Related: President Sheikh Mohamed declares mourning period for Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed
President Sheikh Mohamed has received further condolences following the death of his brother Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed, the Ruler's Representative in Abu Dhabi, as the Emirates observes the third of three days of mourning.
On Friday Sheikh Mohamed welcomed well-wishers at Qasr Al Mushrif. Sympathies were extended in person by Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, who also serves as Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Thani Al Thani, Sheikh Al Qaqa Al Thani and Jasem Al Budaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Co-operation Council.
Later on Friday, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, arrived to pay his respects along with Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Dubai Airports Corporation and chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived on Friday to offer his support after the death of Sheikh Saeed, whom he described as a “great friend of Pakistan” in a message on Twitter.
Several leaders from other countries paid their condolences by phone. These included King Mohammed VI of Morocco; President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani of Mauritania; Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Republic of the Maldives; Mario Abdo Benitez, President of Paraguay; and Santiago Pena, President-elect of Paraguay.
Yemen Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed also conveyed his condolences in a phone call with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court.
President Sheikh Mohamed also received condolences from several sheikhs, officials and mourners.
The visitors expressed their sincere condolences and sympathy to Sheikh Mohamed and the Al Nahyan family, state news agency Wam reported on Friday.
On Thursday Sheikh Mohamed led funeral prayers at Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed the First Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Worshippers prayed for peace and mercy to be granted to the deceased, and that he be rewarded for a life dedicated to serving his country and its people, Wam reported.
Following the funeral prayer, Sheikh Mohamed and the sheikhs of the Nahyan family proceeded to Al Bateen Cemetery, where Sheikh Saeed was laid to rest.
The death of Sheikh Saeed was announced in the early hours of Thursday.
The Presidential Court had previously reported that he had been suffering from a health problem.
“With the passing of my brother Saeed bin Zayed, the UAE has lost a loyal son who was dedicated to his country and its people,” Sheikh Mohamed wrote on Twitter.
“We pray that God grants him eternal rest, and that we are blessed with patience and solace at this time.”
Further condolences were received at Qasr Al Mushrif from 4.30pm until 6.30pm on Friday, and from 10am to noon and 4.30pm to 6.30pm on Saturday.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, also extended his sympathies to the President on his loss.
“My sincere condolences and sympathy to my brother, the President of the State, may God protect him, and to all of the Al Nahyan family, and to the dear people of the Emirates, on the death of Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, and dwell him in his spacious gardens, and inspire his family, loved ones, and relatives patience and solace,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote on social media.
“We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.”
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed paid tribute to a “dear brother, devoted to his homeland”.
He said on Twitter that Sheikh Saeed was “always keen on serving the community in all the responsibilities he undertook”.
Sheikh Omar bin Zayed, deputy chairman of the board of trustees of the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, paid tribute to his brother.
“In the passing of my brother Saeed bin Zayed, we have lost a supporter and a pillar,” said Sheikh Omar.
“The nation has lost a man of principles who was loyal and devoted to his country and leadership.”
UAE Rulers offer condolences
Warm tributes have been paid by the leaders of the emirates.
“The Diwan of His Highness, the Ruler of Sharjah, extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may Allah protect him, and to the entire Al Nahyan family,” said Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, on Twitter.
The court of Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, extended its deepest condolences.
Similar messages of support were relayed on behalf of Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah; Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman; and Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain.
Tributes were also flowing from around the region.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman offered his condolences in a phone call with the President on Thursday.
Prince Mohammed was said to be praying to God to grant peace and mercy to Sheikh Saeed and for his soul to rest in paradise, state news agency Wam reported.
Sultan Haitham of Oman sent a cable of condolences to Sheikh Mohamed.
He expressed his heartfelt sympathy to Sheikh Mohamed and the Emirati people.
Sudan's military leader Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to the UAE leadership and people in a phone call.
Adel Al Asoomi, President of the Arab Parliament, also offered his condolences. Mr Al Asoomi praised the contributions of Sheikh Saeed to his country.
Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Oman's Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, travelled to the Emirates to pay tribute.
Sheikh Mohamed also received condolences at Qasr Al Mushrif on Thursday from other mourners including sheikhs, ministers and senior officials.
Those receiving condolences alongside the UAE leader have included Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court; Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi; Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, along with a number of senior officials and sheikhs.
The President received condolences during a phone call with Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
A number of heads of state also offered their condolences to the President on Thursday.
Among those conveying their sympathies were King Abdullah II of Jordan; Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi; Tunisian President Kais Saied; Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud, President of Somalia; Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan; Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, Transitional President of the Republic of Chad; Israeli President Isaac Herzog; Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammad Shia Al Sudani; and Najib Mikati, Prime Minister of Lebanon.
In return, the President expressed his thanks and appreciation for their sincere sentiments towards the nation, its leadership and people, which reflect the strong bonds that unite their countries and the UAE.
A key figure in UAE life
Son of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Sheikh Saeed held a number of important positions in the emirate.
After graduating in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in political science from UAE University, he was named as Undersecretary of the Department of Planning in Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Saeed later served as chairman of the Department of Seaports from 1991 to 1996, where he cut through red tape to improve customs clearance and advance plans to develop the new Port Khalifa.
Between 2004 and 2010, he was a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the main governing body of the Abu Dhabi government.
As Ruler’s Representative, he was involved in many international and domestic events, including the Zayed Heritage Festival and Masdar's 2013 launch of Africa’s largest solar energy plant in Mauritania.
Sheikh Saeed took a keen interest in sports, especially football, where he served as chairman of the UAE Football Association from 2002 to 2003 and as patron of the Soccerex Forum in Dubai in 2001.
He played a key role in the UAE's successful hosting of the 2003 Fifa Youth World Cup.
