Born in the capital of United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, on the 8th of January, 1982, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan was destined for greatness. As the firstborn son of UAE’s President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, expectations were high.
His academic journey took him from the American University of Sharjah, where he earned a BSc in International Relations, to the hallowed halls of King’s College London. Here, he delved into the intricacies of War Studies, earning himself a PhD in 2014.
In 2015, Sheikh Khaled ascended to the position of Chairman of the National Commission for the security of electronic management. The following year saw him become chairman of the State Security Department, elevated to the rank of Minister.
A new year brought new responsibilities; in 2017, he was appointed as Deputy National Security Adviser, also holding ministerial rank. Two years later, he became a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office. In 2021, he joined the Board of Directors at Adnoc.
Sheikh Khaled is also a published author, having penned “The Three Islands mapping the UAE-Iran dispute” in 2013. This book provides an in-depth exploration of the seizure of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs.
He played a significant role in the signing of an agreement between the Abu Dhabi Government and the XPRIZE Foundation, a global leader in incentivised prize competitions. This contract still stands as the major authority corporation for XPRIZE.
Cultural preservation is another area Sheikh Khaled has contributed to. He inaugurated the refurbished Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, one of the nation’s key cultural landmarks. The revamped foundation boasts a 900-seat theatre and the brand-new Abu Dhabi Children’s Library.
His contributions extend to environmental causes too. In February 2022, Sheikh Khaled, alongside Prince William, launched the Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative at Jubail Mangrove Park. They also discussed global sustainability initiatives and the ongoing efforts of the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi to protect the environment and enhance biodiversity.
In honour of the late urban planner Abdul Rahman Makhlouf’s contribution to Abu Dhabi’s early development in the 1960s and 1970s, Sheikh Khaled renamed Al Sough Street after him.
In October 2021, he launched the Abu Dhabi IPO Fund to bolster the position of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) in the stock market. That same month, he inaugurated 42 Abu Dhabi, the first GCC campus of the globally-recognised 42 Network of coding schools, offering tuition-free, peer-to-peer learning.
Sheikh Khaled’s personal life has been as fulfilling as his career. He married Sheikha Surour Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan in December 2008, and they are blessed with a son and two daughters.