His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, on Friday performed the funeral prayer for late His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at the Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed the First Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Performing the prayer as well were Their Highnesses the Sheikhs of the Al Nahyan family. Everyone turned to the Almighty God to bless the late Sheikh Khalifa with His mercy and satisfaction and dwell him in His vast paradise in recognition of a noble march of giving he led to serve his people, nation and humanitarian work all over the world.
Shiekh Mohamed Bin Zayed and the Al Nahyan family members and dignitaries lower the body of Sheikh Khalifa into the grave at Al Bateen Cemetery in Abu Dhabi.
They all prayed to Allah Almighty to inspire everyone with patience and solace on the passing of the late UAE leader.
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed and Their Highnesses accompanied the body of the late Sheikh Khalifa to his final resting place at Al Bateen Cemetery in Abu Dhabi.
The Ministry of Presidential Affairs condoles the people of the UAE and the Islamic world... on the passing of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced a 40-day period of mourning.
The authorities suspended all works in ministries, departments, federal and local institutions, and the private sector for 3 days, with flags at half-mast from Friday.
Sheikh Khalifa's timeline:
• Became the representative of the ruler of Abu Dhabi in the Eastern Province and the president of its legal system in August 1966
• Became Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi on 1 February 1969
• Became the Prime Minister of Abu Dhabi and Minister of Defence and Finance on 1 July 1971
• Became Deputy Prime Minister in the second UAE Federal Cabinet on 20 January 1974
• Became Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces in 1976
• Became President of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi 3 November 2004
Sheikh Khalifa was born in Al Muwaiji Fort in Al Ain in 1948.
His full name is Khalifa Bin Zayed Bin Sultan Bin Zayed Bin Khalifa Bin Shakhbout Bin Theyab Bin Issa Bin Nahyan Bin Falah Bin Yas. He is the eldest son of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. His mother is Sheikha Hessa Bint Mohammed Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Al Muwaiji village was a centre of influence for the Al bu Falah subsection of the Bani Yas tribal confederation and the Al Nahyan ruling family.
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Sheikh Khalifa belongs to the tribe of Bani Yas. Bani Yas is considered the mother tribe for most of the Arab tribes that settled in what is known today as the United Arab Emirates, which is historically known as 'Bani Yas Alliance'.
Sheikh Khalifa lived with his family Al Muwaiji Fort in Al Ain city. He received his school education in Al Ain at the city's first school built by his father.
The burial ceremony underway for Sheikh Khalifa at Al Bateen Cemetery in Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Khalifa spent most of his childhood in the oases of Al Ain and Al Buraimi with the company of his father who governed the Al Ain region at that time.
Sheikh Zayed was keen to take his eldest son on most of his daily activities and visits in the areas of Al Ain and Al Buraimi. The oases of Al Ain and Al Buraimi were places of strategic and vital economic significance for Abu Dhabi as the main agricultural producer and as the major strategic centre for the security of the region.
An Imam performs the Absentee Prayer for the death of Sheikh Khalifa in Dubai. AP
Accompanying his father in his difficult task to improve the lives of the tribes of the area and establish state authority, Sheikh Khalifa learned the essential values of responsibility, trust, justice and rights.
An Imam performs a funeral prayer in absentia at Jumeirah Mosque after the death of Sheikh Khalifa in Dubai. Reuters
He was also fortunate to have the benefit of the education of public majlis, which was regarded as the finest school for teaching the skills of political leadership at that time. The public majlis of his father brought him close to the tribes, giving him the opportunity to learn their culture and understand their aspirations and acquire management and communication skills.