The Ministry of Presidential Affairs has announced that UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has died. The country will now enter 40 days of mourning, a three-day ban on work, and all flags will be flown at half-mast.
Born in 1948 in the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi, the President had been battling an illness for several years and had rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2014. He came to power in 2004 following the death of his father and founder of the nation, Sheikh Zayed al Nahyan.
Condolences have poured in from world leaders, including Bahrain’s King, Egypt’s President and Iraq’s Prime Minister.
An official statement said: “The Ministry of Presidential Affairs mourns to the UAE people, Arab and Islamic nations and the world the death of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who passed away on Friday.”
Under the constitution, Vice-President and Premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, will act as President until the Federal Council meets within the next 30 days to elect a new President.