ABU DHABI, UAE — Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a revered leader, passed away a year ago. Sheikh Khalifa’s journey alongside the Founding Leader, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was marked by strengthening the country’s achievements and envisioning its future.
He played a pivotal role in laying the foundation of the nation before assuming leadership and guiding its progress.
Sheikh Khalifa took office on November 4th, 2004, following the demise of Sheikh Zayed, and he continued his predecessor’s remarkable legacy until his own passing on May 13th, 2022. Under his leadership, the UAE flourished, becoming the second-largest economy in the Arab world and the first Arab and Islamic nation to successfully reach Mars, among numerous other notable achievements across various domains.
Foreign Aid
As a compassionate and generous leader, Sheikh Khalifa prioritized extending a helping hand to those in need worldwide. Under his guidance, the UAE provided substantial foreign aid to numerous countries, working towards reducing poverty, supporting vulnerable communities, fostering peace, prosperity, and stability, and facilitating economic growth in developing nations.
The UAE delivered foreign aid worth more than AED 320 billion to nearly 155 countries from its inception in 1971 until 2021.
Strategic Ties
Under Sheikh Khalifa’s leadership, the UAE fortified its prominent stature and assumed a leading regional and global role by fostering deep-rooted relations with numerous countries based on mutual respect and a commitment to supporting international peace and stability.
Recognizing the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region as strategically influential for global security and stability, Sheikh Khalifa followed the vision of the Founding Leader by standing alongside Arab nations, supporting their causes, and strengthening regional relationships. During his reign, the UAE embraced greater openness to the world and forged partnerships with nations across the globe.
Strategic Planning
To secure a prosperous future, Sheikh Khalifa initiated an era of empowerment by implementing long-term national strategies, initiatives, and plans. These include the Principles of the 50, the UAE Vision 2021, the UAE Net Zero by 50 Initiative, the Digital Government Strategy 2025, the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, the UAE Government Services Strategy 2021-2025, the Energy Strategy 2050, the National Food Security Strategy, and the National Space Strategy 2030.
Women
Empowering Emirati women in all spheres was a constant priority for Sheikh Khalifa, recognizing them as vital partners in the country’s development. Under his rule, remarkable progress was achieved in empowering women across various levels. Emirati women now constitute 27.5 percent of the UAE Cabinet and hold half of the seats in the Federal National Council (FNC), sharing equal representation with men.
Sheikh Khalifa introduced several decrees aimed at enhancing women’s involvement and empowerment, including measures to ensure equal pay for men and women in the private sector for the same or equivalent work. Additionally, a law was enacted to eliminate all restrictions on women working at night or in demanding jobs.
Empowerment
Under Sheikh Khalifa’s leadership, the Emirati parliament witnessed significant improvement in performance and an increased role in lawmaking and oversight. He initiated a political empowerment program in 2005 to enhance the FNC’s authority as an advisory and executive support body.
Health
Demonstrating his commitment to the health sector, Sheikh Khalifa increased the share of public spending allocated to healthcare, raising it to as high as 7 percent of the federal budget. This long-term investment enabled the UAE’s health sector to effectively manage the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is considered the most severe outbreak in human history. Thanks to Sheikh Khalifa’s foresight and sustained investment, the UAE’s health sector demonstrated exceptional efficiency in handling the crisis.
During Sheikh Khalifa’s leadership, the number of Emirati hospitals experienced significant growth, increasing from 16 in 1975 to 169 in 2020. This expansion ensured that the country’s healthcare infrastructure was well-equipped to handle any challenges that arose.
Education
Sheikh Khalifa firmly believed that education is the driving force behind development, and he advocated for an education system founded on key principles, including providing free education for all citizens.
To reinforce this commitment, the Wadima Law was enacted in 2012, making education mandatory for every child from the age of six until the completion of secondary school. This legislation guaranteed the right of every child to receive an education.
The UAE aspires to create an education system that equips students with the skills required for the 21st century. It aims to offer high-quality university education that rivals the best institutions worldwide, foster innovation, reach a larger number of learners, and cultivate a culture of innovation among educators.
Infrastructure
Under Sheikh Khalifa’s guidance, the UAE achieved numerous milestones, securing top positions globally in 20 key energy and infrastructure indicators of competitiveness in 2021. His wise vision and unwavering support paved the way for remarkable advancements in infrastructure and housing.
Space
Driven by Sheikh Khalifa’s vision, the UAE pursued ambitious goals in space exploration and achieved remarkable success. On February 9th, 2021, the UAE became the fifth country in the world to reach Mars, a monumental accomplishment. In September 2019, the UAE sent its first Emirati and Arab astronaut, Hazza Al Mansouri, to the International Space Station, marking a historic moment since the station’s launch in 1998.
The establishment of the UAE Space Agency in 2014 and the successful launch of KhalifaSat, the first Emirati-developed and manufactured satellite in 2018, laid the foundation for the UAE’s space endeavors. In 2020, the UAE announced its plans to launch the first Arab mission to the Moon, further solidifying its position as a key player in the space sector.
Economy
Under Sheikh Khalifa’s leadership, the UAE experienced remarkable economic progress. The country’s GDP has multiplied several times since 2004 and is projected to reach AED 1.5 trillion by the end of 2021, a testament to the visionary economic policies implemented during his reign.
Culture
Sheikh Khalifa’s leadership ushered in significant progress in the culture and arts sector. The UAE’s rich heritage, culture, and art gained global recognition through major projects and collaborations with renowned international entities.
Notable among these projects is the cultural district on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, home to prestigious cultural institutions such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum, and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The UAE has also played a leading role in protecting and restoring world heritage sites, guided by principles of tolerance and coexistence. Contributions include the preservation of historical landmarks such as the Al Nuri Mosque and its leaning minaret, and two churches in Mosul, Iraq, as well as the Sheikh Khalifa Theatre of the Palace of Fontainebleau in France, the Museum of Islamic Art in Egypt, the Macmillan Historical Library in Nairobi, Kenya, and the “Lodge of Peace” in Muharraq, Bahrain.