Abu Dhabi, UAE  - The brother of United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan has died in a helicopter crash, an official statement said Tuesday.

Sheikh Nasser died when the helicopter, which was carrying him and his colleagues, crashed over the Gulf in the late hours of Monday, the UAE news agency WAM said.

A three-day mourning period was announced on Tuesday by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.

Funeral prayers will be held on Tuesday afternoon in Abu Dhabi. (dpa)