The United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan died aged 73 on Friday, state media said. He was battling illness for years, though the cause of his death has not been informed yet.
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, president of the UAE," AFP said quoting WAM news agency.
The ministry announced a 40-day mourning period, the Khaleej Times reported.
Flags will be flown at half-mast and ministries and other departments of both private and public sectors will suspend work for the first three days starting Friday.
"The Ministry of Presidential Affairs also announced that the 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."
— WAM news agency English tweeted.
"The Emirates has lost its virtuous son and leader of the 'stage of empowerment' and the trustee of its blessed journey," bin Zayed tweeted.
"His stances, achievements, wisdom, generosity and initiatives are in every corner of the nation... Khalifa bin Zayed, my brother... may God have mercy on you and grant you access to paradise."
Sheikh Khalifa took over as president (UAE's second) in November 2004, succeeding his father as the 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi, the richest of the federation's seven emirates.