He had been fighting for a long time, against the disease that gave him no escape. Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates, died today. The sheikh was 73 years old and the announcement of his death was made by the state news agency through a brief statement from the Emirati Ministry of Presidential Affairs.
Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the second president of the Gulf country, in office since 2004: he helped bring the Emirates from a small desert oasis to global prominence and lead it in turbulent times, during the 2008 financial crisis.
In a note, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs offers its “condolences to the Emirati people, the Arab and Islamic nation and the world“, announcing 40 days of official mourning.
A note also immediately spread from the United States. Joe Biden remembers the president of the Emirates as a true friend of the United States: “Jill (the president’s wife, ed) and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan. Khalifa was a true partner and friend of the United States during his ten-year term as president of the United Arab Emirates. ” He adds: “On behalf of the American people, I offer my condolences to the family of Sheikh Khalifa and to all the Emirates as they mourn this great loss. We will honor his memory by continuing to strengthen the longstanding ties between the governments and peoples of the United States and of the United Arab Emirates “.
Khalifa, who came to the throne in 2004 after the death of his father Zayed who “united what the British had divided”, that is, the seven Emirates. He is also remembered as the King of peace with Israel. Described as shy and silent, generous and philanthropist, above all a supporter of peace with Israel, having favored the historic signing of the Abrahamic Agreements on 13 August 2020.
Among other things, Sheikh Zayed is remembered as the man who wanted the Abu Dhabi Grand Mosque to “crystallize” the grandeur of the Emirati capital. The place of worship is considered the most important and most impressive in the country, as well as the largest, capable of hosting more than 41,000 people. The project was commissioned by the sheikh himself, former president at the time, who wanted to create a structure capable of combining the cultural diversity of the Islamic world with the historical and modern values of architecture and art. The complex of buildings, built from 1996 to 2007, occupies a total area of more than 12 hectares and for the construction had employed more than 3,000 workers and 38 companies.