President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan yesterday received a phone call from Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, during which he expressed his condolences on the death of Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Shaikh Khalifa also yesterday received a cable of condolence from President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen on the sad demise of Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Shaikh Khalifa also received a cable of condolence from Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Saudi Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, who expressed sincere and heartfelt condolences on the death of Shaikh Maktoum.
Shaikh Khalifa yesterday received a cable of condolences from Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on the death of Shaikh Maktoum.
Prime Minister of Pakistan Shaukat Aziz has also sent a cable of condolence to Shaikh Khalifa on the death of Shaikh Maktoum.
Aziz sent a similar cable to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai.
Qatar
His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, mourns the death of Shaikh Maktoum. In a statement, Shaikh Hamad said, "We had received the news of Shaikh Maktoum's death with deep sadness. We pray that God may rest his soul in peace and place him in paradise and that his family and the people of the UAE find patience and solace to bear the loss."
Iran
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi has expressed sadness at the death of Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
In a statement, Asefi offered condolences to the UAE government and its people on the sad demise of Shaikh Maktoum.
He also voiced the sympathy of the Iranian people and government with the UAE government and people.
Germany
German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday mourned the death of Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
In a statement, Merkel said Germany "lost a friend who had been keen to strengthen UAE-German relations."
Merkel also announced that a German delegation will take part in Shaikh Maktoum's funeral.
Former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder also expressed sorrow at the passing away of Shaikh Maktoum, saying that the late Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was instrumental in the political and economic development of the UAE.
With his sudden demise, the Arab and Islamic world have lost a trusted and sincere friend, said Schroeder.
Helmut Schafer, Former State Minister for Foreign Affairs, also described the passing of Shaikh Maktoum as a "loss to the Arab world and Europe because Shaikh Maktoum was widely respected in the Middle East and the Gulf region."
Arrival
India and Pakistan are expected to send high level delegations today to pay their respects to Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum who passed away yesterday. Indian Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat accompanied by E. Ahmad the Indian minister of state for foreign affairs will offer their condolences when they arrive in Dubai today.
E. Ahmad told Gulf News from New Delhi: "India has lost a friend, the Indian community in the UAE has lost a benefactor."
In Islamabad, government officials said Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is expected to pay his respects when he arrives later today.
Afghanistan's Vice President Mohammad Karim Khalili is also scheduled to arrive today, accompanied by Haider Raza, Deputy Foreign Minister.
Abdul Qadir Bin Saleh, Speaker of Algeria's Umma Council, will arrive today at the head of a delegation. Mohammad Al Ghanoushi, the Tunisian First Minister, will also attend the funeral.
