 73 and, despite a long illness, led his country as President to the end.

At his funeral, prayers were led by his brother, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the new Ruler of Abu Dhabi, who was chosen as the third President of the UAE the following day.

Tributes were paid by the other UAE Rulers, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, who called Sheikh Khalifa “a dedicated leader who served and loved his people, a love they reciprocated”.

The significance of his death was felt around the world, no more so than in the Arab regions and the countries of the GCC. King Salman of Saudi Arabia ordered funeral prayers be held at the Prophet's Mosque, calling Sheikh Khalifa a “dear brother” who “devoted his life to serving his people and the advancement of his state”.

In Kuwait, 40 days of mourning were declared, with the Emir Sheikh Nawaf saying: “The Arab and Islamic nations have lost one of their leaders, a great man who devoted his life to serving his country and people and defending Arab and Islamic causes,” and thanking Sheikh Khalifa for his support during the Iraqi occupation.

The Arab League ordered its flag to be lowered for three days, while the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said Sheikh Khalifa had “passed away after long journey of giving”.

Messages of condolence and praise arrived from Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon and Turkey, as well as Israel, where relations with the UAE were normalised under the 2020 Abraham Accords, another achievement of Sheikh Khalifa’s presidency.

In the days after his death, leaders and representatives of governments around the world arrived in Abu Dhabi to pay their respects.

They included the French President Emmanuel Macron, the first to arrive, followed by the British prime minister Boris Johnson, the US Vice President Kamala Harris, King Abdullah of Jordan and Mr El Sisi.

There were memories also of the UAE President’s state visit to Britain in 2013, when he was entertained at Windsor Castle by Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September 2022, just four months after Sheikh Khalifa.

Their passing was a reminder that the world is entering a new phase, with new leaders. The new President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, named Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, his son, as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

In the UK, Prince William is now the Prince of Wales, a title held for 70 years by his father, after the latter was crowned King Charles III with Queen Camilla. All require an adjustment that will take time to become familiar.

The legacy of Sheikh Khalifa lives on, in places such as the tallest building in the world — Burj Khalifa — that carries his name, but also in the wider panorama of life in the UAE.

Building on the work begun by his father, Sheikh Zayed, he offered leadership and inspiration to a country that is now home to people from about 200 nationalities.

He authorised major infrastructure development including hospitals, roads and rail, and better housing in all seven emirates, while promoting an environment that is friendly to business investment and tourism.

The result is a country now firmly established on the international stage, with events such as the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, first held in 2009, as well as Expo 2020 Dubai and the Special Olympics. Not to mention numerous cultural, music and sporting legends bringing their talents to the UAE.

His time as President also advanced the standing of the UAE as force for good around the world, whether through international aid, disaster relief or campaigns to eradicate diseases such as polio and malaria.

Out of all the values of the UAE — tolerance, empowerment of women, religious dialogue, sustainability and multiculturalism — perhaps the most significant is continuity.

The principles established by Sheikh Zayed and built on by Sheikh Khalifa are now being nurtured by President Sheikh Mohamed.