ABU DHABI - Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan was re-elected president of the United Arab Emirates for a second five-year term on Tuesday, the official news agency WAM announced.

The Supreme Federal Council, made up of the rulers of the seven emirates in the UAE, selected Sheikh Khalifa, 61.

He first rose to the presidency as oil-rich Abu Dhabi's ruler in 2004 on the death of his father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, who founded the Gulf state in 1971.

The federal council designates both the president and vice president.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed al-Maktoum, who is also the country's prime minister, defence minister and ruler of Dubai, has served as UAE vice president since 2006.

An OPEC member which produces 2.2 million barrels of oil per day, the UAE held its first indirect legislative election in 2006 to designate members of the consultative Federal National Council.

Khalifa has been involved in the running of the UAE since its establishment almost 40 years ago. He was Abu Dhabi's crown prince when Sheikh Zayed died on November 2, 2004.

He has carried on with his father's cautious foreign policy, including toward Iran facing the UAE across the Gulf.

Despite close ties with Washington and although Tehran controls three Gulf islands claimed by the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa has said he will never allow the country to be used for "hostile activities" against Iran.

As president, Sheikh Khalifa has supervised economic development, especially in the real estate and tourism sectors. He also heads Abu Dhabi's Supreme Petroleum Council.