Dubai: The head of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community is on a visit to the UAE, his first after his father’s death almost a year ago.
Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin arrived in Dubai on Monday and his visit will mainly include meetings with the community, who belong to a Shiite branch of Islam.
A sizeable minority of Dawoodi Bohras live in the UAE, most of them involved in business and trade.
Saifuddin, 68, told his followers to keep up their contribution towards the UAE’s development, while praising the UAE leadership.
He was welcomed by 15,000 Dawoodi Bohras who assembled from across the UAE to greet him during a reception event held close to the Masjid Al Burhani Complex in Al Ghusais.
On his arrival at Dubai International Airport on Monday, Saifuddin was received by Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation and chairman and chief executive of Emirates airline and Group and chairman of Dubai World, on behalf of the government of Dubai.
Also present were Anurag Bhushan, consul general of India in Dubai; the president of Anjuman-e- Najmi-Dubai; and senior members of the Dawoodi Bohra community in the UAE.
Saifuddin is known as Sultan Ul Bohra, the 53rd Dai el Fatimi. This is his first visit as Sultan Ul Bohra after the death of his father – Dr Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin, the 52nd Dai el Fatimi, in Mumbai 11 months ago.
Burhanuddin had visited the UAE a number of times and had been received by Rulers and members of royal families in the UAE.
Saifuddin told well-wishers during the Dubai gathering: “Amidst you all I fondly remember the presence of my late father and his strong bond of love and friendship with the founding fathers of the UAE – the late His Highness Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and late Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum and their immense love and sacrifice for the progress of the UAE and its people.”
Saifuddin also praised the leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
Saifuddin prayed for the President, the Vice-President, Rulers of the emirates, Crown Princes and the people of the UAE.
He said he was happy to see that a large percentage of the community members living in the UAE were leading businessmen, industrialists, and professionals.
