Analysts praised former United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his role in the development of the UAE in a short time and said it could be an example for other Islamic countries.  

According to the head of the Afghan traders' council in the UAE, more than $10 billion has been invested by Afghan traders in the UAE and around 300,000 Afghan citizens are working there. 

“Around 80 percent of top traders have been living in the UAE for over the past 30 years. They have invested in different fields,” said Obaidullah Sadarkhail, head of the council.   

The UAE has also supported many development projects in Afghanistan since 2002. Under Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed a town was built in Kabul at the cost of $179 million.   

Khalifa, who was born in 1948, came to power in 2004 in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and became the head of state. He was the oldest son of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.  

He graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK.

When Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed was born, Abu Dhabi was known for the fishing industry and had a population of only 4,000. 

“Political balance, economic balance, attracting foreign investment and formatting rules for investment which encourage foreign investment, are the main points (implemented) by the Sheikh Khalifa, which will provide examples for a long time,” said Sayed Masoud, an economist.  

The UAE also provided a large amount of aid to Afghanistan during the time of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed.  

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed supported the formation of a university in Khost, the construction of a residential town in Kabul and many other big development projects in Afghanistan.  

The latest development project supported by the UAE was the residential town in Kabul which has 3,000 housing complexes.  

“He constructed a university in Afghanistan, many mosques and focused on welfare projects in every corner of Afghanistan,” said Farid Rohani, a trader. 

“This (UAE) was the only Arabic and Islamic country that sent its troops to Afghanistan during the past 20 years,” said Sayed Noorullah Raghi, a former diplomat.  

The analysts believe that Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed was able to manage the balance between the East and West.

“Even though every country has its own specialties, the UAE could be a good model to all Islamic countries. The civilization of Islam with open views, justice and implementation of law and the distribution of power among the five Sheikhs, these all could be a good model for Islamic countries,” said Azeraksh Hafizi, former head of ECO Chambers of Commerce and Industry. 

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed died at age 73 last Friday.  

The UAE announced 40 days of mourning. His younger brother Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has been selected as the President of the United Arab Emirates 

A delegation of the Islamic Emirate, led by the first deputy prime minister, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, has traveled to the UAE to offer condolences to the Emirati people and the family of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed.