India on Friday announced a day of state mourning on Saturday due to the death of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The Government of India has decided to hold a day of state mourning on May 14 as a sign of respect to the departed dignitary, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.
The ministry said that the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings where it is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment on the day of mourning.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was a great statesman and visionary leader, under whom relations between the two countries prospered after the death of United Arab Emirates UAE President and Abu Dhabi ruler Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
PM Modi wrote in a tweet, "I am deeply saddened by the passing of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed. He was a great statesman and a visonary leader under whom India-UAE relations prospered. The people of India are in deep condolences with the people of the UAE. PM Modi tweeted, "The heartfelt condolences of the people of India are with the people of UAE.
The demise of the former president of the UAE was condoled by President Ram Nath Kovind.
He will always be remembered for his contribution to the bilateral relations and welfare of the Indian community in UAE. President Kovind sounded his condolences to His Highness family, the governor and the people of the UAE in this hour of grief.
S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister, expressed grief deeply after the passing of the Khalifa.
He will be remembered as a leader who modernized and empowered the United Arab Emirates. Jaishankar said this laid the foundation of the transformation of the India-UAE relationship.
Khalifa, born in 1948, came to power in the richest emirate of Abu Dhabi in 2004 and became the head of state. He is expected to be replaced by his half-brother Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan as the ruler of Abu Dhabi.
After Khalifa suffered a stroke in 2014, Mohammed bin Zayed has been the de facto ruler of the UAE, particularly after he was rarely seen in public.
Under the constitution, the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, will act as the president until the federal council, which includes the rulers of the seven emirates, meets within 30 days to elect a new president.