As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary of United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the Government of India has decided the country will observe one day’s state mourning on May 14, announced the Ministry of Home Affairs. The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, died on Friday. He was 73 years old. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed served as the President of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi since November 3, 2004.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday condoled the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and said that the relations between India and the UAE prospered under his leadership. Prime Minister Modi said in a tweet, “Deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed. He was a great and visionary statesman under whom relations between India and UAE prospered. The condolences of the people of India are with the people of UAE in this hour of grief. 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 the first President of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed.
I am deeply saddened to know about the passing away of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed. He was a great statesman and visonary leader under whom India-UAE relations prospered. The heartfelt condolences of the people of India are with the people of UAE. May his soul rest in peace.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 13, 2022
On the day of mourning, the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings where it is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment.
Under the constitution, vice-president and premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, will act as president until the federal council which groups the rulers of the seven emirates meets within 30 days to elect a new president.
Meanwhile, in UAE, The Ministry of Presidential Affairs has declared 40 days of national mourning on the death of Sheikh Khalifa. During this, the national flag will remain half-masted and all ministries, departments, and federal and local institutions will stop functioning from Friday. Sheikh Khalifa succeeded his father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who served as the first President of the UAE after the emirate came into existence in 1971, until his death on November 2, 2004. Mosques across the nation will hold prayers on Friday evening and Saturday morning. Worshippers are expected to gather in large numbers, including at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
