Prayers for the swift recovery of Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan and other soldiers injured in Yemen helicopter crash

Servicemen treated in accident that left four dead

Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, centre, and other Presidential Guard recruits attend the inauguration of the Joint Fire Pavilion at the Advanced Training School. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, centre, and other Presidential Guard recruits attend the inauguration of the Joint Fire Pavilion at the Advanced Training School. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Mina Aldroubi author image
Mina Aldroubi
Aug 13, 2017
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Prayers are being said for the swift recovery of a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and two other soldiers who were injured when a UAE Armed Forces helicopter crashed in Yemen.

Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 27, was hurt alongside two others when the aircraft went down in Shabwa province.

Four Emirati servicemen were also killed. They were laid to rest on Saturday evening.

Sheikh Zayed is the grandson of the country's founding father and has served in the elite Presidential Guard,

Prominent Emirati figures and members of the public took to Twitter to pass on their thanks and prayers.

Dr Anwar Gargash, the UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, wished Sheikh Zayed a speedy recovery on Twitter.

“Praying this morning to God to save Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan and his comrades, wishing them a speeding recovery," he wrote.

"They are a great asset to our society.”

The other two soldiers were Rashid Al Balushi and Rashid Al Dhuhoori.

Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal Council Affairs, also paid tribute, writing "May God heal Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan and Rashid Al Balushi and Rashid Al Dhuhoori. They are our pride."

In April, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan, married the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces at Mushrif Palace.

He graduated from the Royal Military College of Sandhurst in 2009 before joining the UAE Armed Forces. Official photographs from the Crown Prince's Court show him training with the Presidential Guard.

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Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth also passed on her wishes.

“We ask Allah to heal Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan and his comrades,” she said.

Abdulla Al Basati, secretary general of the UAE Cabinet, also said "may God heal Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan and his fellow comrades".

Dr Ali bin Tamim, director general of Abu Dhabi Media, the government-owned broadcaster, also wished the three soldiers well.

"They are the youth that put their lives on the line in defence of their homeland’s future”.

Mr Tamim added “between Zayed our founding father, who was a symbol of union, and Zayed the defender of our rights is a foundation of sacrifice and honour” .

Mohammed Al Wabir, a Saudi poet expressed his pride that Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan's grandchildren are at the forefront of the army and battle.

Mr Al Wabir said that "everyone needs to realise that we are fighting a dignified battle, may God heal Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan”.

Abdualla Naser Al Janibi, chairman of UAE Pro League, said there is a clear distinction between the UAE's troops and their adversaries in Yemen.

"There is a big difference between those that bring the mercenaries to protect their land, those that leave their country to suffer, and those that are willing to push their sons to fight for their nation's security".

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