The transfer of power in Saudi Arabia is near

World leaders descended arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday to offer condolences to new leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan on the death of his half-brother President Khalifa bin Zayed in a show of support to a key regional player.

Saudi Arabia's crown prince, whose father King Salman entered hospital a week ago, also arrived in the UAE along with a delegation including Prince Abdul Aziz bin Ahmad.

Bin Salman and Prince Abdul Aziz bin Ahmad along with the Saudi delegation visited the UAE upon the directive of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the royal court said.

MBS conveyed the condolences of King Salman and his sorrow at the loss of Sheikh Khalifa. He was accompanied by a large delegation of princes and officials from Saudi Arabia.

Saudi delegation also met senior Emirati ministers and officials, including Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.

However, a Bin Salman's visit to the UAE with Prince Abdul Aziz bin Ahmad on the directive of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz has been a matter of debate among the analysts. A Saudi source in an interview with Reuters, reacted to this visit saying that it indicates that the transfer of power is imminent in Saudi Arabia.

It must be noted that Prince Abdulaziz bin Ahmed is the eldest son of Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz, the detained brother of the Saudi monarch, and has no official post, yet his name topped the Saudi state media's list of delegates accompanying Crown Prince to pay respects to the new United Arab Emirates ruler.

His presence on Mohammad bin Salman's list for the trip came as a surprise, and Saudi political experts believe the move is a signal from the current ruler of family unity.

The Saudi source, who did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, told Reuters that the presence of Abdul Aziz bin Ahmed with the Saudi Crown Prince in Abu Dhabi was a strong message to public opinion inside and outside the country, especially that the transfer of power is imminent.