Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed al-Qassimi died on Wednesday morning, which is big news here in the UAE. He was the last of the founding fathers of the country, and served as the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah (one of the other Emirates in the UAE) for 60 years.
The country has declared seven days of mourning in Abu Dhabi, and government offices are closed for a week in Ras Al Khaimah. Radio stations have all been given over to soothing music and prayers, which is a bit of a change from the American Top 40 they normally play. The newspapers were filled with ads expressing condolences and several community events were postponed or cancelled.
It was interesting to observe the coverage and seeing how the media handled the announcement. If you’re interested in reading more, here’s some good local coverage:
