(AFP, Abu Dhabi, 13th) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) news agency reported that the head of the United Arab Emirates, the caliph, died today at the age of 73 after years of battling the disease.
The state-run United Arab Emirates News Agency (WAM) said: “The Ministry of Head of State Affairs expresses its condolences to the UAE and the people of the Muslim world for the passing of the Caliph (Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan) on Friday, May 13.”
The head of state affairs announced that the flag will be flown at half-staff for 40 days from today, and work in the public and private sectors will be suspended for three days.
The caliph became the second head of the UAE in November 2004, succeeding his father as the 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s wealthiest emirate.
The caliph has made few public appearances since suffering a stroke and undergoing surgery in 2014.
His brother, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, has been seen as the de facto ruler of the UAE in recent years.
