Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered condolences to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sad demise of his brother Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

“The deceased was a great friend of Pakistan,” PM Shehbaz tweeted. “His demise is certainly a big loss for the Al Nahyan family. We, in Pakistan, share the grief & sorrow of our Emirati brothers & sisters and pray for peace of the departed soul.”

He arrived in the UAE for a one-day visit on Friday. He was accompanied by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi and Ambassador of Pakistan to UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi.

“The prime minister conveyed the profound sympathies and condolences of the leadership, Government and people of Pakistan to the president of UAE on his brother’s demise, which was received with great warmth by His Highness Shiekh Muhammad Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan,” state broadcaster reported.

“Pakistan and the UAE are bound by close fraternal ties. His Highness Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was a sincere friend of Pakistan. His invaluable contributions will be long remembered by the Government and the people of Pakistan,” it said.

Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE and senior officials of UAE received the prime minister upon his arrival in Abu Dhabi, the PML-N said in a tweet.

The prime minister would convey condolences to the president of the brotherly country of UAE, on behalf of the entire nation, according to PTV News.

Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi are also accompanying the prime minister on the visit.

Separately, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the premier would meet the UAE president during his brief trip and extend condolences to the latter on behalf of the Pakistani nation.

The UAE Presidential Court announced Sheikh Saeed’s death in an obituary notice published by the state news agency WAM on July 27. It also said that a three-day mourning period would be observed, with flags flown at half-mast across the country, from July 27 to July 29.

Sheikh Saeed was laid to rest at Al Bateen Cemetery in Abu Dhabi on Thursday afternoon, Khaleej Times reported. It added that Sheikh Saeed was born in 1965 in Al Ain and was appointed the ruler’s representative in Abu Dhabi in June 2010.

Heads of government and political leaders had condoled over the demise of the UAE president’s brother.

PM Shehbaz said on Thursday, he was “deeply grieved” at the news and extended condolences to the royal family and the people of UAE.