UAE’s Long-Ailing Leader Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Dies at 73; World Leaders Offer Condolences

UAE’s Long-Ailing Leader Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Dies at 73; World Leaders Offer Condolences
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan walks with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, unseen, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Feb. 5, 2007. WAM/AP Photo
The Associated Press
Updated:

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—An array of presidents and prime ministers continued to descend on the United Arab Emirates Sunday from around the world to pay their respects to the federation’s late ruler. They also came to praise his successor, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan—a vivid sign of Abu Dhabi’s influence in Western and Arab capitals.

The first Western leader to jet to the oil-rich emirate was French President Emmanuel Macron. He met with Sheikh Mohammed to pay tribute to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the long-ailing ruler who died Friday at the age of 73 after years presiding over the country’s rapid transformation into a global business hub and regional power center.