UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan has undergone surgery following a stroke on 24 January, state news agency WAM reported.

A statement from the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, reported by WAM, said: “The Ministry announces that President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan suffered a stroke on Friday morning, January 24.

“He immediately underwent a surgical operation. His health is now stable. May God safeguard him and grant him a quick recovery.”

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed, the UAE Foreign Minister, said on Twitter: “God preserve President Khalifa from all evil and grant him health and well-being.”

Sheikh Khalifa was appointed president of the UAE in November 2004 following the death of his father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, the founder of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Born in 1948, Sheikh Khalifa is the eldest of Sheikh Zayed’s 19 sons. His brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, is the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.