São Paulo – This Friday (13), the president of the United Arab Emirates, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan (pictured above), passed away at 73. The announcement was made by the country’s state news agency, WAM. The causes were not disclosed, but Sheikh Khalifa, Emir of Abu Dhabi, who suffered a stroke and underwent surgery in 2014, was already out of work and had been fighting for his recovery. His brother, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed, had been handling the day-to-day administration ever since.
Khalifa took up the presidency in 2004, the same day his father, founder of the UAE, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, passed away. Following the country’s constitution, the Vice President of the UAE and Emir of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, takes over as interim president. The federal council assembling the rulers of the seven emirates will meet within 30 days to elect a new president, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed is expected to be named.
The UAE will observe 40-day national mourning with flags at half-mast starting this Friday (13) and will suspend work in all federal, local, and private ministries, departments, and entities for three days until Tuesday (16).
The tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, is named after Sheikh Khalifa, as the Emir of Abu Dhabi lent a considerable sum for the building to be completed.
Translated by Elúsio Brasileiro
