Mourners attend prayers for Sheikh Ahmed

ABU DHABI // Thousands of people converged on the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan Mosque today to pay their final respects to Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed, before his body was taken to the cemetery in Al Bateen. The funeral prayers were attended by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, among many other dignitaries. Mourners said their attendance was to show solidarity with the ruling family in their moment of sadness, and many said the myriad nationalities present showed the strength of the bonds between the citizens of the UAE and its expatriate population. "Look at us, all these nationalities. No one gets turned back," said Ahmed al Muhairi, 46, an Emirati who was attending the funeral prayers. Sheikh Ahmed, 41, is a younger brother of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. The prayers begin three days of mourning for the managing director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) whose body was flown home on an official UAE plane overnight, accompanied by two members of the Royal Family. The Sheikh's body was found by Moroccan and French divers in water about 60 metres deep. Soon after the discovery, Sheikh Ahmed's death was officially announced.