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French President Macron to visit UAE to mourn death of Sheikh Khalifa

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a trip to the United Arab Emirates to mourn the death of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and display his support for the ruling family, with whom France holds business and military ties.Macron will travel to the UAE on Sunday, his administration said in a statement, to pay tribute to Sheikh Khalifa, who died on Friday, and “express his support to his brother Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and the rest of the family, and the entire Emirian people.”For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Sheikh Khalifa, UAE president since 2004, aligned the Gulf state more closely with the West. He was buried and funeral prayers were held on Friday.Major oil producer UAE is seen by France as a strategic partner in the region, and business ties, which include the delivery of military equipment and energy infrastructure, have been reinforced under Macron’s first presidential term.During a high-profile visit to Dubai in November, Macron displayed a good relationship with Crown Prince Mohammed, and business delegations from both states signed a series of major deals.The UAE ordered 80 of Dassault Aviation’s Rafale fighter jets and 12 military helicopters through an arms contract worth 17 billion euros ($19.20 billion), which the French say will secure thousands of local jobs.French energy giants TotalEnergies and Engie also won billion-euro deals.Paris has a permanent military base in the Emirati capital.Read more:‘His legacy will live on,’ world leaders pay tribute to UAE’s Sheikh Khalifa‘Great loss’: Top US officials mourn UAE’s Sheikh KhalifaSheikh Mohamed bin Zayed: UAE ‘lost its righteous son’ following Sheikh Khalifa death
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: French President Macron to visit UAE to mourn death of Sheikh Khalifa

UAE elects Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed as President

The UAE’s Federal Supreme Council has elected Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the President of the UAE, the Emirates News Agency WAM reported on Saturday.It makes 61-year-old Sheikh Mohamed the third President of the UAE.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Dubai Ruler and Prime Minister of the UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum shared his congratulations, according to a WAM report.The Council reportedly held a meeting on Saturday at al-Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi, chaired by Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed.The meeting was attended by the heads of all seven emirates: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah; Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman; Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah; Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain; and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, according to a WAM report.It comes after the late President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan died Friday.The UAE is observing a 40-day mourning period which will see businesses shut across the country and entertainment halted in the late President’s honor.Electronic billboards all showed the late Sheikh’s image in Dubai on Friday night as flags flew at half-staff, the Associated Press reported.Read more:French President Macron to visit UAE to mourn death of Sheikh Khalifa‘His legacy will live on,’ world leaders pay tribute to UAE’s Sheikh KhalifaUAE officials, Arab leaders mourn death of Sheikh Khalifa
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: UAE elects Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed as President