United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan made a surprising appearance at a high-level meeting with US Senator Lindsey Graham in Abu Dhabi, just days after a controversial Turkish presidency statement suggested he might be unwell. Rumors spread rapidly online following Erdogan’s now-deleted announcement that the UAE president had a health issue, leading to edits on Mohamed’s Wikipedia page suggesting his death.
This diplomatic setback came amid tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where Erdogan visited Saudi Arabia earlier this month. Despite these complications, a video shared by the presidential court showed the two leaders together at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi, smiling and engaged. The official WAM news agency also released photographs of their meeting, featuring Mohamed alongside Graham.
To dispel any lingering speculation, Mohamed’s team posted photos showing him in good spirits just days before the actual meeting. These images were taken by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, emir of Qatar, and circulated widely on social media to counter misinformation.
Senator Graham, having spent an hour-and-a-half in conversation with Mohamed, was quick to reassure the public about the UAE’s health status. He dismissed those spreading false narratives as “full of it,” emphasizing that this meeting underscored the robust collaboration between their countries despite recent diplomatic hurdles.