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File picture shows late Omani monarch Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed and Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, the Kuwaiti Emir who passed away yesterday. Image Credit: Mohammad Mustafa

Muscat: Moments after the news of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed’s demise hit the airwaves, condolences started pouring in from Oman’s who’s who and citizens, many of whom took to social media to express their feelings.

Oman has declared three days of national mourning, and work will be stopped for all private and government organisations, resuming on Sunday, October 4. Flags will be flown at half-mast in all ministries and government offices.

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Among the first to take to Twitter was Dr Ahmed Al Futaisi, ex-Minister, who noted that with the departure of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman and Emir Sheikh Sabah of Kuwait, the world has lost men of peace and wisdom. “My sincere condolences and sympathies to Kuwaiti brethren and people, on the demise of late His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah,” Dr Futaisi wrote.

Azza Al Ismaili, a former minister, noted it was sad and sorrowful that the Arab and Islamic worlds “lost the prince of humanity and our second father, the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah - Emir of Kuwait”.

Many citizens also dedicated their thoughts to the endearing late Emir. Dr Ali Al Bimani, President of the National University of Science and Technology, penned his condolence to the people of Kuwait through his Twitter feed.

Shaddad al Musalmy, Oman based journalist, noted that Kuwait lost a beautiful soul, an amazing leader and a great father to all. “Emir of Kuwait will be missed by not only Kuwait but Oman too. Omanis in general considered him the father too due to strong relations that he had with late Sultan Qaboos. We value his orders to name a major Kuwaiti road after Sultan Qaboos earlier this month. This shows how Oman and Kuwait are closely related to each other.”

Earlier this month on the orders of the Emir of Kuwait, the council of Ministers named the seventh ring road, one of largest in Kuwait, after the late Sultan Qaboos of Oman. All leading newspapers and publications in Oman dedicated today’s edition to the late Emir of Kuwait.