As expected, the UAE Supreme Council formally elected Muhammad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan as the new head of government at a meeting at the Al-Musharraf Palace in Abu Dhabi.The council, which groups the rulers of the seven emirates of the UAE federation, elected Sheikh Mohammed, known as MbZ, a day after the death of his half-brother, President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, who was also the ruler of Abu Dhabi.
MbZ, 61, had already been wielding power for years during which he led a realignment of West Asia that created a new anti-Iran axis with Israel and invested in the UAE military, which coupled with its oil wealth extended the Emirati influence.
The UAE, a trade and tourism hub, has also deepened ties with Russia and China at a time when Washington’s political capital with Abu Dhabi and Riyadh has been eroded by differences over the Yemen war, Iran and US conditions on lucrative arms sales.
The question remains how far will the Gulf state go under his leadership?
Time will answer all the questions.
