3 hours agoUnited Arab Emirates President Dies
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahian, president of the United Arab Emirates, who helped transform his country with modernisation policies, passed away Friday at the age of 73. The Ministry of Presidential Affairs said the country declared 40 days of national mourning, starting today. While local and federal administration will not [...]
The Ministry of Presidential Affairs said the country declared 40 days of national mourning, starting today. And local and federal administration will not work for three days.
Sheikh Khalifa held a largely ceremonial role since he suffered a heart attack and submission to an operation in 2014. His brother, and Abu Dabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, is widely seen as leader “de facto” of Emirates, who also deals with the country's daily affairs.
Sheikh Khalifa was proclaimed the country's second president in 2004, succeeding his father and founder, Sheikh Zayed al-Nahyan. Born in 1948, Khalifa was the eldest son of the Sheikh Zayed. Before the president's role was the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and headed the Supreme Council of Oil in the country.
He was also the head of Abu Dhabi Investment Fund, one of the world's largest funds managing hundreds of billions of dollars in assets. One of the world's highest buildings, Burj Khalifa, bears his name, while strongly supporting the purchase of the Manchester City Club, as he was a hot football fan.
Abu Dhabi's royal family, performed by him, is said to have a $120 billion fortune.
Under the country's Constitution, Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, will retain the office of president until the federal council meets within 30 days to elect a new president. /A2 CNN
