The longtime de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was elected as president on May 14 a day after the death of its former leader and his half-brother.
The Federal Supreme Council expressed its full confidence that the people of the UAE will remain, as Sheikh Zayed and the founders believed, “a faithful guardian of the Union and its gains at all levels”.
The decision comes after former president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan died on Friday at age 73.
The UAE will observe a 40-day state mourning with the flag flown at half-mast on the demise, the ministry announced, adding that work will be suspended at all ministries, departments, and federal, local, and private entities for three days, starting May 14.
Pakistan announces 3-day mourning on sad demise
The Government of Pakistan has announced three-day national mourning from Friday till Sunday in solidarity with the brotherly people of the UAE over the sad demise of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The official statement said that the national flag shall also fly at half-mast during the mourning period.