Jordan's King Abdullah declares 40 days of mourning for UAE's Sheikh Khalifa

The President, Sheikh Khalifa died on Friday at the age of 73

Sheikh Khalifa, right, and dignitaries watch a parade on Abu Dhabi Corniche to celebrate Accession Day, on November 28 1971. Photo: Al Ittihad

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher greets Sheikh Khalifa, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, at 10 Downing Street in London, on July 18, 1984. Keystone / Hulton Archive

UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and Sheikh Khalifa. Photo: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Zayed inspects plans for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, with his sons Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Sultan. Photo: Al Ittihad

French President Jacques Chirac speaks to Sheikh Khalifa, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, at the end of his visit to the UAE on December 16, 1997. Reuters

US President Bill Clinton meets Sheikh Khalifa, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in the Oval Office of the White House on May 12, 1998. Reuters

Jordan's King Abdullah II speaks to President Sheikh Khalifa, on the sidelines Sheikh Zayed's funeral in Abu Dhabi on November 3, 2004. AFP

President Sheikh Khalifa stands for a photo with the UAE national football team at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi on January 31, 2007, after the team beat Oman to win the Gulf Cup for the first time. AFP

President Sheikh Khalifa watches the first Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 1, 2009, with Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakstan, and Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman. Ryan Carter / The National

President Sheikh Khalifa greets Oman's leader, Sultan Qaboos, at Al Ain airport on July 11, 2011. Wam

President Sheikh Khalifa leaves Al Ain on December 30, 2012, for a private visit to Pakistan. Wam

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, presents the first copy of his new book 'Flashes of Thought' to President Sheikh Khalifa in 2013. Wam

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip with President Sheikh Khalifa at Windsor Castle in southern England on April 30, 2013. Reuters

President Sheikh Khalifa meets family members at his home in Evian, France, in 2014. Wam

President Sheikh Khalifa receives Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, at the Presidential Palace in Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, on May 8, 2019. Also present is Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman. Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

President Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

Sheikh Khalifa performing Umrah. Wam

Sheikh Khalifa. Wam

President Sheikh Khalifa receives Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah; Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman; Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah; Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain; and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. Wam

Jordan’s King Abdullah II said the death of the UAE’s Sheikh Khalifa was like losing a brother as commemorations poured in after the death of the Emirati leader.

The UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced the death of The President, Sheikh Khalifa, on Friday. He was 73.

Leaders around the world have started expressing their condolences.

“We have lost a dear brother and an outstanding leader who inherited wisdom from his late great father Sheikh Zayed and dedicated his life to serving his country and the Arab and Islamic nations,” King Abdullah said, the state-run Petra News Agency reported.

The Royal Hashemite Court declared a 40-day period of mourning to mark the passing of Sheikh Khalifa while the government issued a national three-day period with flags at half-staff.

“The Royal Hashemite Court mourns with great sadness, sorrow and deep affection, the late His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the sisterly United Arab Emirates, who passed away today,” a statement from the court said.

"The Royal Hashemite Court, as it mourns the great deceased [leader], expresses the profound grief and affection of His Majesty King Abdullah II and the people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and affirms the Kingdom’s support for the United Arab Emirates and the brotherly Emirati people in this difficult circumstance.”

Prime minister Bishr Al Khasawneh joined the king and offered his condolences on behalf of the Jordanian government.

“Today we have lost an outstanding and loyal Arab leader, who devoted his life to serving his country and the causes of the Arab and Islamic nations,” Mr Al Khasawneh said.

He said Sheikh Khalifa had “continued the march of achievement, goodness, giving and strength and [made the UAE] a model for development and modernity in our region and the world at large”.