Abu Dhabi: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan ordered the release of 821 prisoners across the country on the occasion of the UAE’s 43rd National Day celebrations.

Shaikh Khalifa will also settle the debts of the prisoners.

The prisoners’ release comes as part of the President’s keenness to give pardoned inmates an opportunity to start a new life and bring about stability to their families.

Counsellor Ali Mohammad Al Beloushi, Abu Dhabi Attorney-General, hailed Shaikh Khalifa’s order, which he said conveys a fatherly and humanitarian message that stems from the President’s keenness to provide the inmates with the opportunity to start a new life and contribute to the nation’s development.

Al Beloushi said the Public Prosecution is coordinating with Abu Dhabi Police to implement Shaikh Khalifa’s orders for releasing the prisoners. He added that the pardon aims to instill happiness in the hearts of the families of the released inmates and hope in other inmates to show good conduct so that they can be included in future pardons.

Al Beloushi pointed out that the UAE leadership, headed by Shaikh Khalifa and General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, is always keen on following up on the status of inmates in the punitive and correctional institutions.