Prominent Emirati Saeed Bin Ahmed Al Otaiba passes away

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Saeed Bin Ahmed Al Otaiba, an early pioneer in Abu Dhabi, passed away on Wednesday. He accompanied the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan since he was a young man at the beginning of his rule of Al Ain City and witnessed all stages of development of the UAE from the very beginning.

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan offered his condolences.

Sheikh Mohamed said, “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.”

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said on X, “May Allah Al Mighty have mercy on Late Saeed Bin Ahmed Al Otaiba, rest him in spacious paradise and inspire his family patience and solace.

Al Otaiba was an energetic factor of the economic construction and establishment in the UAE. He was a vivid memory of Abu Dhabi, the capital and one of the first pioneers with the founder, Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan, may Allah Al Mighty rest his soul in peace.”

Born in 1916 in Freej Al Dhahr in Abu Dhabi, Al Otaiba contributed to laying the first building block for the economic revival of the UAE.

He served as chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry since 1971, then chairman of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and was the former chairman of the Federation of GCC Chambers of Commerce and Industry.