Morocco’s King gets official welcome in UAE

ABU DHABI - An official welcome was dedicated, on Monday at the "Qasr Al Watan" Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, to King Mohammed VI by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the State of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

   From the Palace entrance to the Zayed gate, the Royal procession was escorted by a squadron of horsemen, a tradition reserved for welcoming distinguished guests of the United Arab Emirates.

   From the "Zayed" gate to the "Al Hisn" gate, King Mohammed VI's motorcade reviewed Emirati folk troupes performing songs and dances to welcome the Sovereign.

   On this occasion, the "Al Fursan" national aerobatic team took to the skies above the Palace, tracing ribbons of smoke in the red and green colours of the Moroccan flag, as a 21-gun salute sounded to welcome the King.

   On arrival at the Al Hisn gate, the King was greeted by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the State of the United Arab Emirates. The two Heads of State then greeted the national colors to the sound of the two national anthems, before reviewing a detachment of Emirati land, naval and air forces that made the honors.

   After posing for a souvenir photo with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, King Mohammed VI was greeted by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Vice-President of the State of the United Arab Emirates, Vice-President of the Council of Ministers and Head of the Presidential Cabinet, Sheikh Khaleed bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Hazaa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Deputy Governor of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of the Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahayan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, General, Sheikh Seif bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Vice-Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Minister of the Interior, Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Managing Member of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sheikh Diab bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Head of the Office of Development and Martyrs Families Affairs.

The King was also greeted by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad Al-Nahyan, Advisor to the Presidential Cabinet, Sheikh Chakhbout bin Nahyan Al-Nahyan, Minister of State, Ali Ben Hamad Echamssi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for National Security, Anouar Karkach, Diplomatic Advisor to the Emirati President, Souhail Mohamed Al Mazroui, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Mariam Bint Mohammad Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Mohamed Hassan Souidi, Minister of Investment, Mohamed Ali Chourafa, Head of the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi and Al Asri Saeed Ahmed Adhahiri, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates in Rabat.

   The President of the United Arab Emirates was, for his part, greeted by members of the official delegation accompanying the Sovereign, including Moulay Abdellah Alaoui and Moulay Youssef Alaoui.

It includes the King's Advisor, Fouad Ali El Himma, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, Minister of Economy and Finance, Nadia Fettah, Minister of Equipment and Water, Nizar Baraka, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mohamed Sadiki, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mohamed Abdeljalil, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Investment, Convergence and the Evaluation of Public Policies, Mohcine Jazouli, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance in charge of the Budget, Faouzi Lekjaa, the King’s Chamberlain, Sidi Mohammed Alaoui, Director General of Studies and Documentation, Mohamed Yassine Mansouri, and Colonel-Major Azzeddine Khalid, head of the 3rd Office of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces.