Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Age: 86
Summary: president
of the United Arab Emirates who spearheaded the transformation of a
cluster of tiny desert Persian Gulf sheikdoms into a leading oil and
business hub with skyscrapers and sprawling shopping malls, who was one
of the richest leaders in the world and worked to keep close ties with
the United States and the western countries, who led daily court to let
citizens air their concerns and often attended weddings of ordinary
citizens when he was invited, and who had led the nation since its
independence from Britain in 1971.
Cause of Death: Complications from diabetes and kidney disease
Born: May 6, 1918
Died: November 1, 2004
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
