The Diplomat
His Majesty the King travelled to Abu Dhabi yesterday to express, on behalf of Spain, his condolences on the death of the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who died last Friday, the 13th, at the age of 73, according to sources at the Zarzuela Palace.
Don Felipe was received by the new President of the Emirates and Emir of Dubai, Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahayan, half-brother of the deceased president, who was considered de facto president of the country since 2014, when Jalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan retired from public life after suffering a stroke.
The King, who travelled accompanied by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Luis Manuel Cuesta, conveyed to Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahayan his personal condolences and those of the Spanish government and people for the death of the president, and his intention was to return to Spain afterwards.
Other leaders have travelled to Abu Dhabi in recent hours for the same purpose, including the presidents of France and Turkey, the King and Queen of Belgium and the King and Queen of the Netherlands, as well as the President of the Council of the European Union, Charles Michel.
Informed sources indicated that the King’s visit was of an institutional nature, as head of state, so no meeting was planned with his father, King Juan Carlos, who has been residing in the Emirates since 2020, as a guest of Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahayan himself.
However, once his meeting with the Emirati president was over and before returning to Madrid, King Felipe spoke on the phone with King Juan Carlos, and they agreed to meet in Madrid when the King Emeritus comes to Spain, which, according to some reports, could take place in the coming days.
This was the first time that Don Felipe has travelled to the Arab country since Don Juan Carlos has been there, since last February, who travelled to the Dubai Expo to represent our country on Spain Day was the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and not the King, who usually attends this type of event.
The King has been present at similar ceremonies held in Oman, for the death of His Majesty Qaboos Bin Said in 2020, or Saudi Arabia, for the death of His Majesty Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2015. Following the death in September 2020 of Sheikh Saba al Ahmad al Jaber al Saba, Emir of Kuwait, Don Felipe was unable to attend in the Kuwaiti capital due to the pandemic.
