A UAE official mourning period brings specific changes to public life: flags are lowered to half-mast, work schedules may be suspended, and entertainment events are cancelled or postponed, with the precise measures depending on who has died and the level at which mourning is declared.
The death of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on 21 September prompted a 10-day mourning period in Dubai, with flags flown at half-mast across the emirate. The announcement specified the duration and scope, as official mourning declarations typically do.
Duration varies by circumstance
There is no fixed length for an official mourning period in the UAE. Federal and emirate-level declarations have ranged from three days to 40 days, depending on who has died and the nature of the loss.
After the death of UAE Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in November 2004, the country observed a 40-day mourning period. The same duration was declared following the death of former UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan in May 2022, with the Ministry of Presidential Affairs announcing a three-day suspension of work across government and private sectors alongside it, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
Three-day periods have been declared on several occasions: after the death of Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2023, after the death of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan in November 2019, and when 45 Emirati soldiers were killed during Operation Restore Hope in 2015, the last of which also led to the designation of 30 November as Martyrs’ Day.
Mourning can also be declared at emirate level. In February 2025, Ajman declared three days of mourning after the death of Sheikh Saeed bin Rashid Al Nuaimi. In July of that year, the UAE declared a four-day mourning period after the death of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the father of the current Emir of Qatar.
Flag protocol, work suspensions and events
During an official mourning period, all UAE flags are lowered to half-mast. The correct procedure, set out in the UAE Flag and Official Portraits Guidelines published by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, requires the flag to be lowered to the bottom of the flagpole first, then raised to the half-mast position. If the pole is clear, the flag is raised to the top before being lowered slowly to the midpoint.
The guidelines also state that when the UAE flag is displayed alongside flags of other countries during a half-mast period, it is preferred that all flags be lowered simultaneously. If that is not possible, the UAE flag must be the last to be lowered. Military personnel are required to salute while the flag is being raised, and any person present at the location must stand still during the ceremony.
Overseas, all UAE diplomatic missions, embassies and consulates are required to lower their flags for the duration of the mourning period upon notice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Work suspensions are not automatic. The official announcement specifies which entities are affected and for how long. After the death of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, all federal and local government departments, ministries and schools closed for eight days, while private firms suspended operations for three. Private sector involvement depends on the directives issued and is not a given for every declaration.
Public events are also subject to suspension or cancellation. In 2022, multiple events were stopped immediately after the death of Sheikh Khalifa, including the Culture Summit in Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Comedy Festival, Dubai Opera and the Sharjah Reading Festival. In 2006, the Dubai Shopping Festival, Dubai Marathon and Global Village were suspended following the death of Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Radio and television broadcasters typically shift to a more restrained output for the duration, suspending upbeat programming and entertainment segments.
The scope of any mourning period, including which events are cancelled and which government and private entities suspend work, is confirmed in the official announcement at the time of declaration. Residents and businesses should monitor communications from the relevant authority for specific directives once a period is declared.
