The UAE has entered a mourning period following the death of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the second President of the United Arab Emirates and 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi, who passed away at age 73 on Friday, May 13.
Following the announcement, the UAE suspended all work within the public and private sectors for a period of three days – from Saturday, May 14 to Monday, May 16 – to mourn the leader’s death.
Additionally, restaurants, bars, and hotels will cease playing live music or hosting entertainment, and live events will be cancelled, Arabian Business sister publication Hotelier Middle East reported Saturday.
In Abu Dhabi, a circular was sent to establishments telling them that all music and entertainment performances must be cancelled, as well as fireworks displays and celebrations. Weddings are permitted but with no music.
Hotels were advised to be accommodating to any event organiser that will have to reschedule an event as a result, without penalty where possible.
Theme parks, cultural attractions, tourism sites and theme parks are to remain open.
In Dubai, the Department of Economy and Tourism sent a notice to establishments telling them that all entertainment featuring music and dancing should be put on hold until Tuesday.
Dubai Comedy Festival was among those to confirm its events had been postponed.
Sheikh Khalifa was the second President of the United Arab Emirates and 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi. He died on Friday at age 73. He assumed the office of the UAE President in 2004 after his father, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, passed away.
Born in 1948, he was raised in Al-Ain and became his father’s official representative to the region when the latter became Ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966.
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