United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has died, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs said on Friday. He was also ruler of Abu Dhabi emirate.
“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,” the ministry said in a statement on state media without giving further details.
Under the constitution, vice-president and premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, would act as president until the federal council which groups the rulers of the seven emirates meets within 30 days to elect a new president.
Khalifa, born in 1948, had rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2014 and his half-brother Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, known as MbZ, has been the de facto ruler of the US-allied UAE, an Opec oil producer.
“The UAE has lost its righteous son and leader of the ’empowerment phase’ and guardian of its blessed journey,” MbZ said on Twitter, praising Khalifa’s wisdom and generosity.
The UAE would observe a 40-day mourning period with flags flown at half-mast as of Friday and suspend work at all public and private sector entities for three days, the ministry said.
Condolences started pouring in from Arab leaders including Bahrain’s king, Egypt’s president and Iraq’s prime minister.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he was deeply grieved to hear about Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed’s death.
The PM condemned the demise of Sheikh Khalifa by stating that “the Government and people of Pakistan join me in conveying our profound sympathies and condolences over the passing away of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates”
He added that “the demise of Sheikh Khalifa is a tremendous loss. The world has lost a statesman of high stature, the UAE a great visionary and wise leader, and Pakistan a true friend and trusted partner. A humanist, with distinguished and diverse public service, the late President was ever close to his people, deeply devoted to their well-being and prosperity. His vision of reform, development and modernization led the UAE to its rightful place in the comity of nations. The monumental legacy of the late President will continue to inspire the generations of Emiratis.”
He further stated that “under the sagacious leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, the relationship between Pakistan and the UAE scaled new heights. The strategic guidance provided by him contributed immensely to the strengthening of our fraternal ties and deepening of bilateral cooperation across the whole spectrum. His invaluable contributions will never be forgotten by the government and the people of Pakistan”
The PM concluded by stating that “in this moment of grief, our thoughts and prayers are with the Al-Nahyan family. May Allah grant the bereaved members of his family and the brotherly people of the UAE, the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. Ameen! We pray to the Almighty to shower eternal blessings on the departed soul and to always keep UAE and its people safe, secure and prosperous.”
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa too offered his condolences.
“Pak has lost a great friend. May Allah Almighty bless his soul & give strength to bereaved family 2 bear this irreparable loss,” the army chief said.
“Heartfelt and deepest condolences on the sad demise of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Royal family and the people of the UAE,” Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari tweeted.
Former prime minister Imran Khan said he was truly saddened to hear about the UAE president’s passing away.
He paid tribute to Khalifa, calling him a great friend of Pakistan and a visionary leader of his people.
Khalifa came to power in 2004 in the richest emirate Abu Dhabi and became the head of state. He is expected to be succeeded as ruler of Abu Dhabi by Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed.
Abu Dhabi, which holds most of the Gulf state’s oil wealth, has held the presidency since the founding of the UAE federation by Khalifa’s father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, in 1971.
