Ahmed Al Mahmoud, Sheikh Zayed's first private secretary, dies aged 99

Al Mahmoud served UAE's Founding Father for decades

The death of Sheikh Zayed's first private secretary was announced on Tuesday evening. 

Ahmed Al Mahmoud, Sheikh Zayed's first private secretary, has died. He was 99.

Al Mahmoud served the UAE's Founding Father for several decades.

He was born in Al Ain in the 1920s and held roles on Abu Dhabi's advisory board and was a member of Al Ain's municipal council.

But it was as Sheikh Zayed's private secretary that he was best remembered.

Al Mahmoud was an expert calligrapher and had the task of producing the memos and letters that were sent to key dignitaries.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said on social media that Al Mahmoud "served his nation honorably and will be remembered as one of the UAE's pioneers".

"May he rest in peace," Sheikh Mohamed wrote late on Tuesday evening.

A photograph of Sheikh Zayed with Al Mahmoud accompanied the post on Twitter.