Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Arabic: حمدان بن محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم, romanized: Ḥamdān bin Muḥammad bin Rāšid Āl Maktūm; born 14 November 1982) is an Emirati royal and politician who has been the Crown Prince of Dubai since 2008. He is the Minister of Defence of the UAE since 14 July 2024. He served as deputy ruler of Dubai from 2006 to 2008. He is popularly known as Fazza (Arabic: فزاع), the name under which he publishes his poetry, which means "the one who helps" in Arabic. As an equestrian, Maktoum is a multiple world champion at the World Equestrian Games.

Early life and education

Hamdan bin Mohammed is the son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, the senior wife of Mohammed. He is the second male child of their twelve children and he is the third son of his father. Hamdan's elder full brother was Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed.

Hamdan bin Mohammed was educated in Dubai at the Rashid School For Boys and then at the Dubai School of Government. He continued his studies in the United Kingdom, where he graduated from Sandhurst in 2001; he later attended the London School of Economics. In his interview with Vision he described how Sandhurst taught him the importance of self-discipline, commitment, virtue, responsibility, endurance, understanding, teamwork, friendship and the benefits of hard work.

Positions and roles

Hamdan bin Mohammed was appointed as the Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council in September 2006. On 1 February 2008, he was appointed Crown Prince of Dubai, while his brother Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum acceded to Deputy Ruler of Dubai. As the new hereditary prince, Hamdan appointed new key personnel and financial advisors, while Hamdan himself became head of HN Capital LLP. He is the head of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for young entrepreneurs; he sits on the Dubai sports council and the Dubai autism centre.

He was part of the Dubai World Expo 2020 delegation when the emirate was awarded the right to host the event. He went to the top floor of the Burj Khalifa to wave the UAE flag a few days after the World Expo 2020 win. He is the founder of the Hamdan International Photography Award, which was launched in 2011.

In June 2022, Sheikh Hamdan launched the "Dubai Global" initiative, which was meant to establish 50 commercial representative offices for Dubai on five continents. The initiative supported Dubai-based firms and strengthened the city's position as a business hub.

Sheikh Hamdan was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE on 14 July 2024. He was also appointed as Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates on 14 July 2024, succeeding his father Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who held this designation since the formation of the UAE in 1971.

Equestrian

He rides for Godolphin Stables and has attended the Royal Ascot.

Sheikh Hamdan won a gold medal at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy (FRA), team gold in 2012, and a bronze medal in 2010. He led a team of five UAE riders at the Championships in Samorín on 17 September 2016.

In 2009, he was banned for 10 months from competition after it was found one of his horses was competing while on a steroid. In 2013, evidence shared from The Daily Telegraph showed Sheikh Hamdan was riding a horse under a false name during the 2012 World Championships at Euston Park.

Personal life and interests

The Crown Prince's Instagram account has more than 16.7 million followers, as of 27-Sep-2024. He posts pictures that showcase his hobbies, which include animals, poetry, sports, photography, and adventures.

Hamdan Al Maktoum is an equestrian, skydiver and scuba diver. He dives in Fujairah. He is known for his romantic and patriotic poems in Arabic. He publishes his poems under the pen name of Fazza (فزاع).

Honours

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit (Kingdom of Spain, 23 May 2008)

References

"Hamdan appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence in new UAE Cabinet". 14 July 2024.
"13 facts about Sheikh Hamdan to celebrate 13 years as Crown Prince of Dubai". The National. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
"Sheikh Hamdan takes father's Endurance World Championship crown". Yahoo! News. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
"Sheikh Hamdan crowned champion of FEI World Equestrian Games". Buro247. 30 August 2014. Archived from the original on 2 May 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
Christopher M. Davidson (29 November 2009). "A tale of two desert dynasties". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
"Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum". royalista.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
"HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum". LinkedIn. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
^ "Profile: Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammad Al Maktoum". Gulf News. 1 February 2008. Archived from the original on 9 February 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2008.
^ "Shaikh Hamdan appointed Dubai's Crown Prince". Gulf News. 1 February 2008. Archived from the original on 8 February 2008. Retrieved 9 February 2008.
"A very modern prince". Archived from the original on 31 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
"Sheikh Mohammed: A timeline of achievements". Gulf News. 5 January 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
"Maktoum Bin Mohammad: Following in his father's footsteps". Gulf News. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
"Fan Page information source". Tumblr. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
"Expo 2020: Dubai celebrates in style". Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
"Shaikh Hamdan waves UAE flag from top of Burj Khalifa". Khaleej Times. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
"Hamdan International Photography Award". artdubai.ae. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
"Hamdan bin Mohammed launches 'Dubai Global' initiative". Emirates News Agency. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
"Hamdan appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence in new UAE Cabinet". Gulf News. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
"Hamdan appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence in new UAE Cabinet". Gulf News. 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
"Mohammed, Hamdan at the second day of Royal Ascot". Emirates 24/7. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
"Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2016 - Slovakia Welcomes Record 46 Nations". Fédération Équestre Internationale. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
"Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed gets ready to retain World Equestrian Games title". The National. 17 September 2016. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
Paley, Tony (13 August 2009). "Crown prince of Dubai banned 10 months for riding doped horse". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
"Investigation Re-Opens In Sheikh Hamdan Horse Switching - The Chronicle of the Horse". Retrieved 16 July 2024.
Iyer, Anita (3 January 2018). "Do you know who Sheikh Hamdan follows on Instagram?". Khaleej Times. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
"REAL DECRETO 893/2008" (PDF). Boletín Oficial del Estado. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2021.

External links

Official Website - Arabic Archived 3 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine
Official Website - English
Official Website - English

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