The late Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. ARCHIVE

The UAE began an official 3-day mourning period on Thursday (July 27) over the death of Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler’s Representative and brother of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Flags will be flown at half-mast across the country until July 29. Radio stations also switched to instrumental music and prayers in mourning. Sheikh Saeed died on on Thursday, days after the Presidential Court announced that he was suffering from a "health problem". The Presidential Court issued an obituary on Thursday, while also offering condolences to the Al Nahyan family. “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful… With hearts faithful to God’s decree and destiny, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan mourns his late brother, H.H. Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Representative of the Ruler of Abu Dhabi, who passed away today,” the obituary read, “May God shower the deceased with His vast mercy, and may He dwell him in paradise and inspire the Al Nahyan family with patience and solace.” The Presidential Court has announced that the funeral prayer will be held on Thursday after the Dhuhr or noon prayer at the Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed the First Mosque in Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi. A funeral prayer will also be performed in all mosques across the country after the Dhuhr prayer. Condolences will be received on Thursday at Al Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. On Friday and Saturday, condolences will be received from 10am to 12pm, and from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.

Tributes pour in

The Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was one of the first people to post a prayer and a black-and-white image of Sheikh Saeed. Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, paid tribute to Sheikh Saeed, saying that the royal "devoted his life to serving his country and its leadership." In his post on the platform X (formerly Twitter), Gargash said, "Sincere condolences to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, and to the honorable Al Nahyan family, on the death of Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed, who devoted his life to serving his country and its leadership."

Who was Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan?

Sheikh Saeed was born in 1965 in Al Ain. He was appointed as the Representative of the Ruler of Abu Dhabi in June 2010. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the UAE University in 1988, and as appointed as the Undersecretary of the Department of Planning in Abu Dhabi after he graduated. He was also a representative of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Sheikh Saeed was a former member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development, and was also the chairman of the Maritime Port Authority in Abu Dhabi from 1991 to 1996. He was also passionate about sports and was chairman of Al Wahda Sports Club and President of the UAE Football Association between 2002 and 2003. JG/ICA/Expat Media
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