UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed passes away

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, passed away on Friday. He was 73 years old. 

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan served as the President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi since November 3, 2004. According to the Khaleej Times report, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs has announced 40 days of mourning in the country on the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates.

A statement issued by the President's Office said that the flag would remain at half-mast during this period and ministries, departments, federal and local institutions would cease work from Friday. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan was chosen to succeed his father, the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan served as the first President of the UAE since the union's formation in 1971, until 2 November 2004.

Sheikh Khalifa was born in 1948 (Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan) 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 bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Since becoming the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa has presided over the reorganization of both the federal government and the government of Abu Dhabi. The statement issued said that the UAE developed rapidly during the reign of Sheikh Khalifa.