UN General Assembly to pay tribute to late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly will pay tribute to the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Friday.

The tribute will be held at 09:00 in the General Assembly Hall, during which, the UN General Assembly members as well as permanent representatives will observe a minute of silence as a mark of respect for the late UAE leader.

The UN Flag will also be lowered to half-mast at UN Headquarters in New York as a mark of respect for the passing. Member States, heads of the five regional groups at the UN General Assembly and the US permanent representative, the host country, will deliver statements during the remembrance to express condolences and sympathies with the UAE government and people and reflect on Sheikh Khalifa's legacy and achievements.

In a statement issued by his spokesman, the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, extended his profound condolences to the Al Nahyan family, the government and people of the United Arab Emirates on the passing of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed.

The UN Security Council opened its meeting last week by honouring Sheikh Khalifa with a moment of silence.