LONG-AILING LEADER OF UAE SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN ZAYED DIES

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates’ long-ailing ruler and president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, died on Friday, the government announced in a brief statement. He was 73.

Sheikh Khalifa oversaw much of the country’s blistering economic growth and his name was immortalised on the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, after bailing out debt-crippled Dubai during its financial crisis over a decade ago.

However, after suffering a stroke and undergoing emergency surgery in 2014, a decade after becoming president, he ceased having any involvement in the day-to-day affairs of ruling the country.

The last several years of his life saw his half-brother Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed rise to become the de facto ruler and decisionmaker of major foreign policy decisions, such as joining a Saudi-led war in Yemen and spearheading an embargo on neighbouring Qatar in recent years.

The crown prince, also the deputy supreme commander of the armed forces, shepherded the UAE’S budding ties with Israel after the two normalised relations in 2020.

The UAE announced a 40-day period of mourning and a threeday suspension of work across the government and private sector, including flags to be flown at half-staff.

There was no immediate announcement on a successor, although Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed is anticipated to claim the presidency. He would assume the title at a time of high oil prices, which boost the UAE’S spending power.

In a statement, US secretary of state Anthony Blinken described Sheikh Khalifa “as a true friend of the United States.”

Messages of condolences poured in from around the region and the world, foremost from leaders of Arab countries supported by Abu Dhabi.