Abu Dhabi, UAE
CNN
—
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates President whose modernization insurance policies helped rework his nation right into a regional powerhouse, died on Friday aged 73, state media WAM stated.
“The Ministry of Presidential Affairs mourn the individuals of the UAE, the Arab and Islamic nations, and the entire world. The chief of the nation and the patron of its march, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, handed away to the Lord’s facet in the present day, Friday, Could 13,” WAM stated.
“The Ministry of Presidential Affairs pronounces an official mourning and flags to be flown at half-mast for the late His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, might God have mercy on him, for a interval of 40 days, beginning in the present day, and suspending work in ministries, departments, federal and native establishments, and the non-public sector for 3 days, beginning in the present day (Friday),” WAM stated in a tweet.
Sheikh Khalifa’s function had been largely ceremonial since he suffered a stroke and underwent surgical procedure in 2014. His brother and Abu Dhabi’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, has been broadly seen because the de-facto chief of the UAE, dealing with day-to-day affairs for the Gulf state.
Sheikh Khalifa was appointed because the second president of the UAE in 2004, succeeding his father and founding father of the nation, Sheikh Zayed al Nahyan.
Born in 1948 within the Japanese Area of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa was the eldest son of Sheikh Zayed. Previous to his function as president, he was crown prince of Abu Dhabi and headed Abu Dhabi’s Supreme Petroleum Council, which drafts oil coverage.
As president he headed one of many largest funding funds on the planet, the Abu Dhabi Funding Authority, managing a whole bunch of billions of {dollars} in belongings.
One of many world’s tallest buildings, the Burj Khalifa, took on his identify after the UAE authorities bailed Dubai out of its debt, and as a sports activities fan he supported the acquisition of English Premier League soccer membership Manchester Metropolis.