US Presidents arrives in Abu Dhabi - updated

WAM WAM Abu Dhabi, Jan. 13th, 2008 (WAM) -- US President George W. Bush arrived here on Sunday on two-day official visit to the UAE as part of his broader tour of the Middle East. Bush is the first sitting US president to visit the UAE on the fifth leg of his Middle East tour.

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum led a party of top senior officials to welcome the US president upon arrival at the airport.

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and a number of Sheikhs, ministers and top civilian and military officials joined in receiving President Bush upon arrival.

Soon after arriving at the Mushref Palace, the US president accompanied by Sheikh Khalifa ascended the dais of honour where the national anthems of the UAE and US were played while the artillery fired 21 gun salute.

President Bush then inspected a guard of honour and headed to the Palace's main reception lounge where he shook hands with a number of Sheikhs, ministers and top UAE officials.

For his part, Sheikh Khalifa shook hands with members of delegation accompanying the US president which included US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, White House Chief of Staff Joshua B. Bolten and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Stephen Hadley.

The UAE president then conferred the Zayed Order on his US counterpart as a gesture of honour and in recognition of the close UAE-US ties of cooperation and friendship.

Later, Sheikh Khalifa hosted a luncheon in honour of President Bush and his accompanying delegation on the occasion of his visit to the UAE. A number of Sheikhs, ministers and high-ranking officials attended the banquet.

WAM/TF