A little freaky
Jan. 5th, 2006 02:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
krazykitkatOne of Australia's closest trading partners, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is in mourning today after the death on the Gold Coast of its Prime Minister.
Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who was also the Emir of Dubai, died while holidaying with his family at the luxurious Palazzo Versace hotel.
His death will mean a leadership change in the UAE, which is in the process of negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Australia.
Brisbane international airport was one of the first places notified of the Sheikh's death.
His private jet, which was parked at the airport for the duration of the royal family's holiday, had to be prepared for rapid departure.
It had to be refuelled and filled with 33 family members and their 300 bags before it could leave.
Airport spokesman Jim Carden said the rush was so the Sheikh's body could be buried at home within 24 hours.
"We were alerted in the afternoon that there was an urgent need for his royal highness's 747 be prepared for an urgent departure back to Dubai," he said.
"We understand there were some particular needs to get the body back to Dubai for customary burial under Islamic procedures."
The Sheikh was part owner of former Melbourne Cup winner Jeune, which also died yesterday at the Collingrove stud in Victoria.
The horse won the Cup and the horse of the year award in 1994.
Apparently they both died of heart attacks.
Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who was also the Emir of Dubai, died while holidaying with his family at the luxurious Palazzo Versace hotel.
His death will mean a leadership change in the UAE, which is in the process of negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Australia.
Brisbane international airport was one of the first places notified of the Sheikh's death.
His private jet, which was parked at the airport for the duration of the royal family's holiday, had to be prepared for rapid departure.
It had to be refuelled and filled with 33 family members and their 300 bags before it could leave.
Airport spokesman Jim Carden said the rush was so the Sheikh's body could be buried at home within 24 hours.
"We were alerted in the afternoon that there was an urgent need for his royal highness's 747 be prepared for an urgent departure back to Dubai," he said.
"We understand there were some particular needs to get the body back to Dubai for customary burial under Islamic procedures."
The Sheikh was part owner of former Melbourne Cup winner Jeune, which also died yesterday at the Collingrove stud in Victoria.
The horse won the Cup and the horse of the year award in 1994.
Apparently they both died of heart attacks.
