'Mother' of UAE nation Sheikha Hessa passes away

UAE's Sheikha Hessa bint Mohammed al-Nahyan, dubbed the "mother of the nation", passed away Sunday leaving a country in mourning.

The Emirati national flag was lowered to half-staff across the country as WAM news agency announced the death of Sheikha Hessa without revealing the cause of death of her age.
 
The UAE will mark three days of mourning, the national news agency added.

— RHC (@RHCJO) January 28, 2018" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post His Majesty King Abdullah II condoles #UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan over the passing away of his mother, Sheikha Hessa bint Mohammed Al Nahyan #Jordan — RHC (@RHCJO) January 28, 2018

Sheikha Hessa was held in high esteem in the country despite her elusive and low-profile reputation. 

She gave birth to current UAE ruler Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan in 1948 who took over as president when his father - the country's founder - Sheikh Zayed passed away in 2004.

Dubai ruler and UAE Vice-President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum led to tributes to Sheikha Hessa.

"My sincere condolences to my brother Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan on the death of Her Highness Sheikha Hessa bint Mohammed al-Nahyan," Sheikh Mohammed said on Twitter.

"Our condolences to the entire al-Nahyan family, to the people of the UAE and to every lover of the UAE and its President."

Rulers of the other UAE emirates also issued statements expressing their condolences, along with Jordan's King Abdullah.

Despite the frictions between Doha and Abu Dhabi, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim al-Thani also sent a cable to the UAE ruler.

"To HH President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the death of his mother, praying to Allah the almighty to have mercy on the soul of the late and make her residence in paradise," read a statement from the Qatar News Agency.