Al Ain tribes celebrate President's recovery

About 2,000 people from Al Ain's four major tribes held a function here yesterday to express their solidarity with President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and to celebrate his safe recovery from surgery he underwent in the U.S. last year.

The tribes which organised the event are Bin Ali, also known as Al Alawi, Al Kindi, Al Yahyahi and Al Azizi. The function was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Sheikh Sultan received special gifts for the President from the tribal chiefs — Saif Mohammed Amir Al Alawi (Bin Ali), Mohammed Saif Al Kindi, Khamis Matar Al Azizi and Sultan Saeed Khalifa Al Yahyahi.

These included a huge portrait of Sheikh Zayed with a poem of Sheikh Sultan, inscribed in gold, another framed portrait of the President and two old traditional rifles. The event was also attended by Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun, and Mohammed Salem Al Dhahiri, Undersecretary of Sheikh Zayed's Private Department.

Representatives of other tribes from the Eastern Region and neighbouring Buraimi also attended the function. Khamis Mohammed Salem Al Alawi said the event will be held every year. "We are happy about the good health of His Highness Bu Khalifa (Sheikh Zayed). And this gathering will be held every year with more and more tribes participating."

He also thanked Sheikh Sultan for gracing the event. The event which began at 4.30pm continued until 8pm with troupes performing traditional and folklore dance at the Al Khabisi Grounds, folklore dances by women performed by members of a local arts club, and tribesmen reciting poems in praise of Sheikh Zayed.

A speech read out on behalf of the tribes said: "All of us were overjoyed when we knew that the surgery of President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was successful. Our happiness was even greater when he returned home after his complete recovery.

"We thank Almighty Allah for the grace of the complete recovery of Sheikh Zayed and his safe return. "Our ceremony today comes as part of the UAE's festivals to express overwhelming joy over the successful operation and the safe return of Sheikh Zayed.

It is an honest evidence of our love for Sheikh Zayed who established the UAE Federation and devoted his effort and money to his homeland. The UAE, thanks to his wise leadership, has become an advanced country. He built schools and universities to make men, mosques to spread faith and well equipped hospitals to care for his people.

"We all pray to Almighty Allah to grant Sheikh Zayed good health and a long life to continue with his noble mission, leading our beloved country towards more progress and prosperity."