Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed
President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi since May 2022.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed has led the United Arab Emirates since 14 May 2022. On 13 October 2026 he discussed Russian diesel supplies with Vladimir Putin by telephone, and the Kremlin used the call to credit a deal with Donald Trump.
Last refreshed: 18 October 2026 · Appears in 2 active topics
Timeline for Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed
Discussed diesel supplies with Putin by telephone
Russia-Ukraine War 2026: Trump waives Graham Act's Russia tariffsMentioned in: UAE's MBZ first public appearance of war
Iran Conflict 2026Background
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan became President of the United Arab Emirates on 14 May 2022, the day after the death of his half-brother, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed. He is also Ruler of Abu Dhabi. For 18 years before that he was Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, a post he held from 2004.
The war in Ukraine has put him on Kremlin readouts. The Kremlin's readout of his call with Putin on 13 October 2026 said the two discussed Russian diesel supplies, which it described as "the agreements reached" in Putin's own conversation with Trump.
The phrasing served Moscow more than Abu Dhabi. Four days earlier, on 9 October, the US Treasury had licensed Russian diesel under General License 135. By folding that licence into a call with the Emirati president, the readout presented it as the product of a bargain between Putin and Trump.
Who is the President of the UAE?
What did Putin and Mohamed bin Zayed discuss in October 2026?
When did Mohamed bin Zayed become UAE president?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 18 October 2026. Editorial standards.