Sheikha Hessa bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, the mother of UAE ruler Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, has died, it has been announced, Al Arabiya reports.
Sheikha Hessa was the first wife of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, founding President of the UAE,
The Ministry of Presidential Affairs issued a statement saying: "In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate, with the hearts of believers in the judgment of God and his destiny.
The Ministry said three days of official mourning begins today.
Sheikha Hessa gave birth in 1948 to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who became president after Sheikh Zayed's death in 2004.
Sheikh Khalifa is also the ruler Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.