Abu Dhabi, Dec 19th, 2007 (WAM): President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan offered Eid Al Adha prayers today at the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque in Abu Dhabi.

General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces offered Eid Al Adha prayers beside Sheikh Khalifa.

Joining them in the prayers were, Sheikh Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, Sheikh Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court and Chairman of ZoneCorp, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Omar bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President's Aide De Camp, Brigadier Dr Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Deputy Inspector General at the Interior Ministry, Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, the Ruler's Representative in the Western region of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Emiri Aviation, Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Finance Department, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saif Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Airways, Sheikhs, Ministers, senior officials, Ambassadors of Arab and Islamic countries, citizens and residents.

Sheikh Ali Al Hashemi, Religious Advisor at the Presidential Affairs Ministry led the prayers and gave a congregational a sermon in which he stressed the importance of the solidarity of Muslims and their integration in order to propagate the message of Islam which is characterised by its tolerance, love and fraternity.

At the end of his sermon, Sheikh Ali Al Hashemi also prayed for the soul of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

After the prayers Sheikh Khalifa, accompanied by other Sheikhs and senior officials, walked towards the tomb of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and recited 'Al Fatiha' from the Holy Quran in prayer for the lost leader of the country. The Sheikhs, ministers and senior officials joined Sheikh Khalifa in prayers for the divine mercy for the soul of Sheikh Zayed.

It is the first time the Eid prayers are conducted at the Sheikh Zayed mosque after the completion of the first phases of construction . The mosque is considered one of the most magnificent examples of the Islamic architecture in the world. With three large domes in the main prayer hall and 57 other domes of various sizes, the mosque built on an area of 22,000 square metres is the third largest mosque after the two Holy shrines, and one among the ten biggest mosques in the world.