He is compared to Aladdin, but Hamdan ibn Mohammed al Maktoum, the crown prince of Dubai, is far from poor, unlike his fabulous "prototype". He is modest, smart, kind, educated, writes poetry, does charity work and loves extreme sports, in addition to everything else, he is also immensely rich. Image makers of the royal family work tirelessly to create the perfect image of an oriental prince. But is it really so perfect - remains a mystery ...

Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, was born on November 13, 1982. Hamdan is the second son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum and his first wife, Hind bint Maktoum bin Yuma al Maktoum.

Hamdan belongs to the Al Maktoum clan. This dynasty of sheikhs has been in power since 1833 and has ruled Dubai from 1971 to the present. Al Maktoum is also the "supplier" of the UAE's hereditary prime ministers and vice presidents.

Rod al Maktoum comes from the Arab clan al-Abu-Falah, part of the Beni Yas tribal federation, which has dominated the UAE since the middle of the 18th century. In 1833, the al Abu Falah clan, led by the al Maktoum clan, moved to Dubai and established an independent sheikhdom here. A distinctive feature of the rule of the sheikhs of al Maktoum is the peaceful transfer of power from the previous sheikh to the heir, unlike other Arab dynasties of the Persian Gulf.

Hamdan's father, Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, also known as Sheikh Mohammed, is the prime minister and vice president of the United Arab Emirates, the ruler (emir) of Dubai. In addition, since 1971 he has been the Minister of Defense of the UAE. According to Forbes in 2013, his fortune, most of which depends on the price of oil and investments in various sectors of the global economy, is estimated at $39.5 billion.

Sheikh Mohammed is also known for his generosity and love of racing. On October 25, 2006, he gave Michael Schumacher the island of Antarctica in the artificial archipelago of The World worth $7 million.

Hamdan's mother, HH Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma al Maktoum, is the first wife of Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. She married a Sheikh in 1979 when she was 17 years old and Mohammed was 30. Sheikha Hind graduated from high school in Dubai, but did not receive higher education due to her early marriage. Nevertheless, those close to her characterize her as a very well-read and wise person, who is aware of all events. Sheikha Hind is not a public person and does not attend events where men participate. She strictly observes local traditions and culture, but nevertheless actively works to expand opportunities for the participation of UAE women in the public, cultural, economic and political life of the country. There is not a single officially confirmed photo of Sheikha Hind in the public domain, and she never accompanies her husband on business events, unlike his other wife, Princess Haya bint al Hussain.

The upbringing of Prince Hamdan, despite the untold wealth and luxury, took place in the spirit of the traditional values ​​of the Arab world. “My father, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is my mentor in life. I always continue to learn from him, and his experience helps me in solving many strategic issues. My mother, Sheikha Hind, is a true example of a loving and caring mother. She raised me in an atmosphere of absolute love and affection and still supports me, despite the fact that I have already grown. I have great respect for her and I think that any society where mothers are not valued is dishonorable and worthless, ”says the prince about his upbringing.

Hamdan received his primary education at a private school named after Sheikh Rashid. After graduation, he entered the Faculty of Administrative Management at the Dubai Government School. Then he continued his studies in the UK at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, where the heirs to the British throne, Harry and William, also studied. In an interview with Vision magazine, the prince noted that studying at Sandhurst developed in him self-discipline, responsibility, determination and the ability to work in a team. After the academy, he graduated from the London School of Economics.

In September 2006, Hamdan was appointed Chairman of the Dubai City Executive Council.

On February 1, 2008, Hamdan becomes the Crown Prince of Dubai following the abdication of his older brother Rashid bin Mohammed. It is worth noting that one of the features of the Bedouins who founded monarchies in the Middle East is their "unsettled" succession to the throne. That is, the eldest son does not necessarily become the next heir to the throne. Here everything depends on the will of the ruling sheikh.

As the new crown prince, he was appointed to a number of key positions, such as head of hedge fund HN Capital LLP and president of the new university named after him. He also served as the head of the Young Entrepreneurs Support League, the Emirate of Dubai Sports Committee and the Dubai Autism Research Centre. Under his patronage is the Dubai Marathon.

Hamdan can often be seen at all sorts of congresses and summits, where he stands out from the crowd thanks to his national dress - kandura and arafatka, which are always worn by members of the UAE royal family at official events.

There is not so much public information about Hamdan's older brother, Rashid ibn Mohammed, who was excommunicated from the throne. This is partly due to his strained relationship with his father. The spoiled reputation of the eldest son led to the fact that his father excommunicated him from the throne and forbade him to engage in any government activities. Rashid fell out of favor because of his excessive love for sports ... Everything would be fine if this passion did not result in the use of steroids, and then drugs. In 2011, the English newspaper The Telegraph published an article stating that the eldest son of Sheikh Mohammed was treated for drug addiction in one of the English clinics. At one time, Wikileaks shared even more horrific information about Rashid. The website reported that Rashid bin Mohammed, possibly under the influence of drugs, killed his father's assistant at the Royal Office in Dubai. More detailed details of the murder were not indicated in the report of the portal, which caused a number of doubts about the reliability of this information.

Prince Hamdan leads an active lifestyle, the list of his hobbies is huge - skydiving, diving, fishing, falconry, snowboarding, cycling and much more. In his free time, he writes poetry under the pseudonym Fazza, which he dedicates, among other things, to his homeland and family.

About the appearance of his pseudonym, the sheikh tells the story of an old man in the desert, who nicknamed him Fazza. “If I tell you that the nickname came about by chance, you won’t believe me,” Sheikh Hamdan says. “Once fate brought me to the desert with an old man, his car got stuck in the sands. At that moment, I was driving my hunting falcon through the desert, trying to teach him calmness during a high-speed ride between sand dunes. When I saw him, I stopped to do my duty and help a man in need. We pulled the car out of the sand, and I got into my car without waiting for words of gratitude. And then I heard a strong and determined voice directed in my direction, which said: "You are Fazzaa." This voice had a strong effect on me, but I remember even more his manner of speech and the way he pronounced the word “Fazzaa”. The nickname remained in my memory, and a little later it completely became my middle name. By the way, this old man did not know who I was, but I do not know who he is, I only remember his image. "Fazzaa" in Arabic is a person who helps all those who are in trouble.

... My poetry can fill people's hearts with happiness and help alleviate their suffering, - says Hamdan about his hobby. - I had the chance to meet many poets who helped me to identify and develop my own style. From an early age, my father listened to my poems and gently advised in which direction to move on. Hamdan's poems are mostly romantic and patriotic and, of course, many are dedicated to his main passion - horses.

A special passion for the prince, as befits the Arab sheikhs, are thoroughbred stallions and equestrian sports. His Highness has several awards from prestigious competitions, including the gold medal of the World Equestrian Games, held in France in 2014.

The list of Hamdan's victories is endless. The prince's main achievement is team gold at the 2006 Asian Summer Games and a gold medal at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy (160 km), which he won last August on a purebred Arabian mare yamamah (which is translated from Arabic as "little dove"). “The route was extremely technically difficult,” says the prince. - In addition, it was aggravated by the weather and high humidity. I had to make sure that the horse was well protected from the weather all the time. It is not surprising that the number of those who could just finish was small for a championship of this level.” 165 athletes from 47 countries took part in the tournament. At first, the team from the United Arab Emirates took the lead, but by the end of the third lap, only one representative of this team remained on the route - Sheikh Hamdan. Many participants in the tournament were injured on the course, and the rider's horse from Costa Rica tragically died on the route from a collision with a tree. So this victory was really not easy for the prince and once again confirmed his high sports level.

The prince himself has repeatedly said that he was born in a family where horses are adored, and riding gives him a sense of freedom. Among other things, the sheikh has several camels, one of which he spent almost three million dollars, expensive cars and his own yacht. And as pets, Hamdan got himself a pair of white tigers and two albino lions.

Sheikh Hamdan, as is typical of a royal person, devotes a lot of time to charity, helping disabled and sick children, purchasing medical equipment.

Netizens sometimes compare the Dubai prince with Disney's Aladdin, the hero of the Thousand and One Nights fairy tales. And also notice his resemblance to actor Eric Bana (Australian actor, starred in such films as Hulk, Troy, Star Trek. - Approx. ed.). Almost two million users have subscribed to Hamdan's Instagram page.

Very little is known about Hamdan's personal life, unlike his famous European "colleagues", and what is known is only rumors and conjectures. One thing is for sure - the image makers of the royal court are constantly working to ensure that the image of the sheikh is impeccable. He often takes pictures with children and animals, demonstrates his versatile hobbies and looks very charming and kind at the same time. Which, undoubtedly, plays a positive role in creating the image of a prince "close to the people."

About his relationship with women in the UAE, they speak only in a whisper. But even among the whispers, very piquant rumors slip through. So some "well-wishers" explain the status of a bachelor Hamdan by the fact that he is a representative of non-traditional orientation. However, answering a question about his possible marriage, the prince says that from birth he was engaged to a maternal relative - Sheikha bin Thani bin Said al Maktoum, so there are no problems with choosing a bride - everything was decided long before How did he ever reach adulthood?

However, from 2008 to 2013, he was in close contact with another of his distant relatives, whose name is unknown. But this relationship ended in January 2013. The arranged marriage was immediately canceled for reasons that were not made public. Already in the summer of 2014, the prince met a new love. Hamdan fell in love so much that he announced his engagement very soon. His chosen one was Kalila Said, a 23-year-old refugee from Palestine, who grew up in the slums of an Arab metropolis. Young people met while working on a charity project in one of the disadvantaged areas of the capital. You can’t call a girl a money hunter: the prince had to seek her attention for more than three months before she agreed to go on a date, but soon the couple became inseparable. According to rumors circulating in the country, Sheikh Mohammed was not very pleased with the choice of the prince and even threatened to deprive his son of his inheritance, but to no avail. The young man chose love, as a result of which the father reconsidered his position, resigned himself and, it seems, even gave the couple his blessing.

However, fans of Hamdan should not despair: in the UAE, the sheikh has the right to have as many wives as he wants. By the way, Hamdan's brother, Prince Said al Maktoum, also married a girl of low birth, Azerbaijani Natalya Aliyeva. She worked as a waiter in Belarus (where they met), and in the UAE she became Princess Aisha al Maktoum.

Despite his fame and a billion-dollar fortune (according to Forbes for 2011 - $ 18 billion), the prince tries to behave very restrained in public. “The fact that I am the son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid does not give me an unconditional right to refuse my duties,” says Hamdan. “On the contrary, I feel that my brothers and I have a responsibility to be more responsible and take every job as seriously as we can.”

Many people remember the handsome, young and very rich crown prince from the Emirates. Hundreds of thousands of users posted his photos on LiveJournal, Facebook.
http://miss-tramell.livejournal.com/704090.html

And suddenly I came across this article .. How sad. The elder brother of the promoted prince from the Emirates died .. Also handsome and athlete ..

In Dubai, one of the key emirates in the UAE, mourning. Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al-Maktoum, the eldest son of Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, and concurrently the second most influential person in the United Arab Emirates, the country's prime minister, vice president and minister of defense, has died. Sheikh Rashid died of a heart attack, less than a month and a half before his 34 years. His younger brother and Crown Prince Hamdan wrote: “Today I lost my best friend and childhood comrade, dear brother Rashid. We will miss you"

However, there is an alternative version, according to which the sheikh did not die of a heart attack, but died during the fighting in Yemen. This statement was made by the Iranian Fars agency, citing statements from informed sources and eyewitness accounts. “Sheikh Rashid and several other UAE soldiers were killed as a result of artillery fire from (supporters of the Shiite movement) Ansar Allah in the Yemeni province of Marib,” the agency notes. The same news is confirmed by eyewitnesses who participated in the hostilities in the specified region of Yemen.

In Dubai, one of

british standard

Little is known about Rashid's childhood and youth: at that time there was no Instagram, and the Arab emirs and their heirs had not yet acquired the habit of posting scenes of a rich life with geotags for everyone to see.

Rashid is the eldest son of the emir from his eldest and main wife Hind bint Maktoum and, accordingly, the stepson of the second wife of the emir, the Jordanian princess Haya bint al-Hussein. The children of Mohammed and Hind, according to the memoirs of brother Rashid Hamdan, were brought up in the spirit of traditional values.

In Dubai, the heir graduated from the Sheikh Rashid School for Boys - teaching there was carried out according to the English model. After that, his father sent Rashid to the UK - to the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, where Arab sheikhs traditionally send their children (the current Emir of Qatar, the King of Bahrain, the Sultans of Brunei and Oman graduated from it).

Disinherited

Rashid ibn Mohammed was preparing to become his father's successor: the emir introduced him to state affairs and entrusted him with control over various economic projects. But on February 1, 2008, everything suddenly changed: Rashid's younger brother, the second son of Sheikh Mohammed, Hamdan, was appointed Crown Prince of Dubai. His younger brother Maktoum received the post of Deputy Ruler of Dubai. The eldest son of the emir officially abdicated, and moreover: there was no place for him at all among the leadership of the emirate.

However, this step can be called unexpected only conditionally: long before the emir's decree, diplomats and Arab experts noticed that Hamdan was increasingly appearing in front of cameras next to his father and that the emirate's press was writing about him more and more often. What happened, why Rashid was out of work?

The publication of Wikileaks documents has brought some clarity to this issue. Among the dispatches made public is a telegram from the US Consul General in Dubai, David Williams, in which he informs about the change in the order of succession and about its reasons. Without disclosing his sources, Williams reported that Rashid killed one of the workers in the emir's palace, this caused the sheikh's anger, and he revised the line of inheritance.

Sports consolation

A public relations campaign in the emirate and around the world has paid off: the new crown prince Hamdan quickly became the darling of the press. A diver and skydiver, a falconer who keeps lions and white tigers in his menagerie, a snowboarder and a poet who writes under the pseudonym Fazza. A wonderful rider, multiple winner of equestrian competitions, owner of expensive cars and yachts - Hamdan ibn Mohammed willingly demonstrates all this luxury on his Instagram account. Hamdan is known as a philanthropist and philanthropist, generously distributing donations to disabled and sick children, and also as one of the most enviable suitors in the world. Admiring fans gave him the nickname - "Aladdin".

Against this background, his older brother Rashid looked rather pale (especially considering the difference in their capitals - less than two billion dollars of Rashid against 18 billion of Hamdan), and he does not have an Instagram account. Although it cannot be said that the press did not indulge him with their attention. Since 2005, he has consistently been on the list of "20 Sexiest Arab Men" for five years in a row, in 2010 Esquire magazine recognized him as "one of the 20 most enviable royals", and a year later, Forbes included him in the twenty "most desirable persons of royal blood.

Deprived of the right to the throne, Rashid ibn Mohammed focused on sports. The whole al-Maktoum family is famous for their love of horses, and Rashid is no exception. He owned the racing corporation Zabeel Racing International, and he has repeatedly won in various competitions both in the UAE and abroad. In total, he won 428 medals. The pinnacle of Rashid ibn Mohammed's sporting achievements is two gold medals at the Asian Games in Doha in 2006. In 2008 to 2010, Rashid was even the president of the UAE Olympic Committee, but left this post, as he explained, due to lack of time.

Scandal in a noble family

Arab sheikhs try not to make their internal affairs public, but sometimes, when the traditional values ​​of the oil emirs clash with European realities, leaks happen. So it was with Rashid.

In 2011, a black employee from the staff of the British palace of Emir Olantunji Faley applied to a British court. He claimed that he was discriminated against on racial and religious grounds: members of the sheikh’s family addressed him as “al-abd al-aswad” - “black slave”, and repeatedly insulted Christianity (Faleiye is an Anglican), calling him “bad, low and disgusting faith”, convincing his “black slave” to convert to Islam.

As a visionary reform-minded political leader, since coming to power in 2006, Sheikh Mohammed has personally led the transformation of Dubai into a world-class capital and has spearheaded the creation of a number of international businesses, including Emirates, Jumeirah Group and DP World. .

Sheikh Mohammed has personally overseen the creation of a large number of transnational business projects critical to transforming Dubai's economy, including the construction of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.

Sheikh Mohammed was born on July 15, 1949, the third of four sons of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

The education of Sheikh Mohammed began at the age of four with the study of the basics of the Arabic language and Islam. In 1955, Sheikh Mohammed began his studies at the Al Ahmadiyya School, where he studied Arabic grammar, English, mathematics, geography and history. At the moment, this school has become a museum dedicated to education.

On September 9, 1958, Sheikh Said, the grandfather of Sheikh Mohammed, died, and in October 1958, Sheikh Rashid bin Said, the father of Sheikh Mohammed, became the ruler-general of Dubai. Sheikh Rashid began a serious preparation of his sons for the management of the emirate. In this regard, in August 1966, Sheikh Mohammed went to London to enter the Bell Language School in Cambridge.

Returning to Dubai after his training, Sheikh Mohammed was appointed as the head of the Dubai police, as well as the head of the Dubai Defense Force, which later became part of the UAE military. Since December 1971, Sheikh Mohammed has been the Minister of Defense of the United Arab Emirates.

Sheikh Mohammed was personally responsible for the creation and intensive development of a number of companies and key assets of the Emirate of Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed owns two diversified conglomerates - Dubai World and Dubai Holding.

Sheikh Mohammed was appointed Crown Prince of Dubai on 3 January 1995 by Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. On January 4, 2006, Sheikh Mohammed, who had practically ruled the city for almost 10 years, became the official Emir of Dubai - his elder brother, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, died. A day later, Sheikh Mohammed, by the will of the President of the United Arab Emirates, was nominated for the positions of Vice President and Prime Minister of the country; the president's proposal was almost immediately approved by members of the federal national council of the country.

Sheikh Mohammed married his older sister, Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Yuma Al Maktoum in 1979. Among his younger wives, the most famous is Princess Haya bint al-Hussein, daughter of King Hussein and half-sister of King Abdullah II - respectively, the previous and current kings of Jordan, whom he married on April 10, 2004. In 2007, Princess Haya bint al-Hussein gave birth to Sheikh Mohammed, a girl, Al Jalil, and in January 2012, a son, Zayed.

A well-known Arab poet and sportsman, he is also the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, he is also the Minister of Defense and the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai.

Start

Residents of the Emirate of Dubai are very proud of their leader and love him - as part of the celebration of the next anniversary of his reign, there was even an action called "Thank you, Sheikh Mohammed, for your kindness." As a token of gratitude, everyone brought bouquets of flowers to the Dubai Mall in the center of the capital. (Presumably, everything was littered with flowers). And for the preparation of treats for the guests of the Sheikh on January 4, 2013. brought together the largest team of chefs in the world, thanks to which the Emirate has already entered the Guinness Book of Records for the first time. 2847 chefs from hotels and restaurants of the emirate did their best for their beloved sheikh, showing their skills and wanting everyone to eat deliciously and beautifully, so that both the sheikh and his guests were probably satisfied. And once again it does not interfere with becoming famous, especially since the Emirate of Dubai with its sights and amazing events constantly gets into the Book of Records.

The ancestors of the sheikh are also notorious - the ruling dynasty of Al Maktoum was founded by Sheikh Maktoum bin Butty, who in 1833. decided to create his own emirate, for which he moved from the emirate of Abu Dhabi to the area of ​​​​Dubai Bay. You can’t say anything - he founded it so he founded it ... And so it turned out that the UAE is a republic for seven monarchs, each of whom rules in his own emirate ... not just as he wants, but not without it.

Power, as you know, in this country is inherited, and in 2006. Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum has become the tenth ruler of the emirate of Dubai. Mohammed's father, the late Rashid bin Said Al Maktoum, helped the first president of the UAE, the legendary Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in every possible way in the creation and development of the UAE, and in general, all the other sheikhs also tried.

The golden childhood of Sheikh Mohammed took place in the ancestral home in Shindag (Bar Dubai), and judging by what poems the adult son dedicates to his mother, Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who belongs to the family of the rulers of the emirate of Abu Dhabi and is cousin of the legendary Sheikh Zayed, he was dearly loved by his mother.

Little Mohammed was passionately fond of falconry, horseback riding, swimming, shooting, and also listened to and silently analyzed those wise sayings, practical advice and other wisdom at the meetings of his grandfather Sheikh Zayed with fellow tribesmen. Could the famous grandfather, looking at the dark-eyed inquisitive boy spinning nearby - his beloved grandson, foresee what role he would play in the future for the whole country, and how he would be loved by his people? ..

At school, Mohammed was a prosperous student, not a trailing one among the underachievers, and today the small private school where he received his primary education, Al Ahmadiyya in Deira, has become a museum.

In 1958 His father, Sheikh Rashid bin Said, became the ruler of Dubai by inheritance. Sheikh Rashid understood that one of his sons would also take his place in the future, so he immediately began to seriously prepare his sons for them to understand politics, economics, psychology - in a word, they could solve any issues related to the present and future of the Emirate of Dubai. And here Muhammad was also present at the meetings of prominent figures - bankers, builders, merchants, intellectuals ...

Then the grown up future ruler of Dubai studied at an elite language school in the UK, at the Mons Military College. In Cambridge, Sheikh Mohammed communicated with young people from different countries, learning about the traditions and culture of many other nationalities. A great lover of horses (Arab men have it in their blood), he attended horse races in London, missing and longing for his homeland. Abroad, as they say, it’s good, but at home it’s still better ...

The future ruler of Dubai was not even twenty years old then, but, despite his green age, he already understood how important his hobbies would be in his future adult life - politics, military knowledge, sports and literature.

Women, horses, yachts

Sheikh Mohammed, as curious media representatives calculated, has 14 daughters and 9 sons, such a rather large family - 23 children, many of the children are already quite old. However, there is no “yellow press” in the Emirates, so not much is known about the Sheikh’s personal life. In particular, everyone knows the names of only two of his wives - this is the eldest wife Hind bint Maktoum bin Jumaa Al Maktoum, the mother of 12 children of the sheikh (one of the sons is the young handsome Sheikh Hamdan - the crown prince of the Emirate) and the former Jordanian princess Haya bint Al Hussein, in whose veins flow the blood of the Prophet Muhammad (the herald of Islam). In December 2007 Haya gave birth to a daughter, Al-Jalil, and in January 2012, a son, Zayed.

Princess Haya is a beauty, younger than her husband, is a public person. Sheikh, apparently, loves and pampers her so much that he allows a lot - she founded the Arab charity organization Tikyet Um Ali, which fights against poverty and hunger in her native Jordan. She is a member of the boards of many non-profit public organizations, heads the World Equestrian Federation, is a member of the International Olympic Committee, takes part in international equestrian competitions, which is surprising and uncharacteristic for women in this country. The princess also, like her husband, loves horses very much, and keeps well in the saddle (at the age of 13 she successfully represented her country at the international level).

She is also chairperson of the Dubai International Humanitarian City, the world's largest emergency relief centre.

In the UAE, at official events, Haya wears discreet outfits, and a light beautiful airy scarf covers her luxurious and well-groomed hair, and when traveling to other countries, her suits and dresses often surpass the insanely expensive toilets of other secular ladies. The husband allows her to be interviewed and photographed, which she willingly does. Judging by the photographs, Haya is happy with her husband (who takes her with him on "business trips" abroad), and does not regret at all that she married the sheikh, although she is not his only wife.

An excellent rider who can handle any, even the most stubborn horse, the sheikh keeps several hundred thoroughbred horses in his stables in the UAE and abroad, many of which win prestigious international races. The Sheikh himself competes at the races as an athlete and is the captain of the desert endurance horse race team - Arab horsemen led by Sheikh Mohammed always win these competitions. Sheikh's sons and even daughters also compete in equestrian competitions.

In 2001, the Sheikh received a special Bookplate Award as the world's recognized owner of purebred Arabian horses.

Apart from the happy possession of a palace, Arabian and English purebred very expensive horses, cars, golden utensils in the palace, etc. etc., Sheikh of Dubai in 2012 became the owner of one of the largest and most luxurious yachts in the world, which aroused the envy of shipowners who were equally rich and proud of the symbols of their prestige. The press announced the news that now his Dubai yacht was considered the largest in the world, and the sheikh, in this status indicator of well-being, famously jumped Roman Abramovich, as his yacht turned out to be 15 cm longer. They say that Roman Arkadyevich, having recognized this unpleasant and shocking news to himself, was furious. There would be other times - maybe he would cut off the head of a messenger with bad news, as they did in the old days, but ... now he just needs to think about how to make his yacht the largest in the world again. It is not in vain that 500 million dollars were spent (the cost of "Eclipse"), now it is necessary to puzzle the engineers - what would they hang to lengthen it at least half a meter ...

The yacht of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is also estimated at several hundred million dollars, famous for its own submarine, helipad, huge glass staircase and many dining rooms and pools.

authoritative person

Sheikh Mohammed enjoys well-deserved authority in his country and in the world. Since the beginning of his reign (in 1995 he was solemnly proclaimed the Crown Prince of the Emirate), the economic rise of Dubai began and its appearance changed dramatically. In Dubai, with the assistance of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a chic ski complex was built
Ski Dubai Snow Park - having the opportunity to visit other countries, Sheikh Mohammed saw real snow, and, most likely, went skiing. Now Arab kids can play snowballs and slides at any time of their year-round summer, and finally find out what skiing and skating are.

Also among the implemented grandiose projects of Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum:

Artificial palm islands - Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, Palm Deira.

Aquarium, considered the largest in the world (in the Dubai Mall), filled with water, algae and various live fish.

Also considered the most expensive and luxurious in the world, the sail-shaped hotel - Burj al-Arab, with a heliport at the top - for hotel guests arriving by personal helicopters, is trimmed with gold inside.

An international golf club, famous far beyond Dubai, a hippodrome was built, and in 2004 the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) was founded.

Yes, and much, much more...

A courageous and independent politician, Sheikh Mohammed is an example for the leaders of other states in the region. He does a lot not only in politics, but also in charity, invests in the development of culture, art, and science.

In addition, the sheikh, almost from infancy, is fond of literature, which, of course, characterizes him as a diversified and educated person. The work of Sheikh Mohammed as a poet is known throughout the Arab region, and beyond its borders too. Collections of poems and poems of the Sheikh have been translated into many languages, Sheikh Mohammed dedicates the most tender verses to his mother. Based on the poetry of Sheikh Mohammed in Morocco in 2008. the shooting of the television series "Battle in the Sand" took place.

Here is a rough translation of one of the Sheikh's poems:

How many nights will not fall

The memory lives on in my chest.

Better than the moon will not rise.

The song your heart sings.

There is no you, mother, dear,

Closer, dearer, dearer,

I don't know more with my heart

Names than yours.

You are the cradle of warmth

Caress, peace, dreams.

Time, no matter how ashamed,

The feeling won't go away.

You brighten my day

You are my best shadow

I'm in a hurry to your canopy,

As soon as the day comes.

You are alone in my heart

When waking up from sleep

And when going to sleep

Forever, all my life ahead.

(translated by Viktor Lebedev)

However, despite his kindness and thin strings of the soul, as a boss, for example, Sheikh Mohammed is very tough and organized: “…. There were cases when at 8 o'clock in the morning he personally traveled around his departments. If someone from the heads of departments of his government was not found on the spot, he fired him within 15 minutes” (Vladimir Bekesh, an expert on the Middle East).

In 2009, the Sheikh arrived in Moscow and met with Dmitry Medvedev, who then held the post of President, as well as Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, after which the Sheikh invited Vladimir Putin to visit the United Arab Emirates. A very far-sighted and intelligent eastern sheikh ....

The beautiful deeds and deeds of the Sheikh of Dubai - Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a beautiful way of thinking suggest that such people were born to be the rulers of a happy and rich country. The ruler of Dubai - Sheikh Mohammed - is a man who, prospering, does everything for his people, and for his land on which he lives.

Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates from January 5 Predecessor Maktoum ibn Rashid

	Emir of Dubai
from January 4

Predecessor Maktoum ibn Rashid Heir Hamdan ibn Mohammed Birth July 22(1949-07-22 ) (70 years old)
Dubai, Emirate of Dubai Genus Al Maktoum Father Rashid ibn Said Al Maktoum Spouse 1) Hind bint Maktoum ibn Juma Al Maktoum
2) Haya bint al-Hussein
5 more wives Children 9 sons and 14 daughters Religion Islam, Sunni Awards Website sheikhmohammed.ae Media files at Wikimedia Commons

As a reform-minded political leader, Sheikh Mohammed has led the transformation of Dubai into a world-class capital since coming to power in 2006 and has spearheaded a number of international ventures, including Emirates, Jumeirah Group and DP World.

Sheikh Mohammed personally oversaw the creation of a large number of transnational business projects that are critical to the transformation of the Dubai economy, including the construction of the tallest building in the world - Burj Khalifa.

Early life. Education.

Sheikh Mohammed was born on 15 July 1949, the third of four sons of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

The education of Sheikh Mohammed began at the age of four with the study of the basics of the Arabic language and Islam. In 1955, Sheikh Mohammed began his studies at the Al Ahmadiyya School, where he studied Arabic grammar, English, mathematics, geography and history. At the moment, this school has become a museum dedicated to education.

On September 9, 1958, Sheikh Said, Sheikh Mohammed's grandfather, died, and in October 1958, Sheikh Rashid bin Said, Sheikh Mohammed's father, became ruler-general of Dubai. Sheikh Rashid began a serious preparation of his sons for the management of the emirate. In this regard, in August 1966, Sheikh Mohammed went to London to enter the Bell Language School in Cambridge.

Returning to Dubai after his training, Sheikh Mohammed was appointed as the head of the Dubai Police, as well as the head of the Dubai Defense Force, which later became part of the UAE Armed Forces. Since December 1971, Sheikh Mohammed has been the Minister of Defense of the United Arab Emirates.

Personal life

Sheikh Mohammed married his eldest wife, his first cousin Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Yuma Al Maktoum on 26 April 1979, who bore him 12 children, including the Crown Prince of Dubai - Hamdan ibn Mohammed Al Maktoum. The eldest son of Sheikh Mohammed Rashid ibn Mohammed Al Maktoum died in September 2015, according to the official version - from a heart attack, according to other sources - from shelling in Yemen.

Among the younger wives of Sheikh Mohammed, the most famous is Princess Haya bint al-Hussein, daughter of King Hussein and half-sister of King Abdullah II of Jordan - respectively, the previous and current kings of Jordan, whom he married on April 10, 2004. The eldest son of Sheikh Mohammed Rashid was considered Dubai's heir, and after his abdication, his brother Hamdan. In 2007, Princess Haya bint al-Hussein gave birth to a girl, Al Jalil, to Sheikh Mohammed, and in January 2012, a son, Zayed. .

Escape of wife and two daughters

In the summer of 2019, it became known that the youngest and most famous wife of Sheikh Mohammed, Princess Haya, fled from her husband to London with her children. According to press reports, Princess Haya began to fear for her life after Sheikh Mohammed suspected her of being close to a British guard. The sheikh's wife is afraid to share the fate of her previously missing stepdaughters, daughters of Sheikh Mohammed princesses Latifa and Shamsa, who unsuccessfully tried to escape from Dubai earlier. To avoid being kidnapped, Haya uses the services of a private security firm. Discussing the reasons for the escape, sources close to her mention that Princess Haya has become aware of new disturbing facts behind the return to Dubai of Sheikha Latifa, who tried to flee Dubai in 2018.

The video, in which Princess Latifa testifies to violence and torture against herself and her relatives, and also makes other serious accusations against her father Sheikh Mohammed, including murder charges, has received wide notoriety:

“After my uncle died, he killed one of his wives. He killed her. Everyone knows about it. The one from Morocco. Because her behavior was too cocky. I think she just talked too much and he felt like she was a threat to him, so he just killed her." (on video: 12.43-13.00)

business career

Political activities and reforms

Sheikh Mohammed was appointed Crown Prince of Dubai on 3 January 1995 by Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

On January 4, 2006, Sheikh Mohammed, who had practically ruled the city for almost 10 years, became the official Emir of Dubai - his older brother, Sheikh Maktoum ibn Rashid Al Maktoum, died. A day later, Sheikh Mohammed, by the will of the President of the United Arab Emirates, was nominated for the positions of Vice President and Prime Minister of the country; the president's proposal was almost immediately approved by members of the federal national council of the country.

Mohammed ibn Rashid School of Public Administration

Fight against corruption

As part of the government's zero-tolerance policy for corruption, the head of Dubai's customs office, Obaid Saqr Bouzit, and two of his senior aides were arrested on corruption charges. The arrest was the final stage of a two-year investigation into the case, which was under the personal supervision of Sheikh Mohammed. Later, an investigation was launched into the financial fraud of the state-owned real estate company Deyaar. The chief executive officer of the company was sentenced to 10 years in prison for abuse of power and embezzlement of 30 million dirhams.

Sports interests

Sheikh Mohammed is also the founder and organizer of the Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse. The prize pool for the 20th Anniversary Dubai World Cup on March 28, 2015 was over $26 million, including 9 million dollar prizes.

The Sheikh personally participates in Distance Horse Races as a rider. In 2012, at the age of 63, Sheikh Mohammed became the winner of the world horse riding endurance race organized by the International Federation of Equestrian Sports (FEI) - Longines FEI World Endurance Championship. Overcoming the race track 160 km long, he overtook 152 rivals representing 38 countries of the world, and reached the finish line seven hours after the start of the race.

Sheikh Mohammed also won gold in individual endurance events at the 15th Asian Games in 2006; later in the team event, gold in the same discipline went to the team of Rashid, Ahmed, Majid and Hamdan Al Maktumov. The daughter of Sheikh Mohammed Maitha took part in the 2008 Summer Olympics in taekwondo in the 67 kg category, leading the UAE team.

Cultural and humanitarian projects

Both Sheikh Mohammed himself and his children are inveterate lovers of traditional Arabic arts, including poetry. The work of Sheikh Mohammed as a poet is known throughout the Arab region and beyond, collections of poems and poems of the Sheikh have been translated into many languages.

In 1998, Sheikh Mohammed opened the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU), a non-profit organization dedicated to breaking down barriers between the peoples of different countries by providing them with information about the culture, traditions and religion of the UAE under the slogan "Opening Doors Opens Minds".

One of the latest initiatives of the ruler of Dubai in the field of culture was the transformation of Dubai metro stations into an art museum of works of art. The project aims to promote art and creativity among all segments of the UAE population, as well as to strengthen the international status of the UAE in the cultural sphere.

Patron of the Arts Award

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patron of the Arts Award was launched in March 2009 to recognize individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to the advancement of the arts in Dubai.

"Knowledge Award"

Charity

The whole family is actively involved in aid projects for developing countries such as Jordan, Egypt, Palestine and Yemen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is known for his charitable donations. On May 19, 2007, he announced plans to donate US$10 billion to establish the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, an educational foundation active in the Middle East. According to Sheikh Mohammed, this money is intended to close the gap in knowledge between the Arab region and the developed world.

Dubai Cares

In September 2007, Sheikh Mohammed launched the Dubai Cares campaign to raise money to pay for the education of 1 million children in poor countries. The amount donated by the public in the first campaign in 2007 exceeded 1.65 billion dirhams (approximately US$450 million); Sheikh Mohammed personally increased the amount to 3.5 billion dirhams (approximately US$1 billion).

Noor Dubai

On September 3, 2008, Sheikh Mohammed launched a new initiative called "Noor Dubai". The Noor Dubai initiative was originally intended to provide health care services to one million people suffering from treatable blindness and visual impairment in developing countries, but by 2011, the number of people covered by this project and receiving medical services exceeded 5.8 million.

Pakistan Assistance Program

On January 12, 2011, in accordance with the instructions of the UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Pakistan Assistance Program was launched to assist the people of Pakistan in the fight against floods. The program included the construction and rehabilitation of two bridges, 52 schools and 7 hospitals, and the construction of 64 drinking water systems.

Help Afghanistan

Urging the United States to limit intervention in Afghanistan, both in public speeches and in private meetings with US representatives, Sheikh Mohammed donated US$2 million to build temporary housing for those displaced by US bombings in 2001-2002. The following year, about 15,000 refugees were resettled in new housing, leaving makeshift camps set up on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

personal fortune

The personal fortune of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for 2015 is estimated at more than $4 billion.

Notes

1. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Biography (indefinite) .
2. United Arab Emirates: racing dynasty of Maktums // ZM No. 2 (40) 2004 (indefinite) . www.goldmustang.ru Retrieved 3 September 2015.
3. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - leader, rider, poet (indefinite) . russianemirates.com. Retrieved 3 September 2015. (unavailable link)
4. Fars: Son of UAE prime minister killed in Yemen shelling (Russian). EADaily. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
5. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - Almanac Pages of the History of Belarus (indefinite) . litvin.org. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
6. Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. "Passion to the faithful heart, fearless gleam in the eyes!" (indefinite) . www.goldmustang.ru Retrieved 4 September 2015.
7. Victor Davydov. The wife of the Emir of Dubai fled to London. A year ago, his daughter tried to escape - she was returned (indefinite) . meduza (5.07.2019).
8. Bowcott, Owen. Dubai: Princess Haya "s flight to UK threatens diplomatic crisis, The Guardian(July 6, 2019). Retrieved 6 July 2019.
9. Gardner, Frank. Dubai ruler "s wife "in hiding in UK" (July 2, 2019). Retrieved July 6, 2019.
10. Free Latifa. Sheikha (Princess) Latifa Al Maktoum - FULL UNEDITED VIDEO - #FreeLatifa (indefinite) (March 11, 2018). Retrieved 6 July 2019.
11. Sheikh Mohammed Ibn Rashid Al Maktoum (indefinite) .
12. Dubai Holding (indefinite) .
13. Sheikhs' Special Routes (indefinite) .
14. Emirates History (indefinite) .
15. Low cost national carrier flydubai (indefinite) .
16. Dubai Port World is the new world leader (indefinite) . (unavailable link)
17. Burj Al Arab Hotel (indefinite) .
18. Burj Al Arab Hotel: which sail is the most famous? (indefinite) .
19. Jumeirah - the global benchmark for hospitality (indefinite) .
20. "Jumeirah" enters the hotel market of St. Petersburg (indefinite) .
21. Dubai Internet City (indefinite) .
22. Dubai Media City (district) (indefinite) .
23. Deira Islands to get 25.3km coastline in Nakheel contract with Dutch dredger Van Oord (indefinite) .
24. How islands are made (indefinite) .
25. The tallest building in the world (indefinite) .
26. The Dubai Mall (indefinite) .
27. Maktoum, Mohammed. Flashes of Thought.. - UAE: Motivate., 2013. - P. 33. - ISBN 9781860633560 .
28. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - Vice President of the UAE (indefinite) .
29. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (indefinite) .