UAE’s President Sheikh Khalifa dies

The President of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa, has died.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Sultan Al Nahyan (7 September 1948 – 13 May 2022) was also the Emir of Abu Dhabi and the supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces. He has also served as the chairman of the Supreme Petroleum Council since the late 1980s.

Sheikh Khalifa, who was rarely appeared at public events for years, succeeded his father and the UAE’s founder Sheikh Zayed in 2004. He suffered a stroke a decade later.

The news of the 73-year-old monarch’s death was announced on Friday afternoon by state news agency WAM.

The Ministry of Presidential Affairs has declared 40 days of official mourning with flags flying at half mast.

Ministries and official entities at the federal and local levels and the private sector will remain closed for three days.

In a statement published by Wam, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs expressed its condolences to the people of the UAE, Arab and Islamic nations and the world on the death of the leader of the nation.

UAE’s Burj Khalifa, one of the tallest towers in the world, is named after the late ruler.

(Picture Courtesy: WAM)

Editor’s Note: Our deepest condolences to the ruling families and all our Emirati friends, as the nation mourns this great loss. The UAE is a beautiful country that is very dear to our hearts.