MOSCOW, May 13. /TASS/. Moscow expresses its condolences over the death of the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who contributed greatly to the development of bilateral relations with Russia, Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, told TASS on Friday.

"We express our condolences to our friends in the United Arab Emirates," Bogdanov said. "This is a great loss for the people of the United Arab Emirates. We enjoy good relations with this country and [Sheikh] Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s contribution was always significant in this regard."

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan was born on September 7, 1948. He served as the·president of the United Arab Emirates between 2004 and 2022. He was also the Emir of Abu Dhabi and the Supreme Commander of the·United Arab Emirates Armed Forces within this period.

He assumed the post of the president of the United Arab Emirates in 2004 following the death of his father Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and was later re-elected to be at the helm of the country in 2009, 2014 and 2019.