ABU DHABI // The first Minister of Information and Culture - and a close adviser to the founding President Sheikh Zayed - Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamed Al Hamed passed away last night in Abu Dhabi, the state news agency Wam reported.
The Ministry of Presidential Affairs sent its condolences to his family last night.
Sheikh Ahmed, who was Sheikh Zayed's maternal cousin and the President Sheikh Khalifa's uncle, was described as "a very shrewd and light-spirited person" by Dr Ali Mohammed Shumo.
Dr Shumo worked under Sheikh Ahmed as the under secretary of the Ministry of Information and Culture between 1973 and 1978, and is the current chairman of the National Council of Press and Publications in Sudan.
"I have had the honour to work under Sheikh Ahmed, who was the man who created media in the UAE," he said.
Under his guidance The National's sister paper, the Arabic-language Al Ittihad, was launched, as was Abu Dhabi Television, Dr Shumo added.
