Who Is Khaled bin Mohamed? Abu Dhabi Crown Prince in BRICS Spotlight
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed is taking on a larger diplomatic and economic role, highlighted by his key meetings at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan drew international attention during the BRICS Summit in New Delhi after holding high-level meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His meeting with Pezeshkian was particularly significant as the UAE and Iran have faced heightened tensions in recent months. The two sides discussed easing tensions and supporting regional stability.
At 44, Khaled is increasingly taking on responsibilities across Abu Dhabi’s government, economy and foreign relations. He was appointed Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi by his father, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in 2023. He also chairs the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and holds senior positions connected to the emirate’s energy and investment institutions.
His growing role comes as Abu Dhabi navigates a changing Gulf landscape, including competition with Saudi Arabia over investment, tourism, finance and regional influence. Khaled is being positioned to manage an economy built around energy wealth while expanding its global investment and diplomatic reach.
His BRICS appearance offered a glimpse of that transition. Meetings with leaders including Modi and Pezeshkian placed him at the centre of conversations involving India-UAE ties and wider West Asian stability.
Khaled’s rise is therefore about more than royal succession. He is increasingly becoming one of the key figures through whom Abu Dhabi manages its economic interests and diplomatic relationships. The next-gen leadership era is clearly loading.
