UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan passes away

Highlights:

• UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan passed away at the age of 73 on May 13, 2022.
• Sheikh Khalifa Al Nahyan was serving as the president of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi since November 2004.
• He was the country's second president, succeeding his father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in November 2004.
• Sheikh Khalifa has been credited with helping to bring the UAE to global prominence and leading the country through turbulent times during the 2008 financial crisis.
• The Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced that UAE will observe a forty-day state mourning with the flag flown at half-mast starting today, and suspend work at all ministries, departments, and federal, local and private entities for three days.

• Sheikh Kahlifa had succeeded his father and UAE’s founder Sheikh Zayed in 2004. 
• He suffered a stroke a decade later and since then he has been largely out of public sight.
• Sheikh Kahlifa is likely to be replaced by his brother, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, who is seen as the UAE's de facto ruler. 
• There has been immediate announcement about the successor.