President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan took over the UAE in 2004, although much like what would transpire in the final few years of his own life, Sheikh Khalifa handled affairs of state for his own ailing father for many years prior to taking over the presidency. Sheik Khalifa’s father, Sheikh Zayed al Nahyan, died that same year. In addition to his role as President of UAE, Sheikh Khalifa also chaired the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), a sovereign wealth fund with far-reaching international influence.
Sheikh Khalifa was married to Shamsa bint Suhail Al Mazrouei, with whom he had eight children (via Celebrity Net Worth).Throughout the 1970s, Sheikh Khalifa worked his way up through politics in Abu Dhabi, serving as Minister ofDefense and the Prime Minister, among other positions. He was also a sports fan and had a stake in the English Premier League soccer club Manchester City, as well as a number of other athletic and philanthropic pursuits (per CNN). The world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa (above) in Dubai, also bears his name (per NPR). The building is nearly a half-mile in height.
