Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Dubai’s deputy ruler passed away on Wednesday. He was 75 years old. Sheikh Hamdan was the brother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum and had been holding the finance ministry position since the very first UAE Cabinet was formed back in 1971. According to Khaleej Times, Sheikh Hamdan was not in the best of health for some time now and even underwent surgery in October last year. Sheikh Mohammed bid farewell to his late brother in a heartfelt post, writing, “My brother, my support, my lifelong friend”.
The UAE’s de facto ruler, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nayhan, tweeted, “Today we lost one of the UAE’s faithful men after a life rich with giving and true patriotic work.” Sheikh Hamdan’s funeral will be restricted to family members due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Dubai Media Office said.
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However, funeral prayers will be held in mosques across the UAE today, March 24. The absentee prayers will be offered after the Maghrib prayer. Dubai has announced 10 days of mourning with flags to be flown at half-mast and a closure of government institutions in the emirate for three days as of Thursday. In 2008, Dubai’s ruler established the line of succession in the emirate by naming his son Hamdan, 38, as the crown prince. His other son Maktoum is also a deputy ruler of Dubai. May his soul rest in peace.