News

VIDEO: World leaders descend on UAE to pay respects to Sheikh Khalifa

16 May 2022

Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed receives Abdel Fattah Al Sisi (top R), Haitham Bin Tariq (top L), Emmanuel Macron and King Abdullah in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. WAM / AFP

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan continued to accept the condolences of world leaders and heads of their delegations over the passing of the late Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Sheikh Mohamed has accepted the condolences from His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain and His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar.

Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed with Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar.

He also received condolences from His Highness Sayyid Asa'ad Bin Tarik Al Said, Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan of Oman; His Royal Highness Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; His Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; His Royal Highness Prince Mansour Bin Saud Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; His Royal Highness Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; His Royal Highness Prince Dr. Mansour Bin Miteb Bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; His Royal Highness Prince Bandar Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud; His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense; His Royal Highness Field Marshal Sheikh Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Commander-in-Chief of the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF); Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Deputy Chairman of the Ruling Family Council, and Prince Moulay Rachid, Brother of King of Morocco.

Sheikh Mohamed and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi. AFP

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed received condolences from a number kings, president and heads of government of a number of friendly including Felipe VI of Spain; Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of Germany; Joko Widodo, president of Indonesia; Macky Sall, President of Senegal; Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Maldives; Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan; Isaac Herzog, President of Israel; Uhuru Kenyatta, Present of Kenya; Muhammad Al-Mnifi, President of the Libyan Presidential Council; Mahmoud Abbas, President of Palestinian; General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Deputy Head of Sudan's Sovereign Council; Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan; Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia; Dr. Philip Mbango, Vice President of Tanzania; AK Abdul Momen, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bangladesh, and Bisera Turkovi?, Vice Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Sheikh Mohamed accepted condolences in Abu Dhabi from President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani of Mauritania; Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic; Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan; Wavel Ramkalawan, President of Seychelles; and Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.

President Emmanuel Macron (R) offers his condolences to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed. WAM

Arab heads of state, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II travelled to the UAE on Saturday.

Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al Said (C) arrives to offer his condolences to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed. WAM

The first Western leader to jet to Abu Dhabi was French President Emmanuel Macron. He met on Sunday with Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed to pay tribute to Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed.

President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi (C), speaks with Sheikh Mohamed as he offers his offers condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa. WAM

"He was respected by all for the values of peace, openness and dialogue that he embodied,” Macron wrote on Twitter of Sheikh Khalifa, expressing "full support” for Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed after the Rulers unanimously appointed him as the UAE President.

King Abdullah II offers his condolences to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed. WAM

The leaders and heads of delegations expressed their sincere condolences to the Al Nahyan family and to the people of the Emirates, asking the Almighty to dwell late UAE leader in His vast Gardens.

Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi offers condolences to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed. Reuters

Accepting the condolences along with Sheikh Mohamed were Sheikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain; Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region; Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region; Sheikh Saif Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Sheikh Saeed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler’s Representative; Sheikh Issa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Nahyan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation; Lt. General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser; Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs; Sheikh Falah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Sheikh Theyab Bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Sheikh Omar Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation; Sheikh Khalid Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO); Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President; Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Member of the Executive Council; Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office; and a number of sheikhs.

Sudan's Sovereign Council Chairman Lt General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan (R) offers condolences his condolences to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed. AFP

The world leaders and their accompanying delegations also congratulated Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed on his election as President of the UAE, stressing that His Highness deserves this precious trust and its responsibility, as he, they affirmed, has drawn from the wisdom of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Leader and from late Sheikh Khalifa.

Mauritania's President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (R) offers his condolences to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed. WAM

For his part, Sheikh Mohamed expressed his thanks and appreciation for their sincere brotherly feelings towards the UAE and its people. He also thanked them for congratulating him and his election as the new President of UAE, wishing them continued health and success in leading their nations to further progress.

Kuwait's Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah (L) offers his condolences to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed. AFP

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was expected to arrive later on Sunday to offer condolences, along with other leaders including Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati offers condolences to offers his condolences to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed. WAM

An American delegation led by Vice President Kamala Harris is due to visit the UAE on Monday, a bid to show support after relations between the countries have recently strained.
Emmanuel Macron offers condolences to Sheikh Tahnoon at Mushrif Palace. AFP