Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed greets Sheikh Khalifa in Abu Dhabi. WAM

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Wednesday received at Al Bateen Palace Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, Crown Princes, Deputy Rulers and Sheikhs marking the advent of the holy month of Ramadan.

Sheikh Khalifa received His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces; His Highness Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman; His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah; His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain; and His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

He also received Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai; Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance; Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Sharjah Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler; Sheikh Ammar Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman; Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah; Sheikh Rashid Bin Saud Bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain; Sheikh Abdullah Bin Rashid Al Mualla, Deputy Ruler of Umm Al Quwain; and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah.

Earlier Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed, exchanged best wishes with Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, Crown Princes and Deputy Rulers on the advent of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

The Vice President, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and other UAE rulers also welcomed members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the UAE and a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and exchanged with them warm Ramadan greetings and wished progress and prosperity for respective countries of the ambassadors.

Sheikh Mohammed expressed their appreciation for the role played by members of the diplomatic community in strengthening bonds of fraternity and friendship between the UAE and their respective countries.

In turn, the ambassadors thanked the UAE leadership for providing them the assistance and facilities that help them perform their mission of bolstering ties of their respective countries with the UAE.

The UAE leaders and the audience exchanged Ramadan greetings, praying to Allah Almighty to revisit the occasion with progress and prosperity to the UAE and to maintain its security, peace, prosperity and stability and keep it strong and proud under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

They commended the President's declaration of 2018 as the ''Year of Tolerance'' to promote the UAE's deeply embedded values of cooperation, solidarity, goodness and charity, which form an essential part of the vision and thought of the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

The leaders also congratulated the UAE Armed Forces' heroes and nation's protectors in the fields of duty and hailed their brave acts, affirming that the UAE will never forget the sacrifices of martyrs.

An iftar banquet was hosted at Qasr Al Watan, which was attended by the royals, other Sheikhs and senior officials.

Millions of Muslims in over 80 countries around the world are expected to benefit from projects launched by Emirati charitable and humanitarian organisations to supply them with Iftar meals to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan, which began earlier this week.

The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), the leading organiser of Ramadan Iftar projects outside the UAE, will be launching Iftar programmes in 83 countries, which are expected to benefit nearly 1.3 million people.

WAM