Daijiworld Media Network – Abu Dhabi (SS)
Abu Dhabi, May 13: United Arab Emirates (UAE) president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 73, and ruler of Abu Dhabi, passed away on Friday, May 13, an announcement put out by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs said.
“The Ministry of Presidential Affairs condoles the people of the UAE, the Arab and Islamic nation and the world over the demise of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE,” the statement read.
The ministry also announced 40 days of mourning for the passing of the UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan served as UAE president and ruler of Abu Dhabi since November 3, 2004.
He was elected to succeed his father, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who served as the UAE’s first president since the union in 1971 until he passed away on November 2, 2004.
Born in 1948, Sheikh Khalifa was the second President of the UAE and the 16th Ruler of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He was the eldest son of Sheikh Zayed.
Since becoming the president of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa had presided over a major restructuring of both the Federal Government and the government of Abu Dhabi.
The UAE, under his reign, witnessed an accelerated development that ensured decent living for the people calling the country home.