The new president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be elected within 30 days. In accordance with the constitution, the vice president and head of government, who also serves as defense minister, Dubai ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will serve as head of state until a federal council of the rulers of the seven emirates meets within 30 days to elect a new president, Al Arabiya television reported Friday.
UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan died Friday at the age of 73 after a long illness. He took over the presidency in November 2004 after the death of his father, the first president of the Emirates, and was re-elected in 2009, 2014, and 2019. In January 2014, he suffered a severe stroke and underwent surgery. After that, he made his first public appearance until three and a half years later, in June 2017. He has one wife and eight children, including two sons.
In the UAE, the head of state is the president, elected for five years by the Supreme Council (the main body of state power, composed of the rulers of the seven emirates). Despite this procedure, since the foundation of the state, the post belongs to the Emir of Abu Dhabi and is hereditary. Simultaneously with the president, the vice president is elected. The President of the UAE is the supreme commander of the armed forces and the chairman of the Supreme Defense Council.
The hereditary prince of Abu Dhabi is the half-brother of the late president, the third son of the first president, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He is a graduate of a military pilot course in the USA, graduated from the military academy in Sandhurst (Great Britain) and studied in Egypt. It is he who is to become the country's next president. "The Emirates has lost its righteous son, the leader of [the state's] independence phase and the guardian of its blessed path. <...> His positions, achievements, wisdom, donations and initiatives in every corner of the country," Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Twitter.
Mourning in the state and beyond
A 40-day nationwide mourning period has been declared in the UAE, during which time state flags will be lowered and entertainment events will be canceled. For three days - from 14 to 17 May - all ministries, government agencies and private sector businesses will be closed. In connection with the death of Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman declared a three-day mourning period.
Arab and foreign heads of state expressed their condolences Friday over the death of the UAE president.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS