ABU DHABI, Dec 2: The rulers of the seven states comprising the United Arab Emirates re-elected Abu Dhabi’s ruler Sheikh Zaid bin Sultan al-Nahayan on Sunday as president for a further five-year term.

Sheikh Zaid, 83, has served as the UAE’s president since the federation was former in 1971. His current term had been due to expire this month. The Federal Supreme Council also re-elected Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al-Maktoum as the UAE’s vice-president.

Sheikh Maktoum, who has been the appointed prime minister of the UAE since 1971 except for a brief break, has also held the post of vice-president since his father’s death in 1990.

The president, who had a kidney transplant in August 2000, underwent routine medical tests in Switzerland in October.

Known as the Trucial States during 150 years of British rule, the sheikhdoms of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Quwain and Fujairah merged to form the UAE on December 2, 1971, one day after Britain ended its military presence in the area. Ras al-Khaimah joined a few months later.—Reuters