Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed: key moments in his own words

New President famously spoke about a future without oil in 2015

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who has been elected as the UAE President, during his schooling years in Al Ain. Photo: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, who was then Crown Prince of Dubai, during the closing ceremony of the equestrian World Endurance Championship in Abu Dhabi, in December 1998. AFP

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed with UAE officers undergoing a training session in Canjuers, southern France, before going to Kosovo to join Nato-led forces in 1999. AFP

Sheikh Mohamed reviews an honour guard with Jordan's King Abdullah II, in 2002. WAM

Sheikh Mohamed with his father, UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, during a military parade at Idex 2003 in Abu Dhabi. AFP

Sheikh Mohamed welcomes Britain's then prime minister Tony Blair in 2006. Reuters

Sheikh Mohamed with then US president George W Bush, in Sweihan, in 2008. AFP

With then French president Jacques Chirac, at the Elysee Palace in Paris. AFP

Sheikh Mohamed with Mr Bush at Camp David, US, in June 2008. AFP

Sheikh Mohamed with then US president Barack Obama during a summit meeting at Camp David, in May 2015. AFP

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed visits Rajghat, the memorial for Mahatama Gandhi, in New Delhi, January 2017. AFP

Then US president Donald Trump shakes hands with Sheikh Mohamed during a meeting at the White House, in May 2017. AFP

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid tour the Louvre Abu Dhabi in September 2017, two months before the museum opened. Ryan Carter/Crown Prince Court

Pope Francis and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed at the Abu Dhabi presidential airport, in February 2019. EPA

Sheikh Mohamed receives a briefing via video conference, about the efforts to combat Covid-19, in March 2020. Photo: Ministry Of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed with his mother Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, on Mother's Day 2021.  

Sheikh Mohamed and French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing Expo 2020 Dubai wristbands, at the Fontainebleau Palace, France, in September 2021. Photo: Ministry Of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid in Dubai, April 2022. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed celebrates Eid Al Fitr with his grandchildren, in May 2022. Photo: Ministry Of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, carry the body of Sheikh Khalifa, on May 13, 2022. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed leads funeral prayers for the late President Khalifa. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs

The UAE's newly elected President, Sheikh Mohamed, has delivered some memorable and thought-provoking quotes during his time as Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince.

Sheikh Mohamed became the third president in the UAE's history, after the death of Sheikh Khalifa on Friday, marking the culmination of a life dedicated to public service, first as a soldier and then as a long-serving leader.

Through his work and his words, Sheikh Mohamed has advocated peace, has helped to develop and protect a thriving nation and looked to build a prosperous future for the UAE and those who are less fortunate in the world.

Preparing for a future without oil

Possibly one of Sheikh Mohamed's most famous quotes was the speech delivered at the World Government Summit in 2015 when he spoke about a future without oil.

"Our best bet at this period of time where we have wealth is to invest all our resources in education because there will be a time, 50 years from now, when we load the last barrel of oil aboard the ship," he said.

"The question is, 50 years from now after we have loaded this last barrel of oil, are we going to feel sad? If our investment today is right, I think – dear brothers and sisters – we will celebrate that moment."

In a speech delivered on the UAE's 39th National Day in 2010, Sheikh Mohamed spoke about education being a cornerstone of preparing the country for a future without oil.

"Our reliance upon knowledge and scientific thinking to achieve total development is the only way to bring our nation ahead to the stage of non-oil production, a lesson learnt from nations with little or no natural resources," he said.

Do not worry – this time will pass

When the world was coming to grips with the Covid-19 pandemic, Sheikh Mohamed addressed the nation in March 2020 and sought to reassure citizens and residents that the pandemic would pass and people would eventually be able to return to their normal lives.

He guaranteed them they would not have to worry about food or medical supplies, as other nations grappled with panic buying and empty supermarket shelves.

"I'd like you to keep this in mind, this time shall pass," he said.

"But it requires some patience. We must have a positive outlook during these challenges.

"We must be stronger, we must be healthier, and we must be more advanced ... we must have a positive outlook during these challenges.

"We are not just living for today or tomorrow, we are living to secure the future of our grandchildren, not just our children. This is our duty ... do not worry."

In comments made a few weeks later, Sheikh Mohamed said watching videos of residents singing the UAE national anthem to hail the frontline heroes for their fight against Covid-19 moved him to tears.

“Many residents on social media are singing our national anthem and I want to confess to all viewers that when I heard you, by God, I shed a tear,” he said in a video posted online.

Praise for Abraham Accords

In December, the Washington Institute presented Sheikh Mohamed with its highest honour – the Scholar-Statesman Award – for his leadership in securing peace with Israel in September 2020 and for fostering religious tolerance.

Speaking after receiving the award, Sheikh Mohamed said: "Every decision has risks, undoubtedly. We are also living in a complex region. But the rewards are an incentive, and the outcomes we will achieve together are far greater than the drawbacks.

"When we decided on this step, we were looking forward to a level of co-operation that goes beyond just peace itself. The UAE aspires to a greater peace, one that is for the benefit of all.”

Net-zero challenge – protecting the environment

A committed conservationist, Sheikh Mohamed spoke about protecting the environment at the opening ceremony of the World Future Energy Summit in 2009.

"We have to strike a balance of responsibility between our duty to update other sources of energy, protecting the environment, protecting our environment and ensuring a proper legacy for the next generations," he said.

Four years later, at the inauguration ceremony of Shams 1 – the largest renewable energy project in operation in the Middle East when launched in 2013 – he spoke about the need for research to develop alternative sources of energy.

"The future, with its needs and challenges, calls upon us to embark on a perpetual quest for alternative sources of energy," he said. "This can only be done through the support of relevant scientific research."

The UAE announced in October an ambitious strategic initiative to reduce carbon emissions by 2050, with new investments worth Dh600bn ($163.35bn) planned in clean and renewable energy sources over the next three decades.

“The UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative announced today is consistent with the longstanding vision of the UAE and its people to make a significant contribution to global sustainability efforts, while supporting economic and human development both at home and around the world,” he said.

Spreading the values ​​of tolerance

In 2019, Pope Francis completed a historic visit to the UAE as part of the Year of Tolerance.

During the three-day visit, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb, signed the Human Fraternity Document, a guide to promoting a culture of mutual respect and dialogue for peaceful coexistence and fraternity among human beings.

Marking the International Day of Human Fraternity in February, Sheikh Mohamed said: "By working together, we can address complex challenges and forge a path towards greater peace and prosperity for the entire world. On this International Day of Human Fraternity, we reaffirm our solemn commitment to advancing tolerance and understanding to build a better future for all."

Eradicating tropical diseases

Sheikh Mohamed, following the footsteps of his father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has long shown a commitment to the eradication of tropical diseases.

In January last year, after he announced renewed financial support of $10 million to the Carter Centre, following the 30th anniversary of the organisation's partnership with the UAE, he said: "In the UAE, we have seen first-hand the vital link between health and prosperity, and we remain steadfast in our vision of a world where every person deserves to live a healthy, dignified life."