Mourning in the UAE, Sheikh Zayed's funeral is today

The United Arab Emirates has announced general mourning for 40 days over the death of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan al-Nahyan, the founder of the state who died yesterday at 86 year old, 33 years of them as a president for the country.

A funeral ceremony will be held today while the the new ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khaleifa Bin Zayed al-Nahyan is accepting condolences on the death of his father as from today evening. It was also decided to stop work in the government's establishments for 8 days and the private sector for 3 days.

According to the UAE constitution, the vice President Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashed al-Maktoum the governor of Dubai assumes the presidency of the state until the federal higher council which is composed of the seven rulers of the seven United Arab Emirates will appoint a new President for the country within 30 days.

Observers expect in light of that the ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaleifa al-Nahyan, to be the president of the country.

The news which was declared yesterday after al-Iftar, was received by feelings of strong sadness in the UAE cities. Contrary to what these cities used to of Ramadan's evenings, unprecedented quietness overwhelmed and shops and restaurants closed their doors.

The Arab states eulogized the late president and announced official mourning. In Jordan, national mourning was announced for three days while the royal family announced mourning for 40 days and stop working in official departments for one day ( today) Wednesday.

Mourning was also announced in Bahrain for 40 days and stopping work in government's establishments for three days as from today.

The Saudi crown prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz gave his condolences in a telephone call with the new ruler of Abu Dhabi and also Egypt, Yemen and Morocco announced mourning for three days.

The secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa eulogized Sheikh Zayed and described him as a noble knight and a genuine Arab leader of deep commitment to nationalism.

Sheikh Zayed was born in Abu Dhabi in 1918. He was the youngest amongst his four male brothers and was named after his Grand father Sheikh Zayed Bin Khaleifa al-Nahyan whose term of rule was the longest in the history of Abu Dhabi history as he ruled it from 1855 to 1905.

On August 9, 1966 Sheikh Zayed became the ruler of Abu Dhabi and his brother sheikh Shakhbout gave up the rule for him.

When Britain announced determination to end its military presence in the Gulf in January 1968, Sheikh Zayed was the first to call for unity.

On December 2nd, 1971 a federation of 6 emirates was composed of ( Abu Dhabi, Ajaman, Dubai, al-Fuheira, al-Sharja and Um al-Qewein ) and was known under the name of the United Arab Emirates.

Sheikh Zayed was elected as a president for the federation and Sheikh Rashed al-Maktoum as a vice President. After a while Raas al-Khaeima joined the federation which was announced officially on February 11, 1972.

Sheikh Zayed remained the President for the UAE and the country flourished greatly under his rule. The population grew and progress and building up proceeded in all walks of life.

Sheikh Zayed's health conditions deteriorated in recent years and his medical treatment tours increased to the USA. He had a backbone surgery in 1996 and another one for kidney planting in 2000.

In his foreign policy, Sheikh Zayed was very careful to maintain good relations with the Arab states. He very often has initiatives to ending inter-Arab conflicts and thanks to his efforts the Arab oil boycott of the West was made in the October war of 1973.

Sheikh Zayed considered that the solution of the issue of the three islands under disputes with Iran ( Tanb the great, Tanb the small and Abu Mousa) can be solved through peaceful means, by direct negotiations or international arbitration.

Prior to the American occupation of Iraq in April 2003, Sheikh Zayed proposed to the Arab League summit which was held in Sharm Esh Sheikh that the Iraqi president Saddam Hussein to give the authority and to leave Iraq with his family secure. This proposal did not find its way to the agenda of the summit and raised the regret of the Iraqi side and different reactions on the Arab arena.