Although the presidency is renewable every five years through a vote in the council, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan held the presidency from the formation of the UAE until his death in November 2004, and there is an implicit understanding that Abu Dhabi’s ruler will always be elected president.
Meskipun presiden dapat diperpanjang setiap lima tahun melalui pemungutan suara di Dewan, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan menjadi presiden sejak pembentukan Uni Emirat Arab sampai kematiannya pada 2 November 2004, dan ada pemahaman tersirat bahwa penguasa Abu Dhabi akan selalu presiden terpilih.