UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Dies Aged 73: State Media

The UAE's official state media outlet Wam has confirmed the death of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the age of 73.

• Statement went on to say that "The Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced that there will be forty days of official mourning with flags at half mast and three days closure of ministries and official entities at the federal and local levels and the private sector."
• Sheikh Khalifa of Abu Dhabi served as president since 2004, but has been in ill health for some time since suffering a stroke in 2014. This has led Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed (MbZ) to effectively govern in his stead for some time. With this experience, a smooth transition of power with little risk to policy continuity is likely.
• The UAE sits as the eighth-largest global oil producer and the 10th largest natural gas producer. The UAE is also a key security player in the Middle East region. Only a few days ago, US Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, who recently took over Central Command and holds responsibility for troops in the MidEast met with MbZ, who it was reported in January had been aggreived at US President Joe Biden's lacking response to a Houthi rebel attack on the UAE.