The UAE's rulers offer their support to the President, Sheikh Mohamed, after the death of Sheikh Khalifa in a new video published on Tuesday by state news agency Wam.
The video, of the Federal Supreme Council meeting on Saturday, shows the rulers offering their condolences and also congratulating Sheikh Mohamed after electing him as President.
“Your Highnesses,” Sheikh Mohamed says in the video. “You are all here to pay your condolences. But I should be the one to pay condolences to you on the passing of our brother, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed. This is a natural part of life.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, then says he and the other Rulers are there to pay “sincere condolences to you and ourselves”.
“We also came to congratulate you and ourselves on your leadership as President of our country,” Sheikh Mohammed says. “We are all here to support you in any way we can.”
Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, said Sheikh Mohamed was well known to them.
“You are the son of the founder, Sheikh Zayed, and the brother of the late leader who continued Sheikh Zayed's legacy,” said Sheikh Dr Sultan.
“You are no stranger to us.
“We accompanied you in leading us during these challenging times … and you exceeded all expectations. We are all by your side in continuing the legacy of the Union.
“We hereby elect you to be our President and leader … the UAE and its people are in safe hands under your stewardship and our country is in a strong position.”
Sheikh Mohamed responds by telling the Rulers: “I am, and always will be, your brother, Mohamed”.
The leaders then all shake hands.
The video was released on the same day Sheikh Mohamed paid a moving tribute to Sheikh Khalifa.
Sheikh Mohamed, who was elected President on Saturday, said the country's late President would be deeply missed.
On social media on Tuesday, Sheikh Mohamed said the legacy of Sheikh Khalifa would live on.
“With his enduring wisdom and generosity, my brother, Khalifa bin Zayed, was the heart of our family and the guardian of our nation,” Sheikh Mohamed said.
“He was loved greatly and will be deeply missed, but his remarkable legacy will live on forever. May God grant him eternal peace.”
Sheikh Mohamed also shared images of the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, and himself alongside Sheikh Khalifa.
World leaders and dignitaries have travelled to Abu Dhabi over the past few days to offer condolences and support.
On Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by a senior delegation, visited the UAE to pay their respects.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, Britain's Prince William, US Vice President Kamala Harris and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken were among those to offer their condolences.
UAE embassies around the world offer condolences — in pictures
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Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al Mohammed Al Sabah writes in the book of condolences. AFP -
Heads of diplomatic missions to Saudi Arabia visited the embassy to sign the condolence book and offer their tributes to the late Sheikh Khalifa. Photo: UAE embassy KSA -
Mohammad Sadiq Sanjrani, Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, visits the UAE Embassy in Islamabad to offers condolences. Photo: UAE Embassy in Islamabad -
In Rome, ambassador Omar Obaid Al Shamsi accepted the condolences of Sheikh Azzam Al Sabah, ambassador of Kuwait to Italy, and Dr Ahmed Baomar, Oman’s ambassador to Italy. Photo: UAE Embassy in Rome -
The UAE's ambassador to the UK, Mansoor Abulhoul, and fellow diplomats received visitors who came to express their condolences. Photo: UAE embassy in the UK -
Badr Al Awadi, ambassador of Kuwait to Korea and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps for Arab countries in Korea, offers his condolences. Photo: UAE Embassy in Seoul -
Representatives of Peru's government and heads of missions to Peru offered their condolences, including María Del Pilar Cordero Jon Tay, a member of the Peruvian parliament, pictured. Photo: UAE Embassy in Peru -
Several ambassadors to Malaysia and Malaysian officials and journalists attended the funeral ceremony in absentia of Sheikh Khalifa. Photo: UAE Embassy in Kuala Lumpur -
Sheikh Dr Muhammad Khater Issa, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs in Chad, offered his condolences. Photo: UAE Embassy in Chad -
Mikhail Bogdanov, special envoy of the Russian president for the Middle East and Africa and deputy minister of foreign affairs, offers his condolences at the UAE embassy in Moscow. Photo: UAE Embassy, Moscow -
Since Friday, the US Embassy has received friends from the diplomatic community in Washington to express condolences, including ambassador Salem Al Sabah and diplomats from Kuwait, and former US ambassador to the UAE, David Mack. Photo: UAE embassy in the US -
Mini Arkoi Minawi, governor of the Darfur region in Sudan, offered his condolences. Photo: UAE embassy, Sudan -
Park Jin, South Korea's foreign minister, attended UAE Embassy in Seoul to offer his condolences. Photo: UAE embassy Seoul -
Dr S. Jaishankar, India’s external affairs minister, visited the UAE Embassy in India to sign the condolence book and extend his deepest condolences on the death of Sheikh Khalifa and to convey the condolences of Indian government to the leadership and people of UAE. Photo: UAE embassy India -
Ambassador Khalil Yaqoob AlKhayat, Assistant Undersecretary for Consular Affairs of Bahrain's Foreign Ministry, offered his condolences. Photo: UAE embassy Manama -
Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh and UAE diplomats received ambassadors and diplomats from friendly nations including GCC and Arab states, who offered their condolences. Photo: UAE embassy Mission to UN -
The UAE Embassy to the People’s Republic of China received heads of missions, officials and members of the diplomatic community to offer their condolences. Photo: UAE embassy China -
Ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions in New Zealand extended their condolences. Photo: UAE embassy New Zealand -
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, foreign minister of Pakistan, visits the UAE Embassy in Islamabad and offers his condolences, writing "may Allah rest his soul in peace". Photo: UAE embassy Islamabad -
Marzouq Al Ghanim, speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, offered his condolences at the UAE’s embassy in Kuwait. Photo: UAE embassy Kuwait -
Amer bin Ali Al Shehri, ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Chad, expressed his condolences. Photo: UAE embassy Chad -
The UAE Embassy in Argentina received a number of ambassadors of sister Arab countries, accredited diplomats and a number of dignitaries, to offer their condolences. Photo: UAE embassy Argentina -
Hind Al Otaiba, ambassador of the UAE in France, receives several diplomats and guests at the embassy in Paris to offer their condolences. Photo: UAE embassy France -
UAE Ambassador to Poland Dr Iman Al Salami and representatives from the mission received mourners to offer their condolences. Photo: UAE embassy Warsaw -
Wael Hamed, Egypt's ambassador to India, and Muhammad Jabal, the Egyptian military attaché, visited the UAE Embassy in India to offer condolences. Photo: UAE embassy India
