He also thanked rescue teams and the public for their "fantastic response" in helping to search.
More than 200 volunteers from the community had joined the emergency services to look for Mikaeel.
Forensic experts were to examine the body yesterday.
Police had earlier warned that Mikaeel could be missing following a "criminal act" and they had "grave concern" for his welfare.
His mother, Rosdeep Kular, told police he was missing when she went to wake him at 7.15am on Thursday. His jacket and shoes were also gone.
Police backed by a helicopter, dog teams and dozens of volunteers combed the streets of Drylaw while coastguard and lifeboat crews scoured the shoreline 800m away.
Worried police issued a UK-wide alert as overnight temperatures dropped to near-freezing.
Beauty therapist Kular is also the mother of four other children.
