United Arab Emirates holds funeral service for Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan

United Arab Emirates holds funeral service for Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan

The UAE has on Friday evening held a funeral for its president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who died on Friday at the age of 73.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi, performed the funeral prayer for late president at the Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed the First Mosque in Abu Dhabi, WAM news agency reported.

Sheikh Mohammed and members of the al-Nahyan family accompanied the body of the late Sheikh Khalifa to his final resting place at Al-Bateen Cemetery in Abu Dhabi, state news agency WAM said.

On Friday, Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan passed away at the age of 73, after having fulfilled several positions of state including presidency of the country since 2004.

The UAE announced a 40-day mourning period with flags flown at half-staff and suspending work at all public and private sector organisations for three days.