ABU DHABI // The President, Sheikh Khalifa, is recovering from a stroke after an operation.
On Saturday, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs described his condition as stable.
“The ministry announces that President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan suffered a stroke on Friday morning, January 24,” it said, according to the state news agency Wam.
“He immediately underwent a surgical operation. His health is now stable. May God safeguard him and grant him a quick recovery.”
Social media was flooded with messages from Emiratis and expatriates offering prayers and good wishes for Sheikh Khalifa.
“God preserve President Khalifa from all evil and grant him health and well-being,” said Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on Twitter.
Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, popularly known as the Green Sheikh for his environmental advocacy, tweeted: “May ‘ya Allah’ heal our beloved leader … Sheikh Khalifa.”
Noura Al Kaabi, chief executive of the Abu Dhabi media zone twofour54, tweeted that common to all residents of the UAE was “one love to our Sheikh Khalifa”.
Pablo Kang, the Australian ambassador to the UAE and Qatar, wrote on Twitter: “Thoughts and prayers are with HH President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan – wishing him a full and speedy recovery.”
A resident of the UAE tweeted that Sheikh Khalifa was “stable now, Alhamdulillah” and called for more prayers for the President.
“God bless our dear President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa with a speedy recovery, inshallah,” read another tweet.
Leaders in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt spoke to Mohammed bin Zayed, the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, to enquire about Sheikh Khalifa’s wellbeing and wish him a speedy recovery.
At St Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, Catholic worshippers offered their prayers for the President at two evening services on Saturday.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
