UAE pioneer Khalfan Al Roumi laid to rest

SHARJAH // Khalfan Mohammed Al Roumi, father of the UAE’s first Minister of State for Happiness, Ohood Al Roumi, was laid to rest on Thursday.

Hundreds of mourners gathered at Al Sahaba Mosque after Dhuhr prayers to perform funeral prayers for the former politician, who was described as a “true patriot”.

Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid, Ruler of Ajman and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of RAK, led the group of mourners alongside Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, mourned Al Roumi, saying the UAE had lost one of its loyal sons and a great companion of the country’s founding fathers, the late Sheikh Zayed and the late Sheikh Rashid, in the fundamental building stage of the nation.

“Khalfan Mohammed Al Roumi gave the nation many years of his life. He gave his diligence, energy and bequeathed patriotism and the values of service to his children. May God accept him with the righteous,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted.

Al Roumi was a national pioneer who played an important role during the establishment of the country.

Brother of Mariam Al Roumi, the former Minister of Social Affairs, he graduated from Baghdad University and was among the first Emiratis to be sent abroad in the 1960s to complete their education.

He worked as a teacher in 1968 before being appointed to a government role in Sharjah.

Al Roumi participated in preparatory committees and was a member of a delegation that toured Arab countries on diplomatic missions before the establishment of the country.

In 1973, he was appointed Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education.

In 1977, he became Minister of Health. Five years later, he was appointed Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, and in 1990 became the Minister of Information and Culture.

“The UAE has lost one of its greatest and loyal sons. The wise politician, the modest man and the honourable teacher and the man who has a proven record of national accomplishments, passed away,” said Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Al Roumi also served as the chairman of the Arab Journalism Award.

Mona Al Marri, director general of the Dubai Government Media Office, said the UAE had lost a great statesman, a media leader and a wise personality.

“Some people come into our lives and change it for the better. They change the way we think and teach us lessons in giving and how to deal with one another. Lucky is the one who meets those people. Khalfan Al Roumi was one of them,” Ms Al Marri said.

Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, chairman of the Sharjah Media Centre, said major national personalities never fade away, and that Al Roumi was one such person.

“His legacy will remain alive through his children, who will continue his message, which is centred around integrity and responsibility that will inspire and light the way for others,” he said.

nalremeithi@thenational.ae