Dubai declares 10-day mourning, suspends government work for 3 days over Sheikh Hamdan’s demise

The Dubai Ruler’s Court has announced a 10-day mourning period on account of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s death earlier this morning.

Read: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, passes away

Flags will be flown at half-mast during the mourning period. Meanwhile, all government departments and entities across Dubai will suspend their operations for three days, beginning Thursday, March 25.

The Ruler’s Court announces a 10-day mourning period during which flags will be flown at half-mast. Dubai Government departments and entities will suspend operations for 3 days, starting Thursday 25 March.

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 24, 2021

Funeral prayers were performed at Za’abeel Mosque today, attended by several members of the royal family.

The Court added that in view of the current exceptional circumstances, funeral prayer for the deceased will be limited to family members only.

Pictures: @HHShkMohd, @HamdanMohammed and @MaktoumMohammed perform funeral prayers for the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, joined by several Sheikhs of the Al Maktoum family at Zabeel Mosque. pic.twitter.com/zSx87r37hi

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 24, 2021

Sheikh Hamdan, 75, had held the Finance Minister’s post since the first formation of the Cabinet on December 9, 1971.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, also took to social media to offer his condolences.

“May God have mercy on my brother Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, and reward him with the best reward for what he offered to his country and its people,” he tweeted.

فقدنا اليوم أحد رجالات الإمارات المخلصين بعد حياة زاخرة بالعطاء والعمل الوطني الصادق..رحم الله أخي الشيخ حمدان بن راشد وجزاه خير الجزاء على ما قدمه لوطنه وشعبه.. أعزي نفسي وأخي محمد بن راشد وآل مكتوم الكرام في هذا المصاب الجلل..داعيا الله أن يلهمهم الصبر والسلوان pic.twitter.com/mImz6hHTiZ

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) March 24, 2021

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid presided over several high-level government entities such as Dubai ‎Municipality, Al Maktoum Foundation, Dubai Aluminum (DUBAL) and Dubai Natural Gas ‎Company Limited, Dubai World Trade Centre, among others.‎

المغفور له باذن الله تعالى الشيخ حمدان بن راشد آل مكتوم ، إرث زاخر بالعطاء والعمل الوطني المخلص للوطن والشعب pic.twitter.com/C7oXCB6jNp

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 24, 2021