DUBAI // Hundreds of mourners led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, attended the funeral prayers for Lt Gen Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Dubai Chief of Police, who passed away on Thursday from a heart attack.
The funeral was held at the Zabeel Grand Mosque after Friday prayers, before the body was laid to rest in Al Qusais Cemetery.
On Friday night an emergency meeting was held by Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan, Deputy Chief of Dubai Police and General Security, with officers at Dubai Police headquarters.
They discussed administrative, structural and procedural arrangements after the passing of Gen Al Mazeina.
“My personal heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina and to the people of Dubai and the UAE,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted yesterday. “Thanks to his legacy, Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina has not died but has gone down in the history of the country.”
He said the UAE had lost one of its loyal men. “Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina was a team leader, a soldier at the service of his country and the father of a good family. May his soul rest in peace.”
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, offered his condolences to Gen Al Mazeina’s family during a visit to their residence in Dubai.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, tweeted: “Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina did not work for the present moment, but for the nation’s glory and the future. May his soul rest in peace. God have mercy on the soul of Khamis Mattar al Mazeina. I knew him well. He was a loyal man at the service of his country and people and a successful man within a strong institution.”
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, tweeted: “My deepest condolences on the passing of our brother Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina. He was generous, clement and always smiling. He served his country with love.”
The Dubai Media Office tweeted a message from Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, saying: “Khamis Al Mazeina was an exemplary leader. Just yesterday, he was working at Dubai Future Foundation. The UAE has lost one of its loyal people.”
Gen Khalfan also tweeted: “Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina has protected our nation’s security until his last breath. May his soul rest in peace.”
Sheikh Hamdan, along with Sheikh Saif, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Gen Khalfan, attended the funeral. Others in attendance included Mr Al Gergawi, Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, and Mohammed Al Shaibani, director of the Dubai Ruler’s Court.
Gen Al Mazeina, who was 56 , joined Dubai Police in 1983. Ten years later, he became an officer in the anti-narcotics section at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
In 1999, he was appointed deputy director of the department.
In 2004, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid issued a decree instituting him as CID director. Four years later, he appointed him Deputy Police Chief of Dubai after which he became Chief of Dubai Police in 2013.
tzriqat@thenational.ae
* This article has amended since it was first published to correct the Dubai Chief of Police’s age which was incorrectly provided to us.
