India has declared a day of state mourning over the death of the President of the United Arab Emirates

India on Friday declared a day of state mourning over the death of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Indian government has decided to observe a day of state mourning across the country on May 14 as a mark of respect for the deceased, the home ministry said in a statement.

On the day of mourning, the national flag will be flown at half-mast in all buildings where it flies regularly and there will be no official entertainment, the ministry said.

Further, mourning the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and ruler of Abu Dhabi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was a great statesman and visionary leader under whom relations between the two countries improved.

In a tweet, Prime Minister Modi wrote, “I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed. He was a great statesman and visionary leader under whom India-UAE relations developed. The sincere condolences of the people of India. May the soul rest in peace. “

The people of India have deep sympathy with the people of the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister Modi tweeted.

In addition, President Ram Nath Kobind also expressed his condolences over the death of the former President of the United Arab Emirates.

President Kobind tweeted, “We will always remember our bilateral relations and his contribution to the well-being of the Indian community in the UAE. My condolences to His Excellency’s family, Government and the people of the UAE during this time of mourning.”

S. Jayashankar, the foreign minister, also expressed deep grief over the death of the caliph.

“He will be remembered as a leader who modernized and empowered the UAE. It laid the foundation for the transformation of India-UAE relations,” Jayashankar tweeted.

Khalifa, who was born in 1948, came to power in Abu Dhabi, the richest emirate in 2004, and became head of state. He is expected to succeed his half-brother, Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Mohammed bin Zayed was the de facto ruler of the UAE, especially after the caliph’s stroke in 2014, after which he was rarely seen in public.

Under the constitution, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister, will serve as president of Dubai until the federal council meets with a group of seven emirs to elect a new president within 30 days.