United Arab Emirates Air Force in terms of capabilities, quality and quantity of aircraft. Training and instruction was provided by the Pakistan Air Force. Neighbour Emirate of Dubai maintained its own air component, the Dubai Defence Force Air Wing, until 1999, when the two were effectively merged to become what is now the United Arab Emirates Air Force. Although the integration of the two independent forces has been complete, a small degree of autonomy exists at the operational command level, with the Western Air Command being headquartered in Abu Dhabi and the Central Air Command in Dubai. Since the 1980s, a combination of regional instability
President of the United Arab Emirates President of the United Arab Emirates The President of the United Arab Emirates is the head of state of the United Arab Emirates. Officially, he is elected every five years by the Federal Supreme Council, but because the ruler of Abu Dhabi customarily also holds the presidency of the UAE, the office is "de facto" hereditary. The president is also Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and chairman of the Supreme Council and Supreme Petroleum Council. The current president is Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Sheikh Khalifa became president on 3 November 2004, following the death of his father,