The president of the oil-rich Gulf state, rarely seen in public, is likely to be replaced by his half-brother, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed, who was already seen as one. United Arab Emiratesis the real ruler.
“The Ministry of Presidential Affairs expresses its condolences to the people of the United Arab Emirates, the Arab and Islamic countries and the world on the death of President His Highness Sheikh. Kalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan,” tweeted the official WAM news agency.
The ministry announced 40 days of mourning with half flags from Friday and suspended work in the public and private sectors for the first three days.
I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed. He was a great statesman and… https://t.co/B9wViFb6jq
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 1652444595000
Sheikh Khalifa took office as the UAE’s second president in November 2004, taking over as the 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi after his father, who was the richest of the federation’s seven emirates.
He has rarely been seen in public since 2014, when he had surgery after a stroke, although he has continued to rule.
The cause of death was not immediately released.
The United Arab Emirates, a former British protectorate that was founded in 1971, has gone from a desert outpost in its short history to a flourishing state, riddled with its oil wealth and DubaiRise as a business and financial center.
The Arab world’s second-largest economy after Saudi Arabia has also begun to lose growing political influence, filling the space entrusted by traditional powers such as Egypt, Iraq and Syria.
The country of nearly 10 million also joined military operations in Libya and Yemen and broke ranks with most of the Arab world to establish ties with Israel in 2020.
The bearded Sheikh Khalifa had cut a vulnerable figure in his occasional public appearance, while his half-brother hosted world leaders and led diplomatic efforts abroad.
Mohamed bin Zayed tweeted on Friday: “The Emirate has lost its noble son and leader of the ‘Stage of Empowerment’ and the trustee of its blessed journey.”
“His attitude, achievements, wisdom, generosity and initiative are in every corner of the country… Khalifa bin Zayed, my brother… May God have mercy on you and grant you access to heaven.”
Sheikh Khalifa, who had no formal higher education, led the United Arab Emirates as Dubai emerged as a tourism and trade center and Abu Dhabi pumped oil as a major OPEC player.
He came to the rescue of Dubai in 2009 when it was hit by the global financial crisis, which extended a multi-billion dollar lifeline for the debt-ridden emirate.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Dubai, said the country was mourning “with sorrowful hearts”.
The US mission to Abu Dhabi called Sheikh Khalifa a “true friend of the United States”, while Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani also offered their condolences.