UAE Prime Minister dies on Gold Coast
A senior Middle Eastern leader has died on Queensland's Gold Coast.
Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum was the prime minister and vice-president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and also the emir of Dubai.
It is believed he died at a luxury hotel this afternoon.
Jim Carden from the Brisbane Airport Corporation says a special Emirates jumbo jet is on stand-by to fly the sheikh's body home.
"The plane belonging to his highness and the royal party is currently being refuelled in preparation for the transportation of his highnesses body back to Dubai in order to observe the customary burial," he said.
Emir of Dubai dies
The emir of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum Rashid al-Maktoum, has died, the Emirates Information Ministry said.
The emir, who was a vice president of the United Arab Emirates and prime minister of Dubai, died while visiting Australia, an Emirates official said.
"The United Arab Emirates today lost a historical leader who devoted his life to establishing the United Arab Emirates and enhancing its structure and the welfare of its people," the government said in a statement.