The eldest son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates, has been appointed as crown prince of Abu Dhabi, making him next in line to take over as leader of the federation. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was appointed late Wednesday, as announced by the state-run WAM news agency. This move has concentrated power within the immediate family, similar to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, who delegated powers to his son and heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Sheikh Khaled has risen to prominence at the state security service and is chairman of the powerful Abu Dhabi Executive Office. The United Arab Emirates, a close U.S. ally, has rapidly transformed itself over the past half-century into a political and economic powerhouse with advanced infrastructure, including the world’s tallest skyscraper. Sheikh Mohammed has been the de facto leader since Sheikh Khalifa suffered a stroke in 2014. The UAE has cultivated close ties with neighboring Saudi Arabia and has opposed the rise of Islamist extremist groups in the region.