UAE leaders mourn death of Sultan Qaboos, 3 days of mourning declared

Abu Dhabi: UAE leaders mourned the death of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman, who passed away aged 79.

Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman, the Arab world's longest-serving ruler, passed way late on Friday night and was laid to rest on Saturday morning in the capital Muscat.

UAE President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan ordered funeral prayer in absentia to be said for the late Sultan Qaboos across all UAE mosques after Maghrib prayers on Saturday.

The UAE has also declared three days of mourning and flags to be flown half mast, according to the official news agency WAM.

'Sultan of loyaty, love, wisdom'

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, mourned the death of Sultan Qaboos, whom he described as the "Sultan of loyalty, love, and wisdom."

"The Sultan of loyalty, love, and wisdom is gone...Sultan Qaboos is gone, may God rest his soul...our condolences to our brothers in Oman...our condolences to the Arab and Islamic nation...our condolences to all lovers of Oman, the culture, the history ...," Sheikh Mohammed tweeted on Saturday.

'A dear brother, company of Shiekh Zayed's path'

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed stated: "Oman and the Arab and Islamic nations lost a wise leader, and a great historical stature. May God have mercy on Sultan Qaboos, a dear brother and companion of Sheikh Zayed’s path. They left us, sharing their wisdom and sincerity, the advancement of their people and the service of their patriarchs. We offer condolences to his family and people, and we ask God to bless him with his mercy and graciousness."

'His wisdom alive in our hearts forever'

Today we have lost a leader dedicated to serving his people and their renaissance. To Arab and Muslim nations, Sultan Qaboos was an icon — but his wisdom will remain forever alive in our hearts. May Allah have mercy on his soul and grant solace & patience to the people of Oman.

Here are some tributes by other world leaders

Syria: 'Great wisdom' 

Qaboos led Oman "on a path of progress and advancement and managed with great wisdom and sophistication to create a distinguished place for the country among Arab states" said Syria's President, Bashar Al Assad.

Oman is the only Gulf Cooperation Council member state to have maintained diplomatic relations with Damascus since the start of the war.

Iraq: 'Moderation and wisdom' 

Iraqi President Barham Saleh paid tribute to the late sultan's "moderation and wisdom and the ability to control differences in the interest of the development and progress of our countries and region".

Lebanon: 'Man of dialogue' 

"With loss of Sultan Qaboos, the Arab world loses a man of dialogue, wisdom and peace," Lebanon's President Michel Aoun wrote on Twitter, paying tribute to "a brother and a friend to Lebanon".

Qaboos "always worked towards Arab unity and the strengthening of (Arab) solidarity - in the face of the challenges that threaten our countries and peoples".

Kuwait: 'A very important figure' 

"The Gulf, Arab and Islamic nations lost a very important figure and leader," said Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah.

The leaders of Saudi Arabia and Qatar also offered their condolences.

Jordan: 'a wise leader' 

"We have lost a wise leader in my brother His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman," said a statement from King Abdullah II of Jordan on Twitter.

He paid tribute to his role "defending Arab and Islamic causes".

Egypt: 'Pioneer'

Qaboos was "a constant supporter of Arab and Islamic issues in various situations, and the pioneer of Oman's renaissance", wrote Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Palestine: 'Wisdom and balance'

"Our Arab and Islamic nation lost today, a leader and leader of its finest men," said Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

Qaboos "devoted his life to serving his country and people and the issues of the Arab and Islamic nations with wisdom and balance," he added.

Britain: 'Exceptionally wise' 

"He was an exceptionally wise and respected leader who will be missed enormously," said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

"He will be remembered for his devotion to the development of Oman into a stable and prosperous nation, and as the father of the nation who sought to improve the lives of the Omani people."

 'A stable force' 

"He was a stable force in the Middle East and a strong US ally," said former US president George W. Bush in his tribute to Qaboos.

"His Majesty had a vision for a modern, prosperous, and peaceful Oman, and he willed that vision into reality."