UAE in mourning after sheikh's death

Three days of official mourning began on Wednesday across the UAE as a mark of respect after the death of the president's younger brother. Rulers from across the emirates paid their tributes to the president after the body of Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, brother of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was found on Tuesday following his death in a glider crash in Morocco on Friday.

Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation said events scheduled as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival 2010 during the period of official mourning had been cancelled.

The committee overseeing the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi also said it would be closed for non-worship activities until Saturday.

The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) announced the postponement of the final episode of Million's Poet TV competition scheduled for Wednesday.

The postponement also includes all related events such as Million's Poet concerts scheduled for Friday.

The Court of the Ruler of Dubai announced three days of official mourning, starting from Wednesday, during which the flags will be flown half mast at governmental departments, news agency WAM reported.

The Court of Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, UAE Supreme Council member and ruler of Ras al-Khaimah also announced three days of official mourning.

The Court of Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, UAE Supreme Council member and ruler of Fujairah, the Court of Sheikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mualla, UAE Supreme Council Member and the Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, and the Court of Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, UAE Supreme Council member and ruler of Ajman also expressed their condolences.

President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan also received condolences from the Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and from Egyptian president Mohammed Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah while Palestinian Ambassador in Abu Dhabi, Dr Khairi Al-Arirdi, expressed heartfelt condolences.

The aircraft of Sheikh Ahmed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the managing director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), crashed into a reservoir 10km (6 miles) south of the Moroccan capital Rabat on Friday.

The pilot of the glider who was rescued after the crash is now in a stable condition.

Sheikh Ahmed was in his early 40s and was ranked No 27 on Forbes list of the world's most powerful people last year.

His sovereign wealth fund is believed to have assets of around $500 to $700 billion, ranging from Citigroup bonds to a stake in Britain's Gatwick airport to residential property in major cities.