President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, passed away on Friday, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced.
The ministry also confirmed that there will be 40 days of official mourning with flags across the UAE drawn at half-mast.
It added that federal and local levels, as well as those of the private sector, will also suspend work for three days, starting from Friday.
No official word is given yet on the cause of death.
However, in a statement, the ministry expressed its condolences to the people of the UAE and the Arab nations “on the death of the leader of the nation and the guardian of its journey”.
