The President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has passed on at age 73.
The Ministry of Presidential Affairs has officially declared a 40 days national mourning for the death of the president from Friday. Flags will fly at half mast during this period.
Work in both public and private sectors will be suspended for three days, also from Friday, a Dubai Media Office report clarified.
The vice-president and premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, will act as president until the federal council which groups the rulers of the seven emirates meets within 30 days to elect a new president, according to Reuters report.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed tweeted a condolence message, it reads; “The UAE lost its righteous son, the leader of the ‘empowerment stage’ and the trustee of its blessed journey.”
Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed also shared his grief, “With hearts wracked in sadness…” he tweeted.
Prim ministers of Egypt and Iraq also expressed their condolences for the UAE President’s passing.
Sheikh Khalifa, late Ruler of Abu Dhabi, became President of the United Arab Emirates on November 3, 2004, to succeeding his father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAE President from 1971 to 2004.
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