Newsletters
Reports circulating in recent days claiming that United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) had suffered a major health issue or had died following a stroke have been falsified with the release of a picture of MBZ with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on Feb. 18.
Regional media outlets, including some Turkish newspapers, had alleged that the Emirati leader suffered a stroke that led to the cancellation of several high-level diplomatic engagements, including a planned visit by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The rumors suggested that Mohammed bin Zayed fell ill about 48 hours after a meeting with Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Turkish President Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis have cancelled their meetings with MBZ at the beginning of the week for unknown reasons.
According to an official photo released on official Abu Dhabi accounts, Mohammed bin Zayed met with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. The U.S. senator is known for being a big advocate of a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran.
While two state visits scheduled for Monday and Tuesday were canceled, there has been no official explanation.
Some reports have speculated about possible influenza, though this has not been confirmed.
Mohammed bin Zayed assumed the presidency of the UAE in 2022 following the death of his brother Khalifa bin Zayed.
He has been regarded as a key architect of the country’s foreign policy, strengthening ties with the United States, Europe and Asia, and advancing an active regional strategy, including the Abraham Accords with Israel in 2020.
Unverified reports had suggested that Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed, the current Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, could be a potential successor if the president’s death were confirmed.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
