UAE
Solidarity in the Gulf: UAE Announces Four Days of Official Mourning Following the Passing of the Father Emir of Qatar
Presidential Court orders flags to fly at half-mast across all government entities and diplomatic missions as leadership extends heartfelt condolences to Doha.
By 19Network Editorial Team · Jul 13, 2026 · 5 min read
Demonstrating the deep brotherhood and diplomatic bonds unifying the Gulf Cooperation Council, the United Arab Emirates has entered an official four-day mourning period to honor the memory of the late Father Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
The United Arab Emirates has officially entered a period of solemn observance following a formal directive from the Presidential Court, which announced four days of official mourning across the nation. The decree was issued in response to the passing of the Father Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, a monumental figure in Gulf history who served as the Emir of Qatar from 1995 until his abdication to his son, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in 2013. The immediate and organized response from Abu Dhabi underscores the enduring spirit of brotherhood, historical kinship, and strategic solidarity that tightly links the two Gulf nations. According to the official statement published via the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the mourning period commenced on Sunday, July 12, and is scheduled to conclude at the end of Wednesday, July 15, 2026. During this timeframe, the UAE national flag will fly at half-mast across all municipal, federal, and state-backed entities within the country's borders. Additionally, the mandate extends to all UAE embassies, consulates, and permanent diplomatic missions operating across the globe, serving as a visible testament to the shared…