Dubai: President Shaikh Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan named Shaikh Khaled, 41, as crown prince of Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. It was part of the biggest political shake-up since Shaikh Mohamed, 62, and the UAE's long-time de facto ruler, became president last May following the death of his brother Shaikh Khalifa.
Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed, the owner of Manchester City football club, became vice-president, joining Dubai's ruler and UAE Prime Minister Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum in the role.
Two other brothers of the president -- Tahnoun bin Zayed, the UAE's national security adviser and chairman of the ADQ sovereign wealth fund, and Hazza bin Zayed -- became deputy rulers of Abu Dhabi, which controls the bulk of the country's oil reserves.
Shaikh Mohamed's ascension to the presidency last year prompted speculation over who would succeed him as Abu Dhabi crown prince, with Shaikh Khaled and Tahnoun both tipped for the honour.
The UAE, one of the world's biggest oil-producers and an ally of the United States, Russia and China alike, has become a major power in the Middle East as traditional heavyweights such as Egypt and Iraq fell back in recent years.
Shaikh Khaled's appointment was welcomed by other Gulf rulers including fellow energy giants Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as well as leaders of the UAE's six other emirates.
Gulf commentator Bader al Saif, assistant professor of history at Kuwait University, said the series of changes shored up power among Shaikh Mohamed's close family.
"This move (appointing his son rather than a brother as crown prince) has been anticipated. It follows (the) lineal model apparent elsewhere in the Gulf... provides for more stability and smoother successions," he said in a tweet.
"Consolidation of power among Shaikh Mohamed's full siblings is no secret. Today's decrees reaffirm it," he added.
Shaikh Khaled has served as a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and as chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office, and sits on the board of state oil giant ADNOC.
He has been closely involved in youth and environmental projects as well as sport.
Abdul Khaleq Abdallah, a professor of political science from the UAE, said Shaikh Khaled had already represented his father on trips abroad as part of his preparations for leadership.
With his father still in the early days of his presidency, Shaikh Khaled still has time to learn, he said.
"He was being groomed for this job. Everybody that closely watched him over the years knows that he's ready for it and he's fit for the job," Abdallah said.
"He's earned the trust of his father. He comes across as very easy with people, he mingles well which is very important for a future leader." — AFP
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