There will be three days of mourning in the UAE…

H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the brother of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has passed away.

President Sheikh Khalifa announced the news via a statement carried by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs on Monday November 18, confirming that there would be three official days of mourning in the UAE, starting from Monday.

During the official mourning period, flags will fly at half mast and radio shows replaced with classical music or Quran recitation. Typically, live entertainment is also cancelled during the nation-wide mourning period.

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai shared his condolences with the Al Nayhan family and the UAE.

Taking to social media, Sheikh Mohammed said, “Zayed’s sons have eternal fingerprints in the UAE. Zayed’s sons have a different love in the heart of every Emirati.”

“Zayed’s sons are partners in the Foundation who time will never forget. May God have mercy on Sheikh Sultan.”

Sheikh Sultan was born in 1955 in Al Ain, the second son to the UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He was educated in the UK, first at Millfield school in Somerset, then graduating from Sandhurst military academy.

He previously served as Commander in Chief of the UAE’s Armed Forces, Chairman of the Public Works Department and Deputy Prime Minister, before assuming his position as the president’s representative, a position he held until his death.

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Images: Twitter