French President Macron to visit Emirates to mourn death of pro-West ruler

Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan carry the body of late President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his funeral, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 13, 2022. Ministry of Presidential Affairs/Handout via REUTERS

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a trip to the United Arab Emirates to mourn the death of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and display his support for the ruling family, with whom France holds lucrative business and military ties.

Macron will travel to the UAE on Sunday, his administration said in a statement, to pay tribute to Khalifa, who died on Friday, and "express his support to his brother Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and the rest of the family, and the entire Emirian people",