Three days of mourning have been declared in Fujairah following the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Saif Al Sharqi, the Deputy Ruler of Fujairah.
Sheikh Hamad died on Wednesday. Funeral prayers will be held on Thursday after Dhuhr prayers at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Fujairah.
Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, will accept condolences at Al Remailah Palace from Thursday.
UAE flags will be flown at half mast during the mourning period.
Close friend Ghasan Balkis, who had known the sheikh since the late 1970s, said: “In the beginning, it was a working relationship, but he used to come daily to the showroom after Aser [afternoon] prayers and we used to pray Maghrib [sunset] together.”
“He was like my father. He was helpful and solved many of the emirate’s problems. He had a lot of good in him.” Mr Balkis met Sheikh Hamad when he first arrived in Fujairah as the managing director of Ahmed Zayani & Sons car showroom.
“I was talking to his son on Whatsapp at 10.29pm yesterday and then I received the news of his death at midnight,” he said.
Tributes and messages of condolence are being sent. Ajman has announced three days of mourning.
The court of Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, has sent condolences to Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed, Ruler of Fujairah, and the Al Sharqi family.
