President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has offered condolences following the passing of the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

In a Twitter post following the UAE President’s passing, President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih expressed profound sadness in hearing of his passing,

The Maldivian president , in his post, described Sheikh Khalifa as a visionary leader and a close friend of Maldives.

With this being said, President Solih offered sincere condolences to the half-brother of the later UAE President and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the royal family as well as the people of UAE.

Further, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives, who is also the President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Abdulla Shahid also offered his sincere condolences to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of UAE, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan as well as the government and people of UAE on the passing of Sheikh Khalifa.

The foreign minister prayed for Almighty Allah to grant the late President of UAE, the highest ranks of Jannat.

The President of UAE passed away at 73 years of age, on Friday, after battling illness for many years.

According to UAE state media, the middle-eastern country’s flag is to be flown half-mast for 40 days after the Ministry of Presidential Affairs of UAE declared 40 days of mourning within which a three-day work suspension is in effect from Friday to both the public and private sectors.

Sheikh Khalifa succeeded his father as the 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi and assumed his presidential term in November 2004.