ABU DHABI: United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has died on Friday aged 73. He was also ruler of Abu Dhabi emirate.
“The Ministry of Presidential Affairs condoles the people of the UAE, the Arab and Islamic nation and the world over the demise of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE,” the Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced.
The ministry announced 40 days of mourning with flags at half-mast from Friday, with work suspended in the public and private sector for the first three days. Sheikh Khalifa took over as the UAE’s second president in November 2004, succeeding his father as the 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi.
Under the constitution, 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.
Mohammed bin Zayed has been the de facto ruler of the UAE, particularly after Khalifa suffered a stroke in 2014, following which he has rarely been seen in public. The world’s tallest tower in the UAE’s emirate of Dubai is named the Burj Khalifa after the late ruler.
Under his reign, the UAE witnessed an accelerated development. After being elected as the President, Sheikh Khalifa launched his first strategic plan to achieve balanced and sustainable development, placing the prosperity of UAE citizens and residents at the core.
Sheikh Khalifa steered the development of the oil and gas sector and the downstream industries that have contributed successfully to the country’s economic diversification.
He undertook extensive tours throughout the UAE to study the needs of the Northern Emirates, during which he gave instructions for building a number of projects related to housing, education and social services.
Sheikh Khalifa was known for being a good listener, modest, and deeply interested in the affairs of his people. He was a much-loved figure in the UAE and the region. He frequently conducted direct outreach through official missions and other occasions.
