“The Ministry of Presidential Affairs mourn the individuals of the UAE, the Arab and Islamic nations, and the entire world. The chief of the nation and the patron of its march, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, handed away to the Lord’s facet at the moment, Friday, Could 13,” WAM stated.
“The Ministry of Presidential Affairs proclaims an official mourning and flags to be flown at half-mast for the late His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, could God have mercy on him, for a interval of 40 days, beginning at the moment, and suspending work in ministries, departments, federal and native establishments, and the personal sector for three days, beginning at the moment (Friday),” WAM stated in a tweet.
Sheikh Khalifa’s position had been largely ceremonial since he suffered a stroke and underwent surgical procedure in 2014. His brother and Abu Dhabi’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, has been broadly seen because the de-facto chief of the UAE, dealing with day-to-day affairs for the Gulf state.
Sheikh Khalifa was appointed because the second president of the UAE in 2004, succeeding his father and founding father of the nation, Sheikh Zayed al Nahyan.
Born in 1948 within the Japanese Area of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa was the eldest son of Sheikh Zayed. Previous to his position as president, he was crown prince of Abu Dhabi and headed Abu Dhabi’s Supreme Petroleum Council, which drafts oil coverage.
As president he headed one of many largest funding funds on the earth, the Abu Dhabi Funding Authority, managing a whole lot of billions of {dollars} in belongings.
One of many world’s tallest buildings, the Burj Khalifa, took on his title after the UAE authorities bailed Dubai out of its debt, and as a sports activities fan he supported the acquisition of English Premier League soccer membership Manchester Metropolis.