New UAE president meets French counterpart as world leaders pay respects

New UAE president meets French counterpart as world leaders pay respects
May 16, 2022, 7:10 am

French President Emmanuel Macron (C) meets newly-elected president of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (L) at Al Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on May 15, 2022. (AFP)

The Arabnews reported, citing the AFP, the UAE’s new president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan held talks Sunday (May 15) with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron as world leaders streamed in to Abu Dhabi to pay tribute to his predecessor.

Macron, who was re-elected this month, expressed his condolences to Sheikh Mohamed following the death of Sheikh Khalifa, who died on Friday.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US Vice President Kamala Harris, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli President Isaac Herzog are also expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi on Sunday and Monday (May 15-16).

Presidents and monarchs from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Oman and Tunisia, and Sudan’s de facto leader, were among a long line of dignitaries to offer their condolences on Saturday (May 14).

UAE's Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan meets Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (SPA)

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called to congratulate the new president and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted to commend his “dynamic and visionary leadership.”

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was elected as president on Saturday (May 14), a day after the death of former leader Sheikh Khalifa.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan elected UAE president

State news agency WAM described the vote as unanimous among the rulers of the country’s sheikhdoms.

MbZ, 61, had already been wielding power for years in a period when Sheikh Khalifa suffered bouts of illness, including a stroke in 2014.

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