United Arab Emirates President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan passed away on Friday at the age of 73, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced.

The ministry also confirmed there will be 40 days of official mourning with flags across the UAE drawn at half-mast, and the work of all UAE ministries at the federal and local levels, as well as those of the private sector, will also be suspended for three days, beginning on Friday.

No official word is given yet on the cause of death.

(With input from Xinhua News Agency)