UAE President Sheik Zayed dies

11/2/2004 8:00:00 PM GMT

United Arab Emirates President, Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has died, Abu Dhabi TV has reported.

Sheik Zayed, 86, has been the ruler of the United Arab Emirates for more than 30 years.

He was sick for several years which kept him from attending Arab summits. He had a kidney transplant four years ago.

"The royal court announces to Arab and Islamic countries and the rest of the world the death of the leader of the nation Sheikh Zayed ... on Tuesday evening," said an announcement read out on Abu Dhabi television.

The Sheikh's eldest son, Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and the presumed heir to the throne.

It hasn't been made clear yet what was the cause of death.

Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was the founding leader of the United Arab Emirates, since the seven emirates were united and took independence from Britain in 1971.

Sheikh Zayed lead the Emirates' development, and turned them from a cluster of desert provinces ruled by Arab tribes to a leading financial and banking center.

Abu Dhabi is the capital and the wealthiest of the seven emirates.

Vice-President and Prime Minister Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai should act as president until the federal council meets to elect a new president.