Sheikh Khalifa mourning: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to receive condolences from rulers

Rulers and senior officials will pay their respects at Mushrif Palace

Pallbearers carry the body of President Sheikh Khalifa to be laid to rest. All photos: Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, carry the body of Sheikh Khalifa. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed leads prayers for the late President Khalifa. Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed attends the burial of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed at Al Bateen cemetery.

Sheikh Khalifa is laid to rest

Sheikh Mansour prays at Al Bateen cemetery

Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, left, adviser to the UAE President, attends the burial of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed at Al Bateen cemetery.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon, right, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed at the burial.

Ruling family members and senior officials attend funeral prayers

Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed, third left; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed, fourth left; and Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed attend funeral prayers for Sheikh Khalifa at Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed The First mosque.

From right: Sheikh Saeed bin Saif, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed and Sheikh Saif bin Mohamed attend funeral prayers for Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed at Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed The First mosque.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the new President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, will on Saturday receive condolences from other rulers of the Emirates following the death of Sheikh Khalifa.

Sheikh Mohamed will be visited by members of the Federal Supreme Council and senior officials at Mushrif Palace.

The reception follows the funeral of Sheikh Khalifa on Friday night. Sheikh Mohamed led prayers at a ceremony in the capital.

Funeral prayers were said at mosques across the country while Christian churches and Dubai's Sikh gurdwara will hold prayers on Saturday.

“The people of the Emirates are united in grief as we mourn the loss of our leader and President, Khalifa bin Zayed,” Sheikh Mohamed said on Twitter.

“My brother and mentor, and the UAE’s first son, we were blessed by your strength, wisdom and leadership. May God have mercy on your soul and may you rest in peace.”

The UAE will remain in mourning for 40 days, with government and private sector offices closed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Schools will be closed on Monday.

Public and private sector employees will return to work on Tuesday. Restaurants and malls will remain open but there will be no live entertainment or music as a mark of respect.

World leaders have paid tribute to Sheikh Khalifa, who led his nation for nearly 18 years — a time of economic development, major investment in infrastructure and a domestic population boom.

US President Joe Biden said Sheikh Khalifa “was a true partner and friend of the United States throughout his decades-long tenure” as president and previously as Crown Prince.

In New York, members of the UN Security Council also paid tribute to him.

Several Middle Eastern nations including Lebanon, Morocco and Egypt announced periods of mourning, as did India.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, expressed his deep sadness at the news.

“It is with great sorrow and grief that we mourn to the UAE people, Arab and Islamic nations and the world the death of President of our country, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the leader of our journey,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Twitter.

“May Allah bless his soul with ease on his new journey into the hereafter and grant him the highest ranks of paradise.

“Oh God, we testify that Khalifa bin Zayed has fulfilled his duty, served and loved his people. Oh God, his people have been satisfied.”

Prayers for Sheikh Khalifa — in pictures