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Shaikh Nasser Bin Zayed Al Nahyan dies

by Amy Judd | June 3, 2008 at 03:28 pm

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The brother of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan died in a helicopter crash last night, and today began a three-day mourning period for Shaikh Nasser Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Ministry of Presidential Affairs on Tuesday announced the death of Shaikh Nasser Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the brother of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Shaikh Nasser died on Monday night when the helicopter carrying him and his colleagues crashed over Gulf waters.

In a statement, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced a three-day mourning period starting on Tuesday.

Offices in the government, public and private sectors will continue to work as normal, an authorised source at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs said.

President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, offered funeral prayers on Tuesday evening for Shaikh Nasser.

Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, along with Deputy Rulers and Crown Princes, shaikhs and scores of UAE citizens also performed the funeral prayers.

President Shaikh Khalifa received condolences on Tuesday at Al Mushrif Palace after the funeral service.

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René

at 16:04 on June 3rd, 2008

Who is this person? Which one died? your story is not clear. Why should we be concerned? Is there going to be a big policy change? A fight for succession? What country or which emirate? What did he do? What is a Shaikh? head of a tribe? a town?

Amy Judd

at 16:44 on June 3rd, 2008

Shaikh Nasser Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the brother of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is the current president of the UAE. I stated it was his brother in my intro.

There isn't going to be a big policy change because it is his brother, not the ruler, and you don't have to be concerned about this news at all. I'm not thinking this will affect you in the US, but I follow news from the Middle East, so I found this to be an interesting story. Sorry you didn't.

A Shaikh, or 'Sheikh' as it is sometimes spelled, is an Arabic term for 'elder'.