UAE leaders attend funeral prayers for president’s mother

Leading government officials and royals have attended funeral prayers for Sheikha Hessa bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, the late mother of the country’s president, at Al Mu’tareed Mosque in Al Ain.

Photos taken at the ceremony showed UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in attendance.

Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi and Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla also attended the ceremony along with numerous other high profile members of the seven emirates’ ruling families and governments.

Sheikha Hessa’s death was announced on Sunday morning. The Ministry of Presidential Affairs has declared a three-day official mourning period starting today.

During this time UAE flags will be flown at half-mast.

Leaders from across the country and wider Middle East expressed their condolences to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in tweets and messages published throughout the day.

My deep condolences to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and all the people of the UAE, on our loss of his mother Her Highness Sheikha Hessa bint Mohammed Al Nahyan. May she rest in peace.

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) January 28, 2018

Read: UAE President’s mother passes away

These included King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar, King Abdullah II of Jordan and the Grand Mufti of Egypt Dr Shawki Allam.

Sheikha Hessa was the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the great granddaughter of Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa – the grandfather of UAE founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan.