UAE Rulers pay tribute to Ibrahim Al Abed

Dubai - The Ministry of Presidential Affairs also mourned Ibrahim Al Abed, and expressed sincere condolences and sympathies to his family.

Emirati media veteran and founder of state news agency Wam, Ibrahim Al Abed, died on Tuesday. He was 78.

He held the position of the adviser to the Chairman of the UAE's National Media Council (NMC) and also served as its director-general. He won several awards, including the Media Personality of the Year Award in the 13th Arab Journalism Award in 2014 and the Taryam Omran Journalism Award in 2007.

Taking to Twitter, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, paid tribute to the prominent journalist citing his decades long services to the media industry in the country.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed A Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said: "Al Abed devoted his life and worked sincerely to serve the Emirati media for nearly five decades."

The Ministry of Presidential Affairs also mourned Ibrahim Al Abed, and expressed sincere condolences and sympathies to his family.

Tributes also poured from the media fraternity, who remembered Al Abed for his deep knowledge, wisdom, kindness and friendliness.

UAE-based British author and historian Peter Hellyer, who is also worked with Abed, tweeted: "Engaging, informative, hugely-respected by all who dealt with him from Rulers to the most junior journalist. And a great friend for over 50 years."

Mansour Abdulhoul, UAE Ambassador to the UK, tweeted that Al Abed inspired generations of young journalists.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com