Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces, received His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, Prof. Ahmad At-Tayyeb, upon his arrival at the presidential airport in Abu Dhabi, where an official reception was held to welcome His Eminence’s visit.

After that, the Grand Imam and His Highness the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi participated in the ceremony held to receive His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church, upon the latter’s arrival at the airport. The Pope and the Grand Imam then boarded together the same car that took them to their places of residence.

The United Arab Emirates is hosting a joint visit by His Eminence the Grand Imam and His Holiness Pope Francis, Pope of the Vatican, under the title "Human Fraternity". This visit is receiving unprecedented attention on local, regional and international levels, with a massive coverage by more than 700 journalists and media professionals, as it is considered the first visit of one of the Popes of the Vatican to the Arabian Peninsula. It also reflects the status of Al-Azhar Ash-Sharif and its Grand Imam, as the largest religious authority in the Muslim world, and as the institution that best expresses the tolerance of Islam and its moderate teachings.

The Grand Imam's visit comes in response to an official invitation from Sheikh Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces. The invitation was handed to His Eminence by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, during his meeting with the Grand Imam at Al-Azhar headquarters last December.

On the sidelines of the joint visit, an international conference will be held under the title "Human Fraternity Meeting", organized by the Muslim Council of Elders, February 3-5.  An international elite of senior religious and intellectual leaders participate in this conference reflecting the pivotal role of the UAE in supporting the values of tolerance, dialogue and peace. Worthy of note is that dozens of people of different nationalities, races and religions live on UAE land, within a framework of commitment to the values of citizenship and coexistence.