Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has been President of the United Arab Emirates since his father's death in 2004.  He is also emir of Abu Dhabi; the two positions are traditionally paired together.  One of the world's richest people, he is known for his philanthropy.  In 2009, he bailed out the construction of the world's tallest building in Dubai, which was then named for him.  In 2008, he forgave $7 billion of Iraqi debt.

Sheikh Khalifa rules by conferring with the leaders of the other emirates and the Federal National Council, but this legislative body plays only an advisory role. During the Arab Spring, the UAE did not see protests like other countries; though a petition circulated to reform the FNC; those who created the petition were imprisoned.  Despite this, the president supported revolutions in other countries in the region, lending air support to the no-fly zone in Libya.

For more information, see http://reut.rs/eXkhB0 and http://aje.me/no4J9n.