Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Wednesday led worshippers in offering funeral prayers for the body of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan who died when the glider carrying him crashed over a lake south of Rabat in Morocco on Friday.
The funeral prayers were performed after Asr prayers at the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Joining in the prayers were Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers; Dr. Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi of Sharjah; Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi of Fujairah; Shaikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mualla of Umm Al Quwain and Shaikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi of Ajman.
Performing the prayers also were General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President’s Representative, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, Shaikh Rashid Bin Saud Bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Um Al Quwain, and Shaikh Ammar Bin Hamid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman.
Funeral prayers were also performed by Shaikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince of Bahrain and Commander in chief of the Bahrain Defence Force, Harib Bin Thwaini Al Saeed, Head of the Omani delegation to the funeral and Shaikh Jua’an Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Envoy of the Emir of Qatar, shaikhs, senior officials and the public.
Following the prayers, the body of Shaikh Ahmad was taken to Al Bateen Cemetery where he was laid to rest.
Condolences
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday received condolences from Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers; Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi of Sharjah, Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi of Fujairah, Shaikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mualla of Umm Al Quwain and Shaikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi of Ajman on the death of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The president also received condolences from the Crown Princes and deputy rulers of Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujaira, Umm Al Quwain and Ajman.
Crowds of mourners
Receiving condolences along with Shaikh Khalifa were General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahtan, the President’s Representative, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, and other members of the Al Nahyan family.
Shaikh Khalifa also received condolences from shaikhs, ministers, senior official and crowds of national and expatriate mourners.
In addition Shaikh Khalifa also received telephones and cables of condolences from world leaders.
Shaikh Khalifa received cables from King Mohammad VI of Morocco, President Zein Al Abidine Bin Ali of Tunisia and President Omar Hassan Al Bashir of Sudan.
He also received condolence cables from the President of South Korea Lee Myung-bak, Algerian President Abdul Aziz Bouteflika, Eritrean President Asaias Afwerki, King Juan Carlos of Spain and Lebanese Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri.
Shaikh Khalifa also received calls from President Ahmad Abdullah Mohammad Sambi of the Comoros Islands and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran. Saudi Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Riyadh also called.
Shaikh Khalifa also received a cable of condolence from the Islamic resistance movement, Hamas.
Adia in mourning
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) yesterday issued a statement mourning the death of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“Today, ADIA mourns the death of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, our Managing Director,” the statement said.
Shaikh Ahmad joined ADIA in 1994 as a European equities analyst, where he gained broad exposure to the investment process and asset allocation.
In November of 1997, he was appointed to ADIA’s board of directors and to the role of managing director. He also was Chairman of the Shaikh Zayed Charity and Humanitarian Foundation, and served as a member of the Supreme Petroleum Council.
During his time as managing director, he led ADIA’s continued evolution into a globally recognised investing institution with more than 1,200 employees and a highly-diversified portfolio spanning multiple geographies and asset classes.
ADIA said Shaikh Ahmad displayed true leadership in steering one of the world’s largest institutional investors and enabling it to constantly adapt to a changing world. His daily efforts were characterised by a continuous commitment to developing ADIA’s staff, an unwavering dedication to investment discipline, and a passionate belief in ADIA’s enduring culture, the company said.
As a leader, Shaikh Ahmad believed in collective wisdom and regularly consulted with senior colleagues across the organisation. He sought to instil enduring values that developed and defined ADIA’s culture. He leaves ADIA in a strong position to successfully respond to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
Under the wise leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and with the committed support of the entire board, ADIA will continue to fulfil its mission for the benefit of the Abu Dhabi.
Foundation extends condolences
Meanwhile, the Emirates Volunteers Foundation has extended its heartfelt condolences to Shaikh Khalifa and General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on the death of Shaikh Ahmad, who was known for his huge voluntary humanitarian and charity efforts.
The board of association also offered condolences to the UAE leadership and people on the demise of Shaikh Ahmad, who led one of the largest charity organisations in the UAE — the Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works after being appointed chairman in 1996.
Through sustained support from the late Shaikh Ahmad, the foundation consolidated its existence on the humanitarian map as it signed 35 agreements and memorandums of understanding with governments and international organisations.
The Special Olympics for the Middle East and North Africa (SOMENA), also offered condolences on the death of Shaikh Ahmad.
Regional Chairman of the Special Olympics (SOMENA), Engineer Aymen Abdul Wahab, said Shaikh Ahmad’s death was a great loss.
