Abu Dhabi, June 3 (IANS) A three-day official mourning was announced in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the death of Sheikh Nasser bin Zayed Al Nahyan, brother of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in a helicopter crash. Sheikh Nasser died Monday night when the helicopter carrying him and his colleagues crashed into the Arabian Gulf waters, the state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

The Ministry of Presidential Affairs announced a three-day official mourning.

However, work in all government departments and in the rest of the public and private sectors would continue as normal, and there will be no closure of offices.

“The Ministry of Presidential Affairs has announced three days of official mourning for Sheikh Nasser and for his colleagues (Peace Be Upon Them). Offices in the government, public and private sectors will continue to work as normal,” WAM quoted an authorized source in the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs as saying.

Meanwhile, funeral prayers for Sheikh Nasser and his colleagues will be performed at the Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Mosque at Al Bateen here.

President Sheikh Khalifa will receive condolences at his Mushrif Palace after the funeral service, the report said.