UAE president names son as crown prince, presumed future leader

THE United Arab Emirates’ president named his eldest son as crown prince of Abu Dhabi late yesterday, making him the oil-rich Gulf monarchy’s likely next leader and cementing his family’s hold on power.

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan tapped Sheikh Khaled, 41, his jiu jitsu-loving son, as crown prince of the UAE’s richest emirate – a position traditionally held by the leader-in-waiting.