Prayers for Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan and comrades
Prayers were being said for the swift recovery of a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family and two other soldiers who were injured when an Armed Forces helicopter crashed in Yemen.
Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed, 27, was hurt alongside two others when the aircraft went down in Shabwa province.
Four Emirati servicemen were killed in the crash. They were buried on Saturday.
Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan was the grandson of the country’s Founding Father and had served in the elite Presidential Guard.
Prominent Emirati figures and members of the public took to Twitter to pass on their thanks and tributes.
Dr Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, wished Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan a speedy recovery.
“Praying this morning to God to save Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan and his comrades, wishing them a speeding recovery,” he wrote. “They are a great asset to our society.”
The other two soldiers were Rashid Al Balushi and Rashid Al Dhuhoori.
Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State for Federal Council Affairs, also paid tribute, writing: “May God heal Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan and Rashid Al Balushi and Rashid Al Dhuhoori. They are our pride.”
In April, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan married the daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, at Mushrif Palace.
He graduated from the Royal Military College of Sandhurst
Military College of Sandhurst in 2009 before joining the Armed Forces. Official photographs from the Crown Prince’s Court show him training with the Presidential Guard.
Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth, also passed on her best wishes. “We ask Allah to heal Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan and his comrades,” she said.
Abdulla Al Basati, secretary general of the UAE Cabinet, also said “may God heal Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan and his fellow comrades”.
Dr Ali bin Tamim, director general of Abu Dhabi Media, the government-owned broadcaster, said: “They are the youth that put their lives on the line in defence of their homeland’s future.
“Between Zayed our Founding Father, who was a symbol of union, and Zayed the defender of our rights, is a foundation of sacrifice and honour.”
Mohammed Al Wabir, a Saudi poet, expressed his pride that the grandchildren of the Founding Father were at the forefront of the army and battle.
“Everyone needs to realise that we are fighting a dignified battle. May God heal Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan,” he said.
Abdualla Naser Al Junaibi, chairman of UAE Pro League, said: “There is a big difference between those that bring the mercenaries to protect their land, those that leave their country to suffer, and those that are willing to push their sons to fight for their nation’s security.”