• Pallbearers carry the body of President Sheikh Khalifa to be laid to rest. All photos: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    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, 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 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 Mohamed bin Zayed attends the burial of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed at Al Bateen cemetery.
  • Sheikh Khalifa is laid to rest
    Sheikh Khalifa is laid to rest
  • Sheikh Mansour prays at Al Bateen cemetery
    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 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.
    Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon, right, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed at the burial.
  • Ruling family members and senior officials attend funeral prayers
    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.
    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.
    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.

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa laid to rest


Rory Reynolds
  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed was laid to rest on Friday night following nationwide prayers.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, led senior leaders in prayer at a cemetery in Al Bateen.

A military honour guard in dress uniform carried the president's body before it was handed to his family for burial.

Sheikh Mohamed and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, carried Sheikh Khalifa's body to his rest.

Images showed dozens of ruling family members and senior officials in prayer by the graveside.

Worshippers in mosques nationwide paid their respects to Sheikh Khalifa, who died at age 73.

At Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the country's largest, thousands turned out.

On Saturday, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed will receive condolences from the rulers of the Emirates and senior officials at Mushrif Palace.

Earlier, a three-day period of mourning was announced. Government offices will close and public and private sector workers will return to work on Tuesday. Schools will remain closed until Tuesday.

Flags fly at half-staff across UAE: in pictures

  • The UAE flag flies at half-mast in Abu Dhabi, following the death of President Sheikh Khalifa. AFP
    The UAE flag flies at half-mast in Abu Dhabi, following the death of President Sheikh Khalifa. AFP
  • President Sheikh Khalifa died on May 13. He was 73. EPA
    President Sheikh Khalifa died on May 13. He was 73. EPA
  • Forty days of official mourning have been announced. EPA
    Forty days of official mourning have been announced. EPA
  • People pass by the UAE national flag, flying at half-staff, following the announcement of President Sheikh Khalifa's death. AP Photo
    People pass by the UAE national flag, flying at half-staff, following the announcement of President Sheikh Khalifa's death. AP Photo
  • The UAE national flag flies at half-staff in Dubai. AP Photo
    The UAE national flag flies at half-staff in Dubai. AP Photo
  • The UAE flag flies at half-staff in Abu Dhabi, following the death of the President, Sheikh Khalifa. Victor Besa / The National
    The UAE flag flies at half-staff in Abu Dhabi, following the death of the President, Sheikh Khalifa. Victor Besa / The National
  • The national flag flies at half-staff at Union House, Dubai – where the declaration establishing the UAE was made – after the death of the President, Sheikh Khalifa. Pawan Singh / The National
    The national flag flies at half-staff at Union House, Dubai – where the declaration establishing the UAE was made – after the death of the President, Sheikh Khalifa. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Flags at half-staff outside the ADNOC offices at the Corniche, Abu Dhabi, as the UAE mourns the death of the President, Sheikh Khalifa. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Flags at half-staff outside the ADNOC offices at the Corniche, Abu Dhabi, as the UAE mourns the death of the President, Sheikh Khalifa. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • The UAE flag flies at half-staff, with the Abu Dhabi skyline in the background, after the death of the President, Sheikh Khalifa. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    The UAE flag flies at half-staff, with the Abu Dhabi skyline in the background, after the death of the President, Sheikh Khalifa. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • As the country mourns the death of President Sheikh Khalifa, the UAE flag flies at half-staff outside Union House in Dubai. This is where the country's flag was hoisted for the first time in 1971. Pawan Singh / The National
    As the country mourns the death of President Sheikh Khalifa, the UAE flag flies at half-staff outside Union House in Dubai. This is where the country's flag was hoisted for the first time in 1971. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The UAE will enter 40 days of mourning with flags at half-staff, and government ministries and federal, local and private sector entities closing for three days. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    The UAE will enter 40 days of mourning with flags at half-staff, and government ministries and federal, local and private sector entities closing for three days. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Flags fly at half-staff at the entrance to the Presidential Palace of Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi after the death of President Sheikh Khalifa. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Flags fly at half-staff at the entrance to the Presidential Palace of Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi after the death of President Sheikh Khalifa. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Flags fly at half-staff at Emirates Palace along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi after the death of President Sheikh Khalifa. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Flags fly at half-staff at Emirates Palace along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi after the death of President Sheikh Khalifa. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS

6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $55,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Rajeh, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi (trainer)

6.35pm: Oud Metha Stakes – Rated Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Get Back Goldie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill

7.10pm: Jumeirah Classic – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner: Sovereign Prince, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

7.45pm: Firebreak Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer

8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 2 (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Hot Rod Charlie, William Buick, Doug O’Neill

8.55pm: Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Withering, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

9.30pm: Balanchine – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Creative Flair, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

MATCH INFO

Karnatake Tuskers 114-1 (10 ovs)

Charles 57, Amla 47

Bangla Tigers 117-5 (8.5 ovs)

Fletcher 40, Moores 28 no, Lamichhane 2-9

Bangla Tiger win by five wickets

Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press

COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Empires%20of%20the%20Steppes%3A%20A%20History%20of%20the%20Nomadic%20Tribes%20Who%20Shaped%20Civilization
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKenneth%20W%20Harl%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHanover%20Square%20Press%3Cstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EPages%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E576%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

ASIAN%20RUGBY%20CHAMPIONSHIP%202024
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EResults%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EHong%20Kong%2052-5%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESouth%20Korea%2055-5%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EMalaysia%206-70%20Hong%20Kong%3Cbr%3EUAE%2036-32%20South%20Korea%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFriday%2C%20June%2021%2C%207.30pm%20kick-off%3A%20UAE%20v%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EAt%20The%20Sevens%2C%20Dubai%20(admission%20is%20free).%3Cbr%3ESaturday%3A%20Hong%20Kong%20v%20South%20Korea%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dubai World Cup Carnival Card:

6.30pm: Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 1,200m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (Dirt) 1,200m​​​​​​​
7.40pm: Zabeel Turf Listed $175,000 (T) 2,000m​​​​​​​
8.15pm: Cape Verdi Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m​​​​​​​
8.50pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,600m​​​​​​​
9.25pm: Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,600m

THE BIO

Bio Box

Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul

Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader

Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Favorite food: seafood

Favorite place to travel: Lebanon

Favorite movie: Braveheart

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Updated: May 16, 2022, 10:30 AM