ABU DHABI, May 15, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - The UAE's new president Sheikh Mohamed
bin Zayed Al Nahyan held talks Sunday with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron
as world leaders streamed in to Abu Dhabi to pay tribute to his predecessor.

Macron, who was re-elected this month, expressed his condolences to Sheikh
Mohamed following the death of his half-brother Sheikh Khalifa, who died on
Friday following a long illness.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US Vice President Kamala Harris, US
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Israeli President Isaac Herzog are also
expected to arrive in Abu Dhabi, capital of the oil-rich United Arab
Emirates, on Sunday and Monday.

Sheikh Mohamed, the UAE's long-time de facto ruler during Sheikh Khalifa's
illness, was chosen to lead the desert state in a unanimous vote by leaders
of the country's seven emirates on Saturday.

Often known by his initials "MBZ", took a leading role after Sheikh Khalifa
retreated from public view in 2014, when he had surgery after a stroke. The
cause of his death was not announced.

Presidents and monarchs from Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Oman and Tunisia, and
Sudan's de facto leader, were among a long line of dignitaries to offer their
condolences on Saturday.

Close ally Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's de facto leader,
called to congratulate the new president and India's Prime Minister Narendra
Modi tweeted to commend his "dynamic and visionary leadership".

Both Macron and Johnson are making their second visits to Abu Dhabi in recent
months. Johnson's visit in March failed to convince the UAE and Saudi Arabia
to pump more oil after Russia's war in Ukraine sent markets into turmoil.

The UAE signed a 14-billion-euro contract for 80 Rafale warplanes during
Macron's previous visit in December.

UAE relations with the United States have become strained under President Joe
Biden, with the two sides at odds over Abu Dhabi's close ties with Russia and
Washington's reopening of nuclear talks with Iran, long accused by Gulf
states of creating regional chaos.

The wealthy UAE has emerged as a leader of a reshaped Middle East, forging
ties with Israel and joining a Saudi-led war against Iran-backed rebels in
Yemen.