UAE President Sheikh Khalifa has died: official media 13/05/2022 (See translation in Arabic section) Sydney – M E TIMES Int’l: The United Arab Emirates' President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan died aged 73 on Friday, state media said, after battling illness for several years. "The Ministry of Presidential Affairs condoles the people of the UAE and the Islamic world... on the passing of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan on Friday, May 13," the WAM said. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, today performed the funeral prayer for the late president at the Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed the First Mosque in Abu Dhabi. He was joined by members of the Al Nahyan family. Sheikh Mohamed and members of the Al Nahyan family accompanied the body of the late Sheikh Khalifa to his final resting place at Al Bateen Cemetery in Abu Dhabi The ministry announced 40 days of mourning with flags at half-mast from Friday, with work suspended in the public and private sector for the first three days. Sheikh Khalifa took over as the UAE's second president in November 2004, succeeding his father as the 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi, the federation's richest emirate. He has rarely been seen in public since 2014, when he had surgery following a stroke, although he has continued to issue rulings. His brother, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, has been seen as the UAE's de facto ruler in recent years. --AFP 
TRIBUTES TO UAE PRESIDENT Tributes poured in from around the world on Friday after the United Arab Emirates announced the death of its president, Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan. GCC SECRETARY-GENERAL -- Dr Nayef Falah Mubarak al Hajraf, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), expressed his heartfelt condolences to the UAE leadership and people on this sad news, and prayed to Allah Almighty to rest his soul in eternal peace and grant the Al Nahyan family and the UAE people patience and solace. ARAB LEAGUE -- Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League, expressed his heartfelt condolences to the UAE leadership, government and people on this sad news, and prayed to Allah Almighty to grant him peace in Paradise. He said that Arab League will observe three-day mourning with flags to be flown at half-mast. UNITED STATES -- President Joe Biden said Shaikh Khalifa was "a true partner and friend of the United States", adding the US "will honour his memory by continuing to strengthen" relations with the UAE. EUROPEAN UNION -- European Council President Charles Michel said it was "with sadness" that he had learned of Shaikh Khalifa's death. "The EU honours his legacy and leadership under which the UAE became frontrunner of sustainable development & economic diversification." LEBANON-- President of the Lebanese Republic, General Michel Aoun, sent a condoling cable to the Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin ZayedAl Nahyan, for the death of the President of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. . The President considered that “The UAE will miss one of the most prominent pioneers of renaissance and modernity in it, who followed in the footsteps of his father, the founder of the state, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, inspired by his wisdom and his future vision that guarantees the welfare of the country, its development, and its elevation to the ranks of developed countries. The Arab countries are also missing a president who carried out just causes and was a supporter and defender of the Arabs in international forums, while Lebanon lacks a sincere brother whom it loved and the people who dedicated love and loyalty to”. 
President Aoun offered Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed condolences on behalf of Lebanon's and the Lebanese, asking for mercy on his soul. The President also wished the United Arab Emirates continued progress and prosperity. - PPO OMAN—HM Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has issued royal orders declaring official mourning and flags at half-mast for a period of three days, starting May 13, 2022, until May 15, 2022, following the death of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed al Nahyan. He was also the ruler of Abu Dhabi emirate. The Diwan of Royal Court has issued an official statement: “Believing in God’s decree and destiny, and with great emotion and sadness, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik received the news of the death of his late brother, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the sisterly United Arab Emirates. He was one of the Arab leaders who worked to serve their Arab and Islamic nation and led the United Arab Emirates with determination and perseverance until it became a landmark referred to in all fields." KUWAIT – HH Kuwait Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah ordered a 40-day mourning and flags flown at half-mast while government departments would cease working for three days as of Friday following passing away of President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. The Amir instructed the period of mourning in solidarity and sympathy with the UAE and its people in the wake of the death of Sheikh Khalifa, whom he described as "a great leader" who dedicated his life for service of his people, and defending Arab and Islamic causes. KUWAIT DEPUTY AMIR – HH The Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in a phonecall with Abu Dhabi Ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, expressed his condolences over the passing of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. He also conveyed the condolences of the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and the Kuwaiti government and people to the family of the late president and to the brotherly Emirati people. He prayed for mercy and forgiveness over the soul of the deceased. 
PM OF LEBANON-- Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Friday issued a circular declaring a state of national mourning over the passing of United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who has passed away on Friday, May 13th, 2022. In mourning, the flags will be flown at half-staff for three days, starting today until Sunday 15/5/2022 inclusive, and all administrations, state institutions and municipalities must modify regular programs on radio and television stations in accordance with the painful occasion. KUWAIT DM -- Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Talal Khaled Al-Sabah Friday expressed heartfelt condolences in cables sent to senior Emirati officials over the death of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Sheikh Talal Khaled sent the cables to UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad bin Rahsed Al-Maktoum, and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed forces Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al-Nahyan as well as Minster of State for Defense Affairs Mohammad bin Ahmad Al-Bowardi. The Kuwaiti minister recalled Sheikh Khalifa's big role in backing and promoting the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and joint action amongst Gulf states, the Defense Ministry said in a statement. INDIA -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted he was "deeply saddened" over the news, saying Shaikh Khalifa "was a great statesman and visionary leader under whom India-UAE relations prospered". PAKISTAN -- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted he was "grieved to hear about the passing" of Shaikh Khalifa, adding: "UAE has lost a visionary leader & Pakistan a great friend." ISRAEL - Prime Minister Naftali Bennett offered "his sincerest condolences to the UAE government and its people". PALESTINIANS -- President Mahmud Abbas said he "mourns" for the UAE. JORDAN -- Jordan expressed the "deepest sympathies of King Abdullah and the people of Jordan, as they stand with the people of the UAE in these difficult times". EGYPT -- President Abdel Fattah al Sisi said Shaikh Khalifa was a "loyal friend in all circumstances and conditions". SAUDI ARABIA -- Saudi Arabia said it "shares the UAE people's sorrows" over the death of the president. QATAR -- The emir, Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, offered "the brotherly people of the UAE my deepest condolences and sympathy". 
PRESIDENT SHAIKH KHALIFA: A MODERNISING RULER United Arab Emirates President Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan, who died on Friday at the age of 73 after ruling the Gulf country for more than 17 years, was a reserved figure who saw the United Arab Emirates skyrocket on the global scene -- but rarely appeared in public himself. Shaikh Khalifa succeeded his father, the late UAE founding president Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, as ruler of Abu Dhabi. Shaikh Khalifa was born in 1948 in Abu Dhabi, the largest and richest of the seven emirates that united to form the UAE. He was the eldest son of Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, who founded and ruled the UAE after independence from Britain in 1971. Shaikh Khalifa studied at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in London and became crown prince of Abu Dhabi in 1969. As crown prince, Shaikh Khalifa spent many years acting as president after his father fell sick in the late 1990s. In 2004, his father died and Shaikh Khalifa took power after he was elected by the Federal Supreme Council, the highest constitutional authority in the UAE. It is made up of the rulers of the seven emirates, who last re-elected Shaikh Khalifa as president in 2019, for his fourth five-year term. Shortly after taking power, Shaikh Khalifa introduced elections for the first time in the country, by ordering that half of the 40-member Federal National Council, an advisory body, be directly elected. Under his rule, the country tried to promote itself as a model of tolerance and coexistence, which culminated with a visit by Pope Francis in 2019. While president, he was also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and the chairman of the Supreme Petroleum Council and the emirate's sovereign wealth fund, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. Forbes estimated his net wealth in 2010 at $15 billion. Shaikh Khalifa's name will be remembered worldwide, as the world's tallest building immortalises his name. The Burj Khalifa, in the UAE's business and tourist hub Dubai, is 828 metres high. Shaikh Khalifa was said to be fond of fishing and falconry, and had supported several environmental initiatives, including those focusing on the Houbara bustard. He was married to Shaikha Shamsa bint Suhail al Mazrouei. The couple have eight children: two sons and six daughters. |
