State news agency WAM reported that the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan passed away on Friday, May 13th, 2022.
The UAE’s Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced an official morning period starting from today, for the next 40 days, with flags at half-mast. The ministry also suspended work in the private sector, as well as in ministries, departments, federal and local institutions, starting from today, for a period of 3 days.
The late Sheikh Khalifa was the second president of the United Arab Emirates, which was formed by the merging of seven emirates back in 1971, and ruled by his late father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He was also the 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi.
Condolences are pouring in from nations worldwide, as the world mourns the death of a great leader, and remembers him for his many achievements which include:
- Presiding over a major restructuring of both the Federal Government and the government of Abu Dhabi
- Developing the oil and gas sector in a way that helped diversify the country’s economy
- Establishing a social services and commercial buildings department, commonly known as the ‘Sheikh Khalifa Commitee’.
- Developing the country’s armed forces, by introducing modern technologies and advanced training methods
- Modifying the method of selecting members of the Federal National Council, by combining the process of election and appointment
- Supporting local sports teams, who then achieved local, regional, and international recognition
- Heading one of the largest investment funds in the world, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. This establishment managed hundreds of billions of dollars in assets.
The late president was known for his generosity, and the Burj Khalifa was named after him after the UAE government bailed Dubai out of its debt. He was also known for being a good listener, and for showing deep interest in the affairs of his people. May he rest in peace.
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