Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahayan, the founding president of the United Arab Emirates, passed away in November 2004 after leading the Gulf federation for more than 30 years. He was believed to be in his late 80s and had experienced health difficulties in recent years, including neck surgery in 1996 and a kidney transplant in 2000.
Zayed played a central role in establishing the UAE on 2 December 1971, following Britain's withdrawal from the Gulf, and had been reelected to consecutive five-year terms ever since. He was widely credited with channeling oil revenues into the development of the desert nation.
The country entered a 40-day mourning period, with government offices closing for eight days and private businesses for three. Deputy President Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashed al-Maktoum assumed presidential duties pending a successor's selection by the Supreme Federal Council within one month. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, the late president's eldest son, was widely expected to assume the presidency.
Tributes arrived from across the Arab world and beyond. US Secretary of State Colin Powell praised Zayed's "wise leadership characterized by generosity, tolerance," while Arab nations declared their own periods of mourning. Expatriates, who make up over 80 percent of the UAE's roughly 3.75 million residents, also expressed grief publicly.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in November 2004, in its own words.