THE United Arab Emirates’ President Sheikh Khalifa Zayed Al-Nahyan died today, after battling illness for several years, said state media. He was 73.

“The Presidential Affairs Ministry expresses sympathy for the people of UAE and the Islamic world… on the passing of Sheikh Khalifa Zayed Al-Nahyan today,” said the official WAM news agency.

The ministry announced 40 days of mourning with flags at half-mast from today, with work suspended in the public and private sectors for the first three days.

Sheikh Khalifa took over as UAE’s second president in November 2004, succeeding his father as the 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi, the richest emirate in the federation.

He was rarely seen in public since 2014, when he underwent surgery following a stroke, although he continued to issue rulings.

His brother, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed Zayed Al-Nahyan, has been seen as UAE’s de facto ruler in recent years. – AFP, May 13, 2022.