Sheikha Hessa, mother of United Arab Emirates' ruler, dies

Emirati President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan attends the opening of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Doha, 03 December 2007. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today offered a security pact with Gulf Arab leaders, as he became the first president from the Islamic republic to take part in their summit. (AFP)

DUBAI: Sheikha Hessa bint Mohammed Al Nahyan, the mother of the ruler of the United Arab Emirates, has died.
The state-run WAM news agency announced Sheikha Hessa’s death on Sunday, without offering any details or giving her age.
WAM said the UAE would observe three days of mourning beginning Sunday.
Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid extended his condolences to President Khalifa and the entire Al Nahyan family.
Sheikh Mohammed also tweeted his condolences.

My deep condolences to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and all the people of the UAE, on our loss of his mother Her Highness Sheikha Hessa bint Mohammed Al Nahyan. May she rest in peace.

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) January 28, 2018

And in a tweet Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan sent "our most sincere and heartfelt condolences."

We extend our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the death of his mother Sheikha Hessa bint Mohammed Al Nahyan. We pray to Almighty Allah that her soul rests in eternal peace

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) January 28, 2018

And a statement from the court of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said, “Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is mourning the death of Sheikha Hessa, who passed away today. May Allah rest her soul in peace.”
Sharjah ruler Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi; Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman; Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah; Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Ruler of Umm al-Qaiwain; and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras al-Khaimah, all sent messages of condolence to the UAE president and his wider family.
Sheikha Hessa was the first wife of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first president of the UAE when the federation of seven sheikhdoms became a country in 1971.
She gave birth in 1948 to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who became president after Sheikh Zayed’s death in 2004. Sheikh Khalifa is also the ruler of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.
(With Associated Press and WAM)