Title
Deputy Prime Minister
Company
The United Arab Emirates and Minister of Interior
Bio

His Highness Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed AlNahyan is United Arab Emirates Minister of Interior (since October 2004) and Deputy Prime Minister (since May 2009).The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research - Profile. Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain and graduated with a B.S. in Political Science with a specialization in Political and Administrative Sciences.

Prior to his ministerial appointment in October 2004, SheikhSaif occupied several leadership positions. He was the Deputy Director of the Capital Police Department in 1994-1995 before becoming the Director General of the Abu Dhabi Police on October 23, 1995. On December 25, 1997 he became the Under Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, retaining this post until his appointment as Minister of Interior.

On December 30, 2004 Sheikh Saif was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in accordance with Decree No. 84 of 2004. He was re-elected Minister of Interior in the Government formed by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. 

In addition to those positions, Sheikh Saif became the Head of the Federal Demographic Structure Council on November, 2009.

H.H. Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a pioneer in the realm of change and a leader in the development of policing as evident in the many achievements realized in recent years. Characterized by an openness of mind, he provides support for federal matters without overlooking local concerns. He believes in the importance of developing a non-policing role for the police and is convinced about the need to activate the youth in the country.

Sheikh Saif’s achievements in the realms of Police and Security include: launching the Community Police Project in 2003, founding the Ministry of Interior's Centers for Rehabilitating Persons with Special Needs in 2002 and the Social Support Center in 2004. He also directed the five-year strategy plan for the Abu Dhabi Police (2004-2008), as well as the five-year plan for the Ministry of Interior and oversaw the restructuring of the Abu Dhabi Police. Moreover, he sought a permanent solution to the problem of child jockeys in camel races and initiated a number of measures to counter this problem. He also launched the Iris Scan Project - which has succeeded in preventing more than 352,000 persons from returning to the UAE since the project was implemented nationwide. In addition Sheikh Saiflaunched the project of the Emirates Identity Authority.

Sheikh Saif has participated in several training sessions, including the special training session for paratroopers in 1991. He has received several medals and honors, including the Order of Merit for Dedicated Service in 2000, the Red Crescent Charitable medal, and the Order of Merit of the International Civil Defense Organization, ICDO (Commander Rank).

He obtained a B.S.in Political Science (with a specialization in Political and Administrative Sciences) from the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain. After graduating from the university, he joined the Police College in the second foundation session for graduates in 1990.

On February 15, 2010, Sheikh Saif was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor in Social Sciences from the University of Wolverhampton.

Under Sheikh Saif’s leadership, the Ministry of Interior and Abu Dhabi Police have received numerous awards. Included among these, in 2010 the Ministry of Interior won 13 awards and medals as part of the UAE Award of Excellent Government Performance. In 2012, the Ministry of Interior received 10 awards and medals as part of the UAE Award of Excellent Government Performance. In 2009, Abu Dhabi Police won four categories in the “Abu Dhabi Award for Excellence in Government Performance” and in 2011 won the golden category of the “International Star for Leadership in Quality Award”.

The success of Sheikh Saif has also been evident during his current reign as the President of Bani Yas Sports and Cultural Club. During his presidency the football club has been promoted to the first division where it has become a consistent competitor in the UAE First Division League.