His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan leaves a legacy of stability and tolerance

The Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced the passing of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi on Friday 13 May 2022.

A statement read: “The Ministry of Presidential Affairs condoles the people of the UAE, the Arab and Islamic nation and the world over the demise of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE.”

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan served as the president of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi since 2004.

His passing represents a great loss to the residents and citizens of the UAE and the wider Arab communities globally and will be marked by a period of mourning, which will also be observed by the UAE’s hospitality industry.

The official 40-day mourning period will see flags flown at half-mast across the nation, while the initial three-day mourning period, running from Saturday 14 to Monday 16 May, has led to the postponement or cancellation of several events, including entertainment shows, launch parties and even fitness classes, in part due to the pause on music being played in public – but hotels, restaurants and bars remain open.

Dubai Comedy Festival and Louvre Abu Dhabi were among the entities to cancel planned weekend shows.

Meanwhile, to honour the late Sheikh, RTA – Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority – announced it would drop tolls and parking fees for the three-day mourning period, and replaced electronic roads signs with messages of condolences.

Offices in both the public and private sector will also be closed during the three-day mourning period, with normal working hours resuming on Tuesday 17 May.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, half-brother of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has been elected the new president of the UAE by the federal supreme council.