UAE leaders pay tribute to Saeed bin Ahmed Al Otaiba

UAE leaders have paid their respects following the death of prominent Emirati Saeed bin Ahmed Al Otaiba, who served as President of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1971 and held various government roles during his life.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court extended their condolences via social media. 

The UAE President wrote on X, "May God have mercy on Saeed bin Ahmed Al Otaiba, who worked with dedication as a close companion of the late Sheikh Zayed. I extend my sincere condolences to his family at this difficult time."

May God have mercy on Saeed bin Ahmed Al Otaiba, who worked with dedication as a close companion of the late Sheikh Zayed. I extend my sincere condolences to his family at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/8Prpnghqzf

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) May 29, 2024

Also on the social media platform, Sheikh Mohammed paid his respects, saying, "He was part of the economic construction and establishment in the country...and a living memory of the capital...and one of the first pioneers with the founder."

رحم الله سعيد بن أحمد العتيبة وأسكنه فسيح جناته وألهم أهله الصبر والسلوان .. كان جزءاً من البناء والتأسيس الاقتصادي في الدولة .. وذاكرة حيّة للعاصمة .. وأحد الروّاد الأوائل مع المؤسس طيب الله ثراه .. pic.twitter.com/E3onGPm8pQ

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) May 29, 2024

Also paying tribute, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed said, "He accompanied the late Sheikh Zayed and was a witness to the stages of building the state and contributed to its renaissance over the decades. My sincere condolences to his family and loved ones."

رحم الله سعيد بن أحمد العتيبة..رافق المغفور له الشيخ زايد وكان شاهداً على مراحل بناء الدولة ومساهماً في نهضتها على مدى عقود ..خالص التعازي إلى أسرته وذويه وأدعو الله تعالى أن يتغمده بواسع رحمته ويسكنه فسيح جناته وأن يلهم أهله وذويه الصبر والسلوان. pic.twitter.com/jTvHZCRoGd

— منصور بن زايد (@HHmansour) May 29, 2024

Otaiba was elected chairman of the UAE Federation of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry having also served in serval government roles and was a close confidante to the UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

In 2022, the capital's Delma Street was renamed Saeed bin Ahmed Al Otaiba Street in his honour.