Saudi Arabia pays tribute to Sheikh Khalifa

King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received the news with 'deepest sadness'

Sheikh Khalifa, right, and dignitaries watch a parade on Abu Dhabi Corniche to celebrate Accession Day, on November 28 1971. Photo: Al Ittihad

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher greets Sheikh Khalifa, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, at 10 Downing Street in London, on July 18, 1984. Keystone / Hulton Archive

UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and Sheikh Khalifa. Photo: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Zayed inspects plans for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, with his sons Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Sultan. Photo: Al Ittihad

French President Jacques Chirac speaks to Sheikh Khalifa, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, at the end of his visit to the UAE on December 16, 1997. Reuters

US President Bill Clinton meets Sheikh Khalifa, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in the Oval Office of the White House on May 12, 1998. Reuters

Jordan's King Abdullah II speaks to President Sheikh Khalifa, on the sidelines Sheikh Zayed's funeral in Abu Dhabi on November 3, 2004. AFP

President Sheikh Khalifa stands for a photo with the UAE national football team at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi on January 31, 2007, after the team beat Oman to win the Gulf Cup for the first time. AFP

President Sheikh Khalifa watches the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 1, 2009, with Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakstan, and Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman. Ryan Carter / The National

President Sheikh Khalifa greets Oman's leader, Sultan Qaboos, at Al Ain airport on July 11, 2011. Wam

President Sheikh Khalifa leaves Al Ain on December 30, 2012, for a private visit to Pakistan. Wam

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, presents the first copy of his new book 'Flashes of Thought' to President Sheikh Khalifa in 2013. Wam

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip with President Sheikh Khalifa at Windsor Castle in southern England on April 30, 2013. Reuters

President Sheikh Khalifa meets family members at his home in Evian, France, in 2014. Wam

President Sheikh Khalifa receives Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, at the Presidential Palace in Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, on May 8, 2019. Also present is Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman. Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

President Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

Sheikh Khalifa performing Umrah. Wam

Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

President Sheikh Khalifa receives Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah; Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman; Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah; Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain; and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. Wam

Saudi Arabia has offered its condolences over the death of the President, Sheikh Khalifa on Friday, aged 73.

"King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have received with deepest sadness and greatest sorrow the news of the death of Sheikh Khalifa, President of the UAE,” the Saudi royal court said.

"The king and the crown prince offered their deepest condolences to the government of the UAE, the Al Nahyan family, the Emirati people and the Arab and Islamic nations, over the death of a leader who gave a lot to his people, nation and the world."

King Salman directed the Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosque to perform funeral prayers for Sheikh Khalifa, SPA reported.

The kingdom's Foreign Ministry also expressed condolences.

“Sincerest condolences to the leadership, government and people of the UAE and my brother [Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation] Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed over the death of Sheikh Khalifa, who devoted his life to serving his country, people and the Arab and Islamic nations,” Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said on Twitter.