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{{Short description|Ruler of Dubai (born 1949)}}
{{arabic name|Al Maktoum}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Family name hatnote|lang=Arabic|Al Maktoum}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox royalty
|name = Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
| full name = His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Saeed bin Maktoum bin Hasher bin Maktoum bin Butti bin Suhail
|image = Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the World Economic Forum Summit on the Global Agenda 2008 1.jpg
|caption = Sheikh Mohammed in 2008 | name = Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
{{nobold|{{ubl|{{native name|ar|محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم|italics=no|paren=omit}} }}}}
|office = ]
|president = ] | image = Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (15-02-2021).jpg
| caption = Sheikh Mohammed in 2021
|term_start = 11 February 2006
| succession = ]
|term_end =
{{Infobox officeholder/office
|predecessor = ]
| termstart = 5 January 2006
|successor =
| termend =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|7|22|df=y}}
| president = {{ubl|]|]}}
|birth_place = ], ]<br>{{small|(now ])}}
| predecessor = ]
|death_date =
|death_place = | successor =
| alongside = ] (2023–present)
|spouse = ] {{small|(1979–present)}}<br>] {{small|(2004–present)}}
}}
|religion = ]
| succession1 = 4th ]
{{Infobox officeholder/office
| status =
| termstart = 11 February 2006
| termend =
| president = {{ubl|]|]}}
| primeminister =
| vicepresident =
| 1blankname = Deputies
| 1namedata = {{ubl|] (2006–2009)|] (2006–2009)|] (2009–present)|] (2009–present)|] (2021–present)|] (2024–present)|] (2024–present)}}
| deputy =
| predecessor = ]
| successor =
}}
| succession2 = ]
{{Infobox officeholder/office
| status =
| termstart = 9 December 1971
| termend = 2020
| president = {{ubl|]|]|]}}
| primeminister =
| vicepresident =
| deputy =
| predecessor = ''Post established''
| successor = vacant<br>] (in 2024)
}}
| succession3 = ]
{{Infobox officeholder/office
| status = Acting
| termstart = 13 May 2022
| termend = 14 May 2022
| president =
| primeminister =
| vicepresident =
| predecessor = ]
| successor = ]
}}
| succession4 = ]
{{Infobox officeholder/office
| status =
| termstart = 4 January 2006
| termend =
| president =
| primeminister =
| vicepresident =
| 1blankname =
| 1namedata =
| deputy =
| predecessor = ]
| successor =
}}
| reign4 =
| predecessor4 =
| successor4 = ]
| suc-type4 = ]
| spouse = '']''
| issue = '']''
| father = ]
| mother = Latifa bint ]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|07|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = ], ]
| religion = ]
| house = ]
| module = {{Infobox police officer|embed=yes
| department = ]
| serviceyears = 1968–1970
| rank = Head of Dubai Police and Public Security
| website = {{URL|https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/the-uae-government/government-leaders/h-h-sheikh-mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum|Official website}}
}}
}} }}
'''Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum''', ]<ref></ref> (]: محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم; {{transl|ar|'''Muḥammad bin Rāshid al Maktūm'''}}), also known as '''Sheikh Mohammed''', (born 15 July 1949) is the Vice President and Prime Minister of the ] (UAE), and ] of ].<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.helplinelaw.com/law/uae/constitution/constitution01.php|title=Uae The Union, its fundamental constituents and aims Law - Law Firms lawyers, Attorney, Solicitor, Injury of UAE|publisher=Helplinelaw|accessdate=30 March 2012}}</ref>


] '''Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum''' ({{langx|ar|محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم|links=yes|Muḥammad bin Rāšid Āl Maktūm}}; born 15 July 1949) is an Emirati politician and royal who is the current ], and serves as the ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tec.gov.ae/en/dubai-government/rulers-of-dubai/|title=Dubai Rulers|publisher=Government of Dubai|access-date=2 March 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019075927/http://tec.gov.ae/en/dubai-government/rulers-of-dubai|archive-date=19 October 2016}}</ref> Mohammed succeeded his brother ] as UAE vice president, UAE prime minister, and ruler of Dubai following the latter's death in 2006.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Dubai: The Making of a Megapolis |author=Pranay Gupte |date=January 2011 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=9788184755046 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7OokHr76UBsC&pg=PT159 |access-date=30 June 2020 |archive-date=19 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219202300/https://books.google.com/books?id=7OokHr76UBsC&pg=PT159 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Since his accession in 2006, he has undertaken major reforms in the UAE's government, starting with the UAE Federal Government Strategy in April 2007. In 2010 he launched UAE Vision 2021 with the aim of making the UAE "One of the best countries in the world" by 2021.<ref name="Gulf News">{{Cite news|url = http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/government/uae-cabinet-we-want-to-be-among-the-best-countries-in-the-world-by-2021-1.579412|title = UAE Cabinet: 'We want to be among the best countries in the world by 2021'|last = |first = |date = 6 February 2010|work = Gulf News|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref>


A billionaire,<ref name=":17" /> Mohammed generates most of his income from real estate and is described as "one of the world's most prominent real estate developers". There is a blurred line between the assets of the ] and those of the ruling ].<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Herb |first=Michael |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt1287d29 |title=The Wages of Oil: Parliaments and Economic Development in Kuwait and the UAE |date=2014 |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-0-8014-5336-6 |pages=110–111 |jstor=10.7591/j.ctt1287d29 |access-date=24 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524185837/https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt1287d29 |archive-date=24 May 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> Land which is owned by him is managed as an asset of the state.<ref name=":7" /> He oversaw the growth of Dubai into a ],<ref>{{Cite news|date=16 February 2021|title=Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum: Who is Dubai's ruler?|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51762543|access-date=13 April 2021|archive-date=17 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117155132/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51762543|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Analysis|first=Andrew Hammond-|date=27 November 2009|title="Dubai model" was the vision of one man|language=en|work=]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dubai-model-analysis-1-idUSTRE5AQ3FD20091127|access-date=13 April 2021|archive-date=13 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413064701/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dubai-model-analysis-1-idUSTRE5AQ3FD20091127|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as the launch of a number of ] including ], ], and the ]. Some of these are held by ]. Mohammed has overseen the development of certain projects in ], such as the ]<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 October 2005|title=In Dubai, the Sky's No Limit|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-oct-13-fg-dubai13-story.html|access-date=10 May 2021|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224070337/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-oct-13-fg-dubai13-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the ] hotel, as well as ], the tallest building in the world as of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 May 2007|title=Dubai ruler has big ideas for the little city-state|url=https://www.ft.com/content/eb00cfcc-f9a0-11db-9b6b-000b5df10621 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/eb00cfcc-f9a0-11db-9b6b-000b5df10621 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription|access-date=10 May 2021|website=www.ft.com|language=en-GB}}</ref>
He is responsible for the growth of Dubai into a ],<ref>"Sheikh Mohammed and the making of Dubai", Mayo, Nohira, Mendhro and Cromwell, Harvard Business School, March 2010 9-410-063, Page 1, 9.</ref> as well as the launch of a number of major enterprises including ], ] and the ]. Many of these are held by ], the holding company with multi-diversified businesses and investments. He currently owns 99.67% of the company.<ref>, ].</ref>


Mohammed is the ] of Dubai and the prime minister of the UAE,<ref>{{Cite news|date=16 February 2021|title=Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum: Who is Dubai's ruler?|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51762543|access-date=21 August 2021|archive-date=17 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117155132/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51762543|url-status=live}}</ref> a position appointed by ].<ref>{{Cite web|title=About the Government {{!}} UAE Embassy in Washington, DC|url=https://www.uae-embassy.org/about-uae/about-government|access-date=21 August 2021|website=www.uae-embassy.org|language=en|archive-date=21 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821135921/https://www.uae-embassy.org/about-uae/about-government|url-status=live}}</ref> The government is ].<ref name=":102">{{Cite news|date=26 November 2009|title=Standing still but still standing|newspaper=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2009/11/26/standing-still-but-still-standing|access-date=26 May 2021|issn=0013-0613|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525180604/https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2009/11/26/standing-still-but-still-standing|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":112">{{Cite news|first=Louise |last=Callaghan |title=Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum of Dubai: six wives, 30 children and a 14-year reign of control|newspaper=]|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sheikh-mohammed-al-maktoum-of-dubai-six-wives-30-children-and-a-14-year-reign-of-control-38x3zgb52|access-date=26 May 2021|issn=0140-0460|archive-date=23 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723120559/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sheikh-mohammed-al-maktoum-of-dubai-six-wives-30-children-and-a-14-year-reign-of-control-38x3zgb52|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":122">{{Cite web|date=2009|title=Dubai faces self-made public image 'disaster'|url=https://www.ft.com/content/2c21584c-e67e-11de-98b1-00144feab49a |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/2c21584c-e67e-11de-98b1-00144feab49a |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=26 May 2021|website=www.ft.com}}</ref><ref name=":132">{{Cite book|last=Marozzi|first=Justin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mP-EDwAAQBAJ&q=bin+rashid|title=Islamic Empires: Fifteen Cities that Define a Civilization|date=2019|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-0-241-19905-3|language=en|quote=There is no free speech in Dubai... criticism of the ruling family, or any other political activity, is absolutely prohibited... Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai|access-date=30 October 2021|archive-date=19 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219202300/https://books.google.com/books?id=mP-EDwAAQBAJ&q=bin+rashid|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":142">{{Cite book|last=Herb|first=Michael|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt1287d29|title=The Wages of Oil: Parliaments and Economic Development in Kuwait and the UAE|date=2014|publisher=Cornell University Press|isbn=978-0-8014-5336-6|edition=|pages=50, 128|jstor=10.7591/j.ctt1287d29|quote=The scores for the UAE on these measures are not unreasonable; it is an authoritarian regime... Sheikh Rashid, the ruler of Dubai, was made the prime minister of the federation|access-date=24 May 2021|archive-date=24 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524185837/https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt1287d29|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":152">{{Cite book|last=Yom|first=Sean|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tnm6DwAAQBAJ&q=%22prime+minister%22+%22bin+rashid%22+%22authoritarian%22&pg=PT421|title=Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa: Development, Democracy, and Dictatorship|date=2019|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-429-75639-9|pages=Box 17.4|language=en|access-date=30 October 2021|archive-date=19 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219202303/https://books.google.com/books?id=Tnm6DwAAQBAJ&q=%22prime+minister%22+%22bin+rashid%22+%22authoritarian%22&pg=PT421|url-status=live}}</ref>
Sheikh Mohammed has overseen the development of numerous economically transformational projects<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/how-dubai-became-dubai|title = How Dubai Become Dubai|date = 27 February 2013|accessdate = November 2014|website = Next City|publisher = |last = Brook|first = Daniel}}</ref> in Dubai including the creation of technology park and free economic zone ], ], the ], the ] and the iconic ] hotel. He also drove the construction of the ], the tallest building in the world.


On 5 March 2020, a British court ruled that ], Mohammed had abducted two of his daughters, ] and ], and had threatened his former wife, the Jordanian princess ].<ref name="BBC53202">{{cite news |date=5 March 2020 |title=Dubai's Sheikh Mohammed abducted daughters and threatened wife – UK court |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51756984 |access-date=5 March 2020 |archive-date=5 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200305180254/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51756984 |url-status=live }}</ref> Allegedly, Shamsa and Latifa were forcibly medicated while held in Dubai under Mohammed's orders since 2000 and 2018, respectively.<ref name="201907_60minutesAustralia2">{{Cite web |title=WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Dubai royal insider breaks silence on escaped princesses &#124; 60 Minutes Australia |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lQLXArjNs8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/9lQLXArjNs8?url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lQLXArjNs8 |archive-date=20 September 2001 |via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On 16 February 2021, ]'s '']'' broadcast a documentary featuring Latifa's video messages that she made secretly under enforced detention in Dubai on her father's orders.<ref>{{Citation |title=Panorama - The Missing Princess |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000sspm/panorama-the-missing-princess |language=en-GB |access-date=17 February 2021 |archive-date=17 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217092205/https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000sspm/panorama-the-missing-princess |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Guardian_Siddique_20222">{{cite news |last1=Siddique |first1=Haroon |date=24 March 2022 |title=Dubai ruler to have no direct contact with two children after UK court battle |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/24/dubai-ruler-no-direct-contact-with-children-after-uk-court-battle |access-date=24 March 2022 |archive-date=24 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324120116/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/24/dubai-ruler-no-direct-contact-with-children-after-uk-court-battle |url-status=live }}</ref>
A keen equestrian, he is the founder of the Maktoum family-owned ] racing stable and the owner of ], the thoroughbred breeding operation with operations in six countries. In 2012, he rode the horse ''Madji Du Pont'' 160&nbsp;km to take the FEI World Endurance Championship.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/mohammad-is-new-world-endurance-champion-1.1065965|title = Mohammed is new world endurance champion|last = Narayan|first = Satya|date = 25 August 2012|work = Gulf News|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref>


Mohammed is an ] and is the founder of the ]-owned ] stable and the owner of ], a ] breeding operation, operational in six countries. In 2012, he rode the horse ''Madji Du Pont'' 160&nbsp;km to take the ] World Endurance Championship.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/mohammad-is-new-world-endurance-champion-1.1065965|title = Mohammed is new world endurance champion|last = Narayan|first = Satya|date = 25 August 2012|work = Gulf News|access-date = 1 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905141221/http://gulfnews.com/sport/horse-racing/mohammad-is-new-world-endurance-champion-1.1065965|archive-date = 5 September 2014}}</ref>
He is a recognised poet in his native Arabic.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/heritage/sheikh-mohammed-publishes-poetry|title = Sheikh Mohammed Publishes Poetry|last = Al Haddad|first = Amna|date = December 2011|work = The National|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref>


==Early life and education== == Early life ==
Sheikh Mohammed is the third of ]'s four sons (members of Dubai's ruling ] family and descendants of the ], of which he is the tribal leader).<ref>{{dead link|date=March 2012}}</ref> His mother is Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan al-Nahyan (daughter of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zaid al-Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi).<ref></ref> From the age of four, he was privately tutored in ] and ]. In 1955, he began his formal education at Al Ahmedia School. At the age of 10, he moved to Al Shaab School, and two years later, went to Dubai Secondary School. In 1966, with his cousin Sheikh ], he attended the ]'s English Language School in the ].<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=cdc1c1922d435310VgnVCM1000003f64a8c0RCRD&appInstanceName=default|title = His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; early Life|date = |accessdate = September 2014|website = His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> He subsequently studied at the Mons Officer Cadet Training School in ], (which later became part of Sandhurst), passing out with the sword of honour as the top commonwealth student.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Dubai: The Making of a Megapolis|last = Gupte|first = Pranay|publisher = Viking|year = 2010|isbn = 9780670085170|location = Bombay|pages = 128}}</ref> He also travelled to Italy to train as a pilot.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Dubai: The Making of a Megapolis|last = Gupte|first = Pranay|publisher = Penguin/Viking|year = 2011|isbn = 978-0670085170|location = UK|pages = 132}}</ref> Sheikh Mohammed is the third of four sons of Sheikh ], ]. The ] family is ]'s ruling family and descendants of the ], of which Mohammed is the tribal leader.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sheikhmohammed.co.ae/english/dubai/dubai_almaktoum.asp | title=Rulers of Dubai (archived version) | publisher=www.sheikhmohammed.ae | access-date=27 October 2016 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018025527/http://sheikhmohammed.co.ae/english/dubai/dubai_almaktoum.asp | archive-date=18 October 2007}}</ref> His mother was Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, daughter of former ] Sheikh ].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Spirit of the Union: Lecture on the Occasion of the United Arab Emirates' Fortieth National Day |author=Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum |year=2012 |isbn=9781860633300 |location=Dubai, UAE |publisher=Motivate |pages=34 |oclc=957655419}}</ref> He grew up in a house without electricity. A hundred people or more lived there, including guards and maids. <ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Krane |first=Jim |url=http://archive.org/details/dubaistoryofworl0000kran |title=Dubai: The Story of the World's Fastest City |publisher=Atlantic |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-84887-009-3 |location=London |pages=180–181}}</ref>


=== Education ===
As a young man, in January 1968, he was present when Sheikh Rashid and Sheikh Zayed first met in the desert between Dubai and Abu Dhabi at ''Argoub El Sedira''<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title = Spirit of the Union|last = Maktoum|first = Mohammed|publisher = Motivate|year = 2012|isbn = 9781860633300|location = Dubai|pages = 29}}</ref> to agree to the formation of a union of emirates following British notification of intent to withdraw from the ]. He went on, when the new nation of the ] was founded on 2 December 1971, to become its first Minister of Defence.<ref name="aps31may">{{cite news |title=UAE - Profiles - Ministers |url= http://www.thefreelibrary.com/UAE+-+Profiles+-+Ministers.-a0117430159 |accessdate=15 April 2013|newspaper=APS Review Downstream Trends|date=31 May 2004}}</ref>
From the age of four, Mohammed was privately tutored in ] and ]. In 1955, he began formal education at Al Ahmedia School. At the age of 10, he moved to Al Shaab School, and two years later, attended Dubai Secondary School. In 1966, with his cousin ], he attended the ]'s English Language School in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=cdc1c1922d435310VgnVCM1000003f64a8c0RCRD&appInstanceName=default|title = His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; early Life|access-date = 1 September 2014|website = His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216091953/http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=cdc1c1922d435310VgnVCM1000003f64a8c0RCRD&appInstanceName=default|archive-date = 16 December 2013|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J7IpDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Mohammed+bin+Rashid+Al+Maktoum%22+%22Bell+Educational+Trust%22&pg=PA35 |title=UAE: Public Policy Perspectives |date= 16 June 2017|work=Google Books |isbn=9781787147157 |access-date=8 March 2023|language=en|last1=Stephens |first1=Melodena |last2=Moonesar |first2=Immanuel Azaad |last3=Awamleh |first3=Raed |last4=Rowland-Jones |first4=Rhys }}</ref> He subsequently studied at the ] in ], passing out with the sword of honour as the top ] student.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Dubai: The Making of a Megapolis|last = Gupte|first = Pranay|publisher = Viking|year = 2010|isbn = 978-0-670-08517-0|location = Bombay|pages = 128}}</ref> He also travelled to Italy to train as a pilot.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Dubai: The Making of a Megapolis|last = Gupte|first = Pranay|publisher = Penguin/Viking|year = 2011|isbn = 978-0-670-08517-0|location = UK|pages = 132}}</ref>


=== Minister of Defence === == Political career ==
On his return to Dubai from military training, Sheikh Mohammed was appointed by his father Sheikh Rashid as head of ] and also the Dubai Defence Force, which was later to become part of the Union Defence Force.


=== Dubai Police ===
A period of uncertainty and instability followed the Union of the United Arab Emirates, including skirmishes between tribes over property straddling new borders. On 24 January 1972, the exiled former ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Saqr bin Sultan Al Qasimi led an insurrectionist coup against the ruler, ].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title = My Early Life|last = Al Qasimi|first = Sultan|publisher = Bloomsbury|year = 2011|isbn = 9781408814208|location = UK|pages = 283–287}}</ref> Following a spirited firefight between the ] and Sheikh Saqr's forces - mostly Egyptian mercenaries who had entered the UAE through Ras Al Khaimah<ref name=":0" /> - Sheikh Mohammed accepted Sheikh Saqr's surrender.<ref name=":1" /> Sheikh Khalid had been killed in the action, leading to the accession of his brother ] as Ruler of ].
]
Upon Mohammed's return to Dubai from military training at age 20, his father, ], appointed him as the head of the ] and the Dubai Defence Force (which later became a part of the ]).<ref name=":3" /><ref name="UAE">{{Cite news|url=https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/the-uae-government/government-leaders/h-h-sheikh-mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum|title=H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – The Official Portal of the UAE Government|date=|work=United Arab Emirates|access-date=15 April 2021|language=en|archive-date=13 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413172803/https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/the-uae-government/government-leaders/h-h-sheikh-mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book|last=Krane|first=Jim|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mJWrVWZuUJEC|title=City of Gold: Dubai and the Dream of Capitalism|date=15 September 2009|publisher=St. Martin's Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-4299-1899-2|language=en|access-date=10 May 2021|archive-date=19 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219202257/https://books.google.com/books?id=mJWrVWZuUJEC|url-status=live}}</ref>


=== Minister of Defence ===
In 1973, Sheikh Mohammed was involved in protracted negotiations with the hijackers of ], led by Japanese Red Army member Osamu Maruouka, which landed in Dubai after being hijacked as it departed Schipol. Although unsuccessful in having the hijackers release their hostages (they were finally freed, and the 747 blown up, in Libya), he was more successful in later negotiating with the three hijackers of KML 861, who released the balance of hostages and handed over the plane in return for safe passage.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://dubaiasitusedtobe.com/dubaihijackhistory.shtm#.VENSSWeSy-4|title = A Brief History of Hijacking in Dubai|date = |accessdate = October 2014|website = Dubai as it used to be|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>
In January 1968, Mohammed was present when his father and Sheikh ] first met in the desert between Dubai and Abu Dhabi at ''Argoub El Sedira''<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title = Spirit of the Union|last = Maktoum|first = Mohammed|publisher = Motivate|year = 2012|isbn = 978-1-86063-330-0|location = Dubai|pages = 29}}</ref> to agree to the formation of a union of emirates following British notification of intent to withdraw from the ]. When the new country of the United Arab Emirates was founded on 2 December 1971, Mohammed became its first minister of defence at the age of 22.<ref name=":4" /><ref name="aps31may">{{cite news|title=UAE – Profiles – Ministers|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/UAE+-+Profiles+-+Ministers.-a0117430159|access-date=15 April 2013|newspaper=APS Review Downstream Trends|date=31 May 2004|archive-date=20 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920011216/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/UAE+-+Profiles+-+Ministers.-a0117430159|url-status=live}}</ref>


A period of uncertainty and instability followed the Union of the United Arab Emirates, including skirmishes between tribes over property, straddling new borders. On 24 January 1972, the exiled former ruler of the ], Sheikh ], led an insurrectionist ] against his successor, ].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title = My Early Life|last = Al Qasimi|first = Sultan|publisher = Bloomsbury|year = 2011|isbn = 978-1-4088-1420-8|location = UK|pages = 283–287}}</ref> Following a spirited firefight between the ] and Sheikh Saqr's forces – mostly ] mercenaries who had entered the UAE through ]<ref name=":0" /> – Mohammed accepted Saqr's surrender.<ref name=":1" /> Sheikh Khalid had been killed in the action, leading to the accession of his brother ] as ruler of Sharjah. Mohammed delivered Saqr to UAE president Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who put Saqr under house arrest in ].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Now the Dust Has Settled |last=De Butts |first=Freddie |publisher=Tabb House |year=1995 |isbn=1873951132 |page=231}}</ref>
== Business career ==
Sheikh Mohammed has been responsible for the creation and rapid growth of a number of businesses and key economic assets to Dubai, with a number held by two companies under his ownership, ] and ].


In 1973, Mohammed was involved in protracted negotiations with the hijackers of ], led by ] member Osamu Maruouka, which landed in Dubai after being hijacked as it departed ]. Although unsuccessful in obtaining the release of the hostages (they were finally freed, and the 747 blown up, in Libya), he was more successful in a later negotiation with the three hijackers of ], who released the balance of their hostages and handed over the plane in return for safe passage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dubaiasitusedtobe.com/dubaihijackhistory.shtm#.VENSSWeSy-4|title = A Brief History of Hijacking in Dubai|access-date = 1 October 2014|website = Dubai as it used to be|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205015024/http://dubaiasitusedtobe.com/dubaihijackhistory.shtm#.VENSSWeSy-4|archive-date = 5 December 2014}}</ref> In 1977, Mohammed oversaw the integration of Dubai's military forces with those of the other ].<ref name=":4" />
Dubai World was launched on 2 July 2006, as a holding company consolidating a number of assets including logistics company ], property developer ] and investment company ]. With more than 50,000 employees in over 100 cities around the globe, the group has real estate, logistics and other business investments in the United States, the United Kingdom and South Africa.


=== Crown Prince of Dubai ===
Dubai Holding develops and manages hospitality, business parks, real estate and telecommunications through four operating units: ], ], ] and . The company's investment group operating units include ] and ].
] (right), March 2010]]


On 3 January 1995, Mohammed's brother Sheikh ], ], signed two decrees. One decree appointed Mohammed as crown prince and the other appointed their brother ] as the deputy ruler of Dubai.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/01/04/Dubai-ruler-appoints-crown-prince/8479789195600/|title=Dubai ruler appoints crown prince|date=4 January 1995|work=]|access-date=15 April 2021|language=en|archive-date=15 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415104837/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/01/04/Dubai-ruler-appoints-crown-prince/8479789195600/|url-status=live}}</ref>
He also holds a controlling interest in property developer, asset and event management and investment company which is currently developing a number of retail, lifestyle and themed developments in Dubai, including Legoland and a Bollywood movie theme park.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.thenational.ae/business/markets/meraas-plans-ipo-of-theme-parks-unit-to-fund-dubai-entertainment-complex-construction|title = Meraas Plans IPO of Theme Parks Unit|last = Kassem|first = Mahmoud|date = 9 September 2014|work = The National|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref>


Mohammed created the ] in late 1995, an annual event that has become a significant contributor to the ].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hess|first=Anna|date=29 January 2017|title=How Dubai's Shopping Festival Marks a Liberalized Economy|url=https://pennpoliticalreview.org/2017/01/how-dubais-shopping-festival-marks-a-liberalized-economy/|access-date=9 May 2021|website=Penn Political Review|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509054353/https://pennpoliticalreview.org/2017/01/how-dubais-shopping-festival-marks-a-liberalized-economy/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Sheikh Mohammed was responsible for the launch of ], as well as heading both the development of both ] and ], the 'world's first purpose-built aerotropolis'. He was also behind the establishment of government-owned low cost carrier ].


In 2001, Mohammed ordered the arrest of Obaid Saqr bin-Busit, the head of Dubai Customs and the chairman of the World Customs Association.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1163740.stm|title = Customs chief on corruption charges|date = 10 February 2001|work = BBC News|access-date = 1 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107163830/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1163740.stm|archive-date = 7 November 2014}}</ref>
== Key Businesses ==


], April 2014]]
=== Launch of Emirates Airline ===
], April 2014]]
Through the 1970s, as well as his role as head of Dubai Defence Force and UAE Minister of Defence, Sheikh Mohammed oversaw Dubai's energy resources and was in charge of Dubai Civil Aviation. It was in this latter role, in March 1985, that he tasked the then head of DNATA, ], with launching a new airline to be called ] after a dispute with Gulf Air over Dubai's 'Open Skies' policy. The launch budget of the airline was $10 million (the amount Flanagan said he needed to launch an airline) and its inaugural flight took place on 25 October.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url = http://www.emirates.com/ae/english/about/the_emirates_story.aspx|title = The Emirates Story|date = |accessdate = October 2014|website = Emirates|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> Sheikh Mohammed made his (younger) uncle, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Chairman of the new company. A further $75 million in facilities and materials was provided, but Emirates has always maintained it has received no further subsidies throughout the company's meteoric growth to become one of the world's leading airlines.<ref name=":2" />
], March 2016]]


=== Ruler of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister ===
In 1989 Sheikh Mohammed inaugurated the first ]: in 2013 the exhibition had grown to over 1,000 companies exhibiting and was the venue for Emirates' placement of the largest aeroplane orders in history, with $99 billion in orders placed with Airbus for its A380 and Boeing for its wide-bodied 777.
After roughly a decade of de facto rule, Mohammed became the ] on 4 January 2006, upon the death of his brother Maktoum.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wheeler |first=Julia |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4582236.stm |title=Dubai's formidable new ruler |newspaper=BBC News |date=5 January 2006 |access-date=30 March 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231000857/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4582236.stm |archive-date=31 December 2008}}</ref> The following day, the ] selected him as the new ]. On 11 February, the Council approved President ]'s nomination of Sheikh Mohammed for prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biography |url=https://uaecabinet.ae/en/biography |access-date=2 July 2023 |website=uaecabinet.ae}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://uaepm.ae/English/PrimeMinister/Pages/Biography.aspx |title=Biography |publisher=United Arab Emirates Prime Minister |access-date=27 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150125110449/http://uaepm.ae/English/PrimeMinister/Pages/Biography.aspx |archive-date=25 January 2015}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=September 2021}}


Mohammed is the ] of Dubai.<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 December 2011 |title=UAE Leader: Israel Would Destroy Iran if Attacked |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2011-12-06/ty-article/uae-leader-israel-would-destroy-iran-if-attacked/0000017f-def8-d3a5-af7f-fefec8cc0000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020090826/https://www.haaretz.com/2011-12-06/ty-article/uae-leader-israel-would-destroy-iran-if-attacked/0000017f-def8-d3a5-af7f-fefec8cc0000 |archive-date=20 October 2022 |access-date=20 October 2022 |work=Haaretz |language=en}}</ref> The government is described as ], as there are no democratic institutions, and internal dissent is prohibited.<ref name=":102" /><ref name=":112" /><ref name=":122" /><ref name=":132" /> Scholars characterize the UAE as authoritarian.<ref name=":142" /><ref name=":152" /> According to human rights organizations, there are systematic ], including the torture and forced disappearance of government critics.<ref name=":04">{{Cite news |last=Stack |first=Liam |date=30 April 2017 |title=Dubai Introduces Its Own Font, Lauding Free Expression It Does Not Permit |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/30/world/middleeast/dubai-introduces-its-own-font-lauding-free-expression-it-does-not-permit.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525033202/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/30/world/middleeast/dubai-introduces-its-own-font-lauding-free-expression-it-does-not-permit.html |archive-date=25 May 2021 |access-date=25 May 2021 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> There is a blurred line between the assets of the state of Dubai and those of the ] ruling family.<ref name=":7" />
=== Dubai Ports World ===
In 1991, Sheikh Mohammed merged the Jebel Ali Port and Free Zone and Port Rashid to form the Dubai Ports Authority. In 1999 he founded Dubai Ports International to explore overseas acquisitions and management contracts, which in 2005 was folded into the Dubai Ports Authority to form ]. In 2006 the company acquired P&O for $7 billion. The acquisition led to the ']' after a number of US politicians and lobbyists raised concerns regarding the safety of six ports acquired by DP World as part of the P&O Acquisition. DP World subsequently divested the ports in question.


Mohammed issued a law in 2006 to form the Dubai Establishment for Women Development, renamed by law in 2009 as the ].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://dlp.dubai.gov.ae/Legislation%20Reference/2009/Law%20No.%20(36)%20of%202009.pdf |title=Law No. (36) of 2009 Amending Law No. (24) of 2006 Establishing the Dubai Establishment for Women Development |date= |work=Government of Dubai |access-date=17 October 2022 |language=en |archive-date=3 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203093119/https://dlp.dubai.gov.ae/Legislation%20Reference/2009/Law%20No.%20(36)%20of%202009.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/press-releases/story/Dubai_Electricity_and_Water_Authority_is_the_Gold_Sponsor_of_the_4th_Arab_Women_Leadership_Forum_-ZAWYA20141023095431/|title=Dubai Electricity and Water Authority is the Gold Sponsor of the 4th Arab Women Leadership Forum|publisher=Zawya|date=23 October 2014|access-date=14 September 2021|archive-date=14 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914102119/https://www.zawya.com/mena/en/press-releases/story/Dubai_Electricity_and_Water_Authority_is_the_Gold_Sponsor_of_the_4th_Arab_Women_Leadership_Forum_-ZAWYA20141023095431/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also formed the UAE ] in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldgovernmentsummit.org/press/releases/towards-gender-balance-in-governments|title=Towards Gender Balance in Government|publisher=World Government Summit|date=10 February 2015|access-date=14 September 2021|archive-date=14 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914103634/https://www.worldgovernmentsummit.org/press/releases/towards-gender-balance-in-governments|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/government/sheikh-mohammed-bin-rashid-forms-gender-balance-council-to-empower-women-1.2581 |title=Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid forms Gender Balance Council to empower women |date=10 February 2015 |work=] |access-date=20 October 2022 |archive-date=12 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912202129/https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/government/sheikh-mohammed-bin-rashid-forms-gender-balance-council-to-empower-women-1.2581 |url-status=live }}</ref>
A profitable global enterprise,<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.dpworld.ae/en/PressDetails.aspx?id=VgTEkH%2b2mwdEs5ARDg6N0A%3d%3d|title = DP World Limited Like-for-Like Profit Grows 41% in First Six Months of 2014|date = August 2014|accessdate = October 2014|website = DP World|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> DP World today is one of the largest marine terminal operators in the world. The company operates more than 60 terminals across six continents, with container handling generating some 80% of its revenue.


On 19 October 2020, Mohammed led the UAE Council of Ministers meeting that ratified a ], normalizing diplomatic relationships between the countries.<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 October 2020|title=UAE Cabinet approves peace deal with Israel|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2020/10/19/UAE-Cabinet-approves-peace-deal-with-Israel|access-date=30 March 2021|website=Al Arabiya English|language=en|archive-date=8 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508142222/https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2020/10/19/UAE-Cabinet-approves-peace-deal-with-Israel|url-status=live}}</ref> The Council, again headed by Mohammed, approved the decision to found an ] in ] in January, and Mohammed swore in the first Emirati ambassador to Israel, Mahmoud Al Khajah, a month later.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-emirates-israel-diplomacy-idUSKBN2AE0NZ |title=UAE swears in country's first ambassador to Israel - Dubai media office |date=14 February 2021 |work=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210912200226/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-emirates-israel-diplomacy-idUSKBN2AE0NZ |archive-date=12 September 2021 |access-date=2 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
=== The Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah ===
The ] was inaugurated in December 1999. The hotel, constructed to a design by ] in response to a brief from Sheikh Mohammed to create a truly iconic building, styles itself as 'the world's most luxurious hotel'. It was constructed on an island offshore from the ], the first property managed by Jumeirah,<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.jumeirah.com/Global/Jumeirah%20Group/Press%20Centre%20(1)/Press%20Kits/Jumeirah%20Beach%20Hotel%20-%20Media%20Fact%20File.pdf|title = Jumeirah Beach Hotel Fact File (PDF)|date = |accessdate = October 2014|website = Jumeirah|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> the hotel management company launched by Sheikh Mohammed in 1997 and headed by ex-Trust House Forte executive . In fact, work began on both hotels at the same time, but the island to house the Burj Al Arab required three years to build before construction began above ground. Jumeirah's international expansion, driven after it became part of ] in 2004,<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/15138-ceo-interview-jumeirahs-gerald-lawless/|title = Jumeirah's Gerald Lawless|last = Oakley|first = Louise|date = |work = Hotelier Middle East|accessdate = October 2014}}</ref> has since been significant, to encompass 22 hotels in ten countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.jumeirah.com/en/jumeirah-group/portfolio/jumeirah-hotels--resorts/|title = Jumeirah Portfolio|date = |accessdate = October 2014|website = Jumeirah|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>


=== Dubai Internet City and TECOM === ==== Space exploration ====
Mohammed founded the ] in 2015,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://wam.ae/en/details/1395279405288 |title=Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre established |date=18 April 2015 |work=] |access-date=17 October 2022 |language=en |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526053137/https://wam.ae/en/details/1395279405288 |url-status=live }}</ref> which announced it would be launching a spacecraft to ] to study the planet’s atmosphere;<ref>{{Cite web|last=Welle (www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche|title=The facts on Hope: The UAE's Mars mission 'Al-Amal' {{!}} DW {{!}} 9 February 2021|url=https://www.dw.com/en/the-facts-on-hope-the-uaes-mars-mission-al-amal/a-54067401|access-date=21 August 2021|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB|archive-date=21 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821135910/https://www.dw.com/en/the-facts-on-hope-the-uaes-mars-mission-al-amal/a-54067401|url-status=live}}</ref> He stated that the planet was chosen for its "epic challenge,"<ref>{{Cite news|title=U.A.E. plans Arab world's first mission to Mars|language=en-US|newspaper=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2014/07/16/u-a-e-plans-arab-worlds-first-mission-to-mars/|access-date=21 August 2021|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=16 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220116110118/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2014/07/16/u-a-e-plans-arab-worlds-first-mission-to-mars/|url-status=live}}</ref> saying it would benefit the ].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/uaes-space-programme-to-take-economy-to-a-new-frontier-1.109664 |title=UAE's space programme to take economy to a new frontier |date=20 December 2015 |work=] |access-date=20 October 2022 |language=en |archive-date=21 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821135910/https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/uaes-space-programme-to-take-economy-to-a-new-frontier-1.109664 |url-status=live }}</ref> He announced that the mission would be called Hope after a public vote, as the name would "send a message of optimism to millions of young Arabs,"<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 May 2015|title=UAE Positions 2020 Mars Probe as "Catalyst" for New Generation of Scientists and Engineers|url=https://spacenews.com/uae-positions-2020-mars-probe-as-catalyst-for-a-new-generation-of-arab-scientists-and-engineers/|access-date=21 August 2021|website=SpaceNews|language=en-US|archive-date=19 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219202255/https://spacenews.com/uae-positions-2020-mars-probe-as-catalyst-for-a-new-generation-of-arab-scientists-and-engineers/|url-status=live}}</ref> since "Arab civilisation once played a great role in contributing to human knowledge, and play that role again."<ref>{{Cite tweet|user=HHShkMohd |author=Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum |date=6 May 2015 |number=595912196049096706 |title=Arab civilisation once played a great role in contributing to human knowledge, and will play that role again}}</ref>
On 29 October 1999, Sheikh Mohammed announced ], a technology hub and free trade zone. Offering companies long leases, full ownership and fast access to government services, DIC grew from its first tenants in October 2000 to a current zone employing some 15,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.dubaiinternetcity.com/about-dic|title = About DIC|date = |accessdate = October 2014|website = Dubai Internet City|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> It was joined in November 2000 by ], a content and media production free zone which is co-located with DIC. The launch of DMC came with assurances from Sheikh Mohammed regarding media freedoms. In 2007, he issued a decree banning the imprisonment of journalists following an incident in which local journalists were accused of libel and sentenced to jail terms.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2007/sep/26/pressreedomboostasdubaiss|title = Press freedom boost as Dubai's Sheikh says journalists won't go to jail|last = Greenslade|first = Roy|date = September 2007|work = The Guardian|accessdate = October 2014}}</ref>


Mohammed announced that the ] had succeeded at orbit insertion on 9 February 2021,<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 February 2021|title=UAE Hope mission returns first image of Mars|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56060890|access-date=22 August 2021|archive-date=14 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814083405/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-56060890|url-status=live}}</ref> and shared the first picture the probe had captured days later. Hope became the first Arab mission to space, as well as the first of three missions in July 2020—the others from the United States and China–to arrive at Mars.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Natasha |last1=Turak |first2=Dan |last2=Murphy |date=9 February 2021|title=United Arab Emirates becomes the first Arab country to reach Mars|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/09/mars-probe-uae-attempts-to-become-first-arab-country-to-reach-mars-with-hope-probe.html|access-date=22 August 2021|website=CNBC|language=en|archive-date=24 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324000939/https://www.cnbc.com/2021/02/09/mars-probe-uae-attempts-to-become-first-arab-country-to-reach-mars-with-hope-probe.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=14 February 2021|title=UAE's Mars Mission 'Hope' probe sends first photo of planet's surface|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2021/02/14/UAE-s-Mars-Mission-Hope-probe-sends-first-photo-of-planet-s-surface|access-date=21 August 2021|website=Al Arabiya English|language=en|archive-date=16 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220216042956/https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2021/02/14/UAE-s-Mars-Mission-Hope-probe-sends-first-photo-of-planet-s-surface|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Staff Reporter |date=1 September 2023 |title=In historic first, Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed book launched from space |url=https://dubainewsweek.com/sheikh-mohammeds-book/ |access-date=6 September 2023 |website=Dubai Newsweek |language=en-US}}</ref>
A number of other media and technology-related free zones have since been established by holding company ] in Dubai, including the ], ], ], ], ] and ].


In 2020, Mohammed announced a second mission, this one to the moon.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Mike |last=Wall |date=14 April 2021|title=Japanese ispace lander to carry UAE moon rover to lunar surface in 2022|url=https://www.space.com/uae-moon-mission-ispace-lander-2022|access-date=22 August 2021|website=Space.com|language=en|archive-date=25 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825120549/https://www.space.com/uae-moon-mission-ispace-lander-2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=29 September 2020|title=UAE to launch new Emirati space mission to explore moon: Dubai ruler|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2020/09/29/UAE-to-launch-new-Emirati-space-mission-to-explore-moon-Dubai-ruler|access-date=21 August 2021|website=Al Arabiya English|language=en|archive-date=21 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821135910/https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2020/09/29/UAE-to-launch-new-Emirati-space-mission-to-explore-moon-Dubai-ruler|url-status=live}}</ref> The ] used a ] named '''''Rashid''''', reportedly built entirely in the UAE.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/24/middleeast/uae-moon-rover-mission-scn-spc-intl/index.html |title=UAE hopes this tiny lunar rover will discover unexplored parts of the moon |date=24 November 2020 |work=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821203857/https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/24/middleeast/uae-moon-rover-mission-scn-spc-intl/index.html |archive-date=21 August 2021 |access-date=14 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref> It was launched on 11 December 2022 on a ] rocket.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosenstein |first=Sawyer |date=11 December 2022 |title=SpaceX launches Falcon 9 carrying private Japanese moon lander |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/12/hakuto-r-m1/ |access-date=2 July 2023 |website=NASASpaceFlight.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In a historic <ref>{{Cite web |last=Malik |first=Tanveer |date=1 September 2023 |title=Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed book launched from space |url=https://dubainewsweek.com/sheikh-mohammeds-book/ |access-date=6 September 2023 |website=Dubai Newsweek |language=en-US}}</ref> first, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s book titled "The Journey From the Desert to the Stars" was launched from the ] (ISS) through Emirati astronaut ].
=== Palm Islands ===
Developed by Nakheel Properties, itself part of ] - an investment and holding company majority owned by Sheikh Mohammed (which also owns DP World, above) - the development of the three planned ] was halted by the global financial crisis of 2009. The first of the islands, the ], has been completed and developed, while the second, the ], has completed land reclamation but not been further developed. The third and largest Palm, the Palm Deira, has been scaled back and re-launched as the .<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://gulfnews.com/business/property/uae/nakheel-to-restart-scaled-back-palm-deira-1.1240906|title = Nakheel to restart scaled back Palm Deira|last = |first = |date = 8 October 2013|work = Gulf News|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref>


=== Burj Khalifa === == Business career ==
]
On 4 January 2010, Sheikh Mohammed launched the ], the world's tallest building, with a display of some 10,000 fireworks. It forms the centre of the $20 billion ] development of mixed use towers, buildings and retail outlets. The development is also home to the world's largest shopping mall, the ]. Originally conceived as a development around an 80-story tower, the project team was sent away by Sheikh Mohammed to return with "the greatest neighbourhood known to man".<ref name=":3" /> He has said of the tower that it is "a national accomplishment, a historic milestone and a key economic turning point. It is a symbol of pride, not only to the Emirati people but to all Arabs."<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title = Flashes of Thought|last = Maktoum|first = Mohammed|publisher = Motivate|year = 2013|isbn = 9781860633560|location = UAE|pages = 33}}</ref>
Mohammed has overseen the creation and growth of a number of businesses and economic assets of Dubai, with a number held by two companies under his ownership, ] and ]. According to the laws of Dubai, the ruling family owns all undeveloped land in Dubai, which has allowed the family to prosper from real estate development.<ref name=":7" /> During Mohammed's rule, Dubai has seen enormous population growth, causing a real estate boom in Dubai.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|last=Ali|first=Syed|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=98MmAQAAMAAJ|title=Dubai: Gilded Cage|date=2010|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-15217-3|language=en|access-date=30 October 2021|archive-date=19 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219202258/https://books.google.com/books?id=98MmAQAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> The boom was in part facilitated by Sheikh Mohammed's 2002 decree that foreigners would be allowed to purchase property in Dubai.<ref name=":6" />


Mohammed established ] by decree,<ref name=":03">{{Cite book|last=Young|first=Karen E.|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1057/9781137021977|title=The Political Economy of Energy, Finance and Security in the United Arab Emirates|date=2014|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan UK|isbn=978-1-349-43777-1|location=London|pages=69–70|language=en|doi=10.1057/9781137021977|access-date=25 May 2021|archive-date=19 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230219202258/https://link.springer.com/book/10.1057/9781137021977|url-status=live}}</ref> leading to the company's launch on 2 July 2006, as a ] consolidating a number of assets including logistics company, ], property developer ], and investment company ]. With more than 50,000 employees in over 100 cities around the globe, the Group has real estate, logistics and other business investments in the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. The company is owned by the ].<ref name=":03"/>
== Political Reform ==
On 3 January 1995, Sheikh Mohammed's elder brother Sheikh ] signed two decrees that appointed Sheikh Mohammed as ] of Dubai.


Sheikh Mohammed's personal corporate portfolio is the ] Group, which is involved in a variety of investments.<ref name=":03"/> ] benefits from its association with the ], and is given free land by the Dubai government.<ref name=":7" />
After roughly a decade of de facto rulership,<ref>{{cite news |last=Wheeler |first=Julia |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4582236.stm |title=Dubai's formidable new ruler |newspaper=BBC News |date=5 January 2006|accessdate=30 March 2012}}</ref> he became the Ruler of Dubai on 4 January 2006 upon the death of Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The following day, the ] selected him as the new Vice President of the UAE. On 11 February, the Council approved ] ]'s nomination of Sheikh Mohammed for Prime Minister.<ref>http://uaepm.ae/English/PrimeMinister/Pages/Biography.aspx</ref>


Mohammed was responsible for the launch of ].<ref name=":16">{{Cite web|last1=Mayo|first1=Anthony|last2=Nohria|first2=Nitin|last3=Mendhro|first3=Umaimah|last4=Cromwell|first4=Johnathan|title=Sheikh Mohammed and the Making of 'Dubai, Inc.'|url=https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=38351|access-date=21 June 2021|website=Harvard Business School|archive-date=18 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718040401/https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=38351|url-status=live}}</ref>
In April 2007 Sheikh Mohammed announced a strategic review of the Federation's governance at both the Federal and local government levels. The ''UAE Federal Government Strategy'', a process of strategic reform intended to address a lack of co-ordination and strategic planning in government, as well as policy making issues and deficiencies in the legislative and regulatory framework, would work on improvements in social development, economic development, public sector development, justice and safety, infrastructure and rural development.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2007/April/theuae_April481.xml&section=theuae|title = Shaikh Mohammed unveils federal government strategy|last = |first = |date = 17 April 2007|work = Khaleej Times|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref>
{{clear}}


=== Launch of Emirates Airline ===
This was followed by the announcement in February 2010 of "", a long term strategy and national agenda.
Through the 1970s, as well as his role as head of Dubai Defence Force and UAE Minister of Defence, Mohammed oversaw Dubai's energy resources and was in charge of the ]. It was in this latter role, in March 1985, that he founded ],<ref name=":16" /> tasking then-head of ], ], with launching a new airline to be called ] after a dispute with Gulf Air over Dubai's ']' policy. The launch budget of the airline was $10 million (the amount Flanagan said he needed to launch an airline) and its inaugural flight took place on 25 October 1985.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.emirates.com/ae/english/about/the_emirates_story.aspx|title = The Emirates Story|access-date = 16 April 2018|website = Emirates |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008060013/http://www.emirates.com/ae/english/about/the_emirates_story.aspx|archive-date = 8 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/year-of-the-50th/dubai-takes-off-to-become-one-of-the-worlds-largest-air-travel-hubs-1.1621942241291 |title=Dubai takes off to become one of the world's largest air travel hubs |date=8 June 2021 |work=Gulf News |access-date=14 March 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Sheikh Mohammed appointed his uncle Sheikh ] as chairman of the new company. A further $75 million in facilities and materials was provided, but ] has always maintained that it has received no further subsidies throughout the company's meteoric growth to become one of the world's leading airlines.<ref name=":2" />


In 1989, Mohammed inaugurated the first ]. In 2013, the exhibition had grown to over 1,000 exhibiting companies, and was the venue for ]' placement of the largest aeroplane order in history, with $99 billion combined orders with ] for its ] and ] for its ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emirates.com/ae/english/about/news/news_detail.aspx?article=1443077|title = Emirates announces largest-ever aircraft order|access-date = 3 October 2016|website = emirates.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008200024/http://www.emirates.com/ae/english/about/news/news_detail.aspx?article=1443077|archive-date = 8 October 2016}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=September 2021}}
=== Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government ===
The ] (Previously the Dubai School of Government) is an academic and research institution in the area of public policy and administration focused on the United Arab Emirates & the Arab world. Established in 2005, the School aims to promote and support excellence in governance through enhancing the region’s capacity for effective public policy.


=== Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah ===
Toward this goal, the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government maintains ties - and collaborates with - regional and global institutions in its research and training programs. In addition, the School organizes policy forums and international conferences to facilitate the exchange of ideas and promote critical debate on public policy in the Arab world.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.mbrsg.ae/HOME.aspx?lang=en-US|title = MBRSG|date = |accessdate = November 2014|website = Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>
] and ]]]
The ] was inaugurated in December 1999. The hotel, constructed from a design by ] in response to a brief from Mohammed to create "a truly iconic" building, styles itself as "the world's most luxurious hotel". It was constructed on an island offshore from the ], the first property managed by ],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jumeirah.com/Global/Jumeirah%20Group/Press%20Centre%20(1)/Press%20Kits/Jumeirah%20Beach%20Hotel%20-%20Media%20Fact%20File.pdf|title = Jumeirah Beach Hotel Fact File (PDF)|access-date = 1 October 2014|website = Jumeirah|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019093400/http://www.jumeirah.com/Global/Jumeirah%20Group/Press%20Centre%20%281%29/Press%20Kits/Jumeirah%20Beach%20Hotel%20-%20Media%20Fact%20File.pdf|archive-date = 19 October 2014}}</ref> the hotel management company launched by Mohammed in 1997 and headed by ex-Trust House Forte executive Gerald Lawless. While work began on both hotels at the same time, the island to house the ] required three years to build before construction began above ground. ]'s international expansion, driven after it became part of ] in 2004,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/15138-ceo-interview-jumeirahs-gerald-lawless/|title = Jumeirah's Gerald Lawless|last = Oakley|first = Louise|work = Hotelier Middle East|access-date = 1 October 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027203345/http://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/15138-ceo-interview-jumeirahs-gerald-lawless/|archive-date = 27 October 2014}}</ref> encompasses 22 hotels in ten countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jumeirah.com/en/jumeirah-group/portfolio/jumeirah-hotels--resorts/|title = Jumeirah Portfolio|access-date = 1 October 2014|website = Jumeirah|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929160306/http://www.jumeirah.com/en/jumeirah-group/portfolio/jumeirah-hotels--resorts/|archive-date = 29 September 2014}}</ref>


=== Dubai Internet City and TECOM ===
The School supports research and teaching programs including:
On 29 October 1999, Mohammed announced ], a technology hub and free trade zone. Offering companies long leases, full ownership, and fast access to government services, ] grew from its first tenants in October 2000, to a current zone employing about 15,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dubaiinternetcity.com/about-dic|title = About DIC|access-date = 1 October 2014|website = Dubai Internet City|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141019103723/http://www.dubaiinternetcity.com/about-dic|archive-date = 19 October 2014}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=September 2021}} In November 2000, it was joined by ], a content and media production-free zone, which is co-located with DIC. The launch of DIC came with assurances from Mohammed regarding media freedoms. In 2007, he issued a decree banning the imprisonment of journalists following an incident in which local journalists were accused of ] and sentenced to jail terms.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2007/sep/26/pressreedomboostasdubaiss|title = Press freedom boost as Dubai's Sheikh says journalists won't go to jail|last = Greenslade|first = Roy|date = September 2007|work = The Guardian|access-date = 1 October 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005182243/http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2007/sep/26/pressreedomboostasdubaiss|archive-date = 5 October 2014}}</ref>


=== Palm Islands ===
• Applied research in public policy and management;
] seen from space]]
The ] were developed by ], which Mohammed founded.<ref name=":16" />


==Interests, activities and philanthropic work==
• Master’s degree in public policy and public administration;
=== Mohammed bin Rashid Global initiatives (MBRGI) ===
The ] is a charitable foundation which consolidates the work of some 33 charitable foundations, entities and initiatives which, together, implement more than 1,400 development programs, including the ] (SMCCU).<ref>The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, Year in Review 2016, First Edition.</ref>{{Better source needed|date=September 2021}}


=== Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government ===
• Executive education for senior officials and executives; and,
The ] (previously the Dubai School of Government) is an academic and research institution in the area of public policy and administration.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mbrsg.ae/HOME.aspx?lang=en-US|title =MBRSG|access-date =1 November 2014|website =Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102082140/http://www.mbrsg.ae/HOME.aspx?lang=en-US|archive-date =2 November 2014}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=September 2021}}

=== Aid to Palestine ===
Mohammed made a grant of 600 houses to Gaza following the ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/vp-donates-600-houses-palestinians-gaza|title = VP donates 600 houses to Palestinians in Gaza|date = 10 January 2009|work = Reliefweb|access-date = 1 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107142427/http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/vp-donates-600-houses-palestinians-gaza|archive-date = 7 November 2014}}</ref>


=== Aiding mosque construction in the Netherlands ===
• Knowledge forums for scholars and policy makers.
In 2000, Mohammed donated €4 million for the construction of the ] in ], the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rotterdam mosque: complete or demolish?|url=https://www.rnw.org/archive/rotterdam-mosque-complete-or-demolish|website=RNW Media|access-date=8 July 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129014257/http://www.rnw.org/archive/rotterdam-mosque-complete-or-demolish|archive-date=29 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Roose|first1=Eric|title=The Architectural Representation of Islam: Muslim-commissioned Mosque Design in the Netherlands|date=2009|publisher=Amsterdam University Press|isbn=9789089641335|page=236|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tDhoNLbM45gC&pg=PA236|access-date=8 July 2017|language=en}}</ref>


In June 2017, two new initiatives were added to the ], within the "Empowering Communities" sector, namely the International Institute for Tolerance and the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Award for Tolerance. In this respect, Sheikh Mohammed issued Law No. (9) of 2017 on the Establishment of the International Institute for Tolerance and Decree No. (23) of 2017 on the Formation of a Board of Trustees and Decree No. (28) of 2017 on the Appointment of a Managing Director for the International Institute for Tolerance. In this respect, Law No. (9) of 2017 includes the launch of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Award for Tolerance, administered in accordance with the provisions and statute of said Law. Hence, the establishment of the International Institute for Tolerance aims at instilling a spirit of tolerance across the community, building a cohesive society, strengthening the UAE's standing and position as a model of tolerance, as well as renouncing extremism and all forms of discrimination among people on the basis of religion, sex, race, color or language, in addition to honoring all entities and institutions contributing to the promotion of tolerance and open, interfaith dialogue.<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801081432/http://wam.ae/en/details/1395302620195 |date=1 August 2017 }}, Emirates News Agency, Retrieved 21 June 2017.</ref>
=== Moves against corruption ===
Signalling a zero tolerance policy towards corruption in government, in 2001 Sheikh Mohammed ordered the arrest of Obaid Saqr bin-Busit, the head of Dubai Customs and the Chairman of the World Customs Association.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1163740.stm|title = Customs chief on corruption charges|last = |first = |date = 10 February 2001|work = BBC News|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref> Busit and two aides, as well as three other employees, had been the subject of a two-year investigation for corruption. The high-profile arrests caused widespread shock and were followed by a slew of arrests of public officials later that month; in all, 14 officials, including 6 senior officers, were arrested and charged with offences related to corruption. Unusually, the officials were 'named and shamed' publicly.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/14-government-officials-arrested-for-corruption-1.415529|title = 14 government officials arrested for corruption|last = |first = |date = 18 February 2001|work = Gulf News|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref> More recently, the downturn exposed issues related to corruption at government-owned Dubai real estate company Deyaar. The investigation team was granted 'unprecedented powers of scrutiny' by Sheikh Mohammed.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/corruption-team-makes-its-case|title = Corruption team makes its case|last = Youssef|first = Marten|date = 22 June 2009|work = The National|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref> The CEO of the company was found guilty of earning Dhs20 million by misusing his powers and sentenced to a 10-year jail term.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.thenational.ae/uae/courts/former-deyaar-chief-jailed-in-dubai-over-dh20m-bribery-case|title = Former Deyaar Chief Jailed in Dubai|last = A Amir|first = Salam|date = 12 November 2014|work = The National|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref>


== Sporting Interests == === Sporting interests ===
Mohammed is a major figure in international ] ] and ]. He owns ], the biggest horse breeding operation in the world with farms in the United States, Ireland, England, and Australia. In 1985 he bought the Irish ] ] for an undisclosed sum at the end of her second season. She went on to produce at least nine winners from twelve ]s and is the ancestor of many successful horses.<ref>{{cite book|author = Timeform staff|title = Racehorses of 1984|publisher = Timeform|year = 1985|isbn = 0-900599-40-5}}
] of Sheikh Mohammed (])]]
Sheikh Mohammed is a major figure in international ] ] and ]. He owns ], which is the biggest horse breeding operation in the world with farms in the United States, Ireland, England, and Australia. In 1985 he bought the Irish Thoroughbred ] for an undisclosed sum at the end of her second season. She went on to produce at least nine winners from twelve foals and is the ancestor of many successful horses.<ref>{{cite book|author = Timeform staff|title = Racehorses of 1984|publisher = Timeform|year = 1985|isbn = 0-900-59940-5}}
</ref> </ref>


Mohammed had raced horses as a child (he would share his breakfast with his horse on the way to school)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.godolphin.com/about-us/our-founder/|title = Our Founder|access-date = 1 November 2014|website = Godolphin|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028115114/http://www.godolphin.com/about-us/our-founder/|archive-date = 28 October 2014}}</ref> but he attended his first formal race at ] in 1967 with his brother Hamdan, watching ] win the 2,000 ].<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=eb0d5c1090cc4110VgnVCM1000007064a8c0RCRD|title = The Equestrian|access-date = 1 November 2014|website = Sheikh Mohammed|archive-date = 29 October 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141029174120/http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=eb0d5c1090cc4110VgnVCM1000007064a8c0RCRD|url-status = dead}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=September 2021}} Becoming an owner in his own right, ten years later he won his first race with Hatta at Brighton. And five years after that, Mohammed and Hamdan had three studs and 100 horses under training.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.broughscott.com/story.asp?NewsID=1514|title = Sheikh Mohammed outlines his vision|access-date = 1 November 2014|website = Brough Scott|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306202732/http://broughscott.com/story.asp?newsid=1514|archive-date = 6 March 2016}}
Sheikh Mohammed had raced horses as a child (He would share his breakfast with his horse on the way to school<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.godolphin.com/about-us/our-founder/|title = Our Founder|date = |accessdate = November 2014|website = Godolphin|publisher = |last = |first = }}
</ref>) but he attended his first formal race at Newmarket in 1967, watching ''Royal Palace'' win the 2,000 Guineas with his brother, Hamdan.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=eb0d5c1090cc4110VgnVCM1000007064a8c0RCRD|title = The Equestrian|date = |accessdate = November 2014|website = Sheikh Mohammed|publisher = |last = |first = }}
</ref> Becoming an owner in his own right, ten years later he won his first race with ''Hatta'' at Brighton. And five years after that, he and Hamdan had three studs and 100 horses under training.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.broughscott.com/story.asp?NewsID=1514|title = Sheikh Mohammed outlines his vision|date = |accessdate = November 2014|website = Brough Scott|publisher = |last = |first = }}
</ref> </ref>


] of Mohammed (])]]
In late 1981, he purchased ] at ], near ], ], ]. He owns ] in ], ]; as well as ] in ], United States. His racing operations includes the ownership of ] and he is the leading partner in his family's ]. Sheikh Mohammed hosts the ] at ].
In late 1981, Mohammed purchased ] at ], near ], Berkshire, United Kingdom. He owns ] in County Tipperary, Ireland; as well as Gainsborough Farm Inc. in ], United States. His racing operations include the ownership of ] and he is the leading partner in his family's ]. Mohammed hosts the ] at ].


By 1992 Sheikh Mohammed had started 'wintering' his horses in Dubai, frequently against the advice of trainers and pundits in the UK. The results were a string of high-profile wins, and by 1994 he founded Godolphin. His hands-on approach to racing resulted, in 1995, in a major split with leading trainer Henry Cecil after a disagreement over racing a horse Mohammed insisted was injured. Cecil took the argument public and Mohammed removed all his horses from Cecil's stable.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/sheikh-speaks-out-on-cecil-1344214.html|title = Sheikh Speaks Out On Cecil|last = Edmonson|first = Richard|date = 26 March 1996|work = The Independent|accessdate = Nov 2014}} By 1992, Mohammed had started 'wintering' his horses in Dubai, frequently against the advice of trainers and pundits in the UK. The results were a string of high-profile wins, and by 1994 he founded ]. In 1995, his hands-on approach to racing resulted in a major split with leading trainer ] after a disagreement over racing a horse Mohammed insisted was injured. Cecil took the argument public and Mohammed removed all his horses from Cecil's stable.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/sheikh-speaks-out-on-cecil-1344214.html|title = Sheikh Speaks Out On Cecil|last = Edmonson|first = Richard|date = 26 March 1996|work = The Independent|access-date = 1 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105004412/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/sheikh-speaks-out-on-cecil-1344214.html|archive-date = 5 November 2014}}
</ref> </ref>


Godolphin's first win, Balanchine taking the Oaks at Epsom Downs, England, in 1994, was to mark the beginning of a remarkable run, with horses such as Lammtarra, Daylami, Fantastic Light, Street Cry, Sulamani, Dubawi and Ramonti among them. ], said to be Sheikh Mohammed's favourite, won nine of his ten starts before succumbing to injury followed by grass sickness in 2001.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Dubai Millenium: A Vision Realised, A Dream Lost|last = Pagones|first = Rachel|publisher = Highdown|year = 2007|isbn = 9781905156320|location = UK|pages = 118}} ]'s first win, ] taking the Oaks at ], England, in 1994, was to mark the beginning of a winning streak with horses such as ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] among them. ], said to be Mohammed's favourite, won nine of his ten starts before succumbing to injury followed by grass sickness in 2001.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Dubai Millennium: A Vision Realised, A Dream Lost|last = Pagones|first = Rachel|publisher = Highdown|year = 2007|isbn = 978-1-905156-32-0|location = UK|pages = 118}}
</ref> </ref>


In 1996, the Dubai World Cup was inaugurated as the worlds' richest horserace, drawing the legendary American dirt track horse Cigar to race in Dubai. Today held at the Meydan Racecourse, the race meeting carries a prize of $27 million. In 1996, the ] was inaugurated as the world's richest horserace, drawing the legendary American dirt track horse ] to race in Dubai. Today, held at the ], the race meeting carries a prize of $27 million.


In the UK, his horses have won numerous important ] races including several of the ]. His horses have also won the ] and the ] and in the ] the ] ] with ]. In 2008, he bought the Woodlands Stud empire for more than $460 million.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/horseracing/meet-racings-new-king/2008/03/24/1206207012905.html|title = Meet racing's new king|newspaper = SMH|year = 2011|accessdate = 6 September 2011}} In the UK, Mohammed's horses have won ] races including several of the ]. His horses have also won the ], the ] and, the ] with ] in the US. In 2008, he bought the Woodlands Stud empire for more than $460 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/horseracing/meet-racings-new-king/2008/03/24/1206207012905.html|title = Meet racing's new king|newspaper = SMH|year = 2011|access-date = 6 September 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108192340/http://www.smh.com.au/news/horseracing/meet-racings-new-king/2008/03/24/1206207012905.html|archive-date = 8 November 2012}}
</ref> The same year, he nearly bought out ] but he later turned down.
</ref>


] participating in an ]]]
A keen endurance rider, at the age of 63 Sheikh Mohammed won the 2012 World Endurance Championship over a 160&nbsp;km course.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.fei.org/news/fei-world-endurance-championships-2012|title = MASSIVE MEDAL HAUL FOR UAE AT LONGINES FEI WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS|date = 2012-08-26|accessdate = September 2014|website = FEI|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>
At the age of 63, Mohammed won the 2012 World Endurance Championship over a 160&nbsp;km course.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fei.org/news/fei-world-endurance-championships-2012|title = MASSIVE MEDAL HAUL FOR UAE AT LONGINES FEI WORLD ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS|date = 26 August 2012|access-date = 1 September 2014|website = FEI|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910215829/http://www.fei.org/news/fei-world-endurance-championships-2012|archive-date = 10 September 2014}}</ref> Both his ]s and endurance horses have failed drug tests – although his trainers (including ]) have accepted the blame. His endurance racing stable has also been involved in other scandals, including both fatal injuries, and ringers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/equestrianism/11334418/FEI-faces-backlash-after-Maktoum-ringer-inquiry-ends-with-no-disciplinary-action.html|title = FEI faces backlash after Maktoum 'ringer' inquiry ends with no disciplinary action|newspaper = The Telegraph|year = 2015|access-date = 6 June 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709104020/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/equestrianism/11334418/FEI-faces-backlash-after-Maktoum-ringer-inquiry-ends-with-no-disciplinary-action.html|archive-date = 9 July 2015}}</ref> In 2015, the ] suspended the United Arab Emirates following a series of scandals.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/equestrianism/11468943/FEI-suspend-United-Arab-Emirates-from-equestrianism-following-spate-of-scandals.html | title=FEI Suspend United Arab Emirates from Equestrianism Following Spate of Scandals | work=The Telegraph | date=12 March 2015 | access-date=27 October 2016 | author=Cuclson, Pippa | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028023445/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/equestrianism/11468943/FEI-suspend-United-Arab-Emirates-from-equestrianism-following-spate-of-scandals.html | archive-date=28 October 2016}}</ref>
Both his thoroughbreds and endurance horses have failed drug tests - although his trainers have accepted the blame.


In the ], the sheikh's eldest son, ], took the individual gold in ]. Mohammed's sons Rashid, Ahmed, Majid, and ] took the team gold in endurance riding,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uaeequafed.ae/newsdetail41.htm|title = UAE Equestrian Racing Federation|publisher = UAE Equafed|date = 14 December 2006|access-date = 30 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327065208/http://www.uaeequafed.ae/newsdetail41.htm|archive-date = 27 March 2012}}</ref> his niece Latifa took a bronze in ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uaeinteract.com/russian/news/default.asp?ID=196|title = Latifa does UAE proud as she qualifies for Beijing Olympics, UAE interact|publisher = Uae interact|access-date = 30 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403044454/http://www.uaeinteract.com/russian/news/default.asp?ID=196|archive-date = 3 April 2012}}</ref> and his daughter ] led the UAE team in ].<ref>{{Cite news|title = Shaikha Maitha bound for Beijing Olympics|url=http://archive.gulfnews.com/indepth/olympics08/sports/10199968.html|newspaper = ]|date = 24 March 2008|access-date = 15 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620232311/http://archive.gulfnews.com/indepth/olympics08/sports/10199968.html|archive-date = 20 June 2008}}</ref> In 2013, when the ] won the ], Mohammed gave the team 50 million ] ($13.7 million). His wife awarded the team a further 25 million dirhams ($6.8 million), while their grandsons contributed 12 million dirhams ($3.3 million).<ref name="UAEGulfCup2013Awards2">{{cite web|title = UAE showers riches on {{sic|nolink=y|reason=error in source|victorius}} Gulf Cup victors|url=http://www.arabherald.com/index.php/sid/212127737/scat/48fcf33f9aeb6130/ht/UAE-showers-riches-on-victorius-Gulf-Cup-victors|access-date = 25 January 2013|publisher = Arab Herald|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728114633/http://www.arabherald.com/index.php/sid/212127737/scat/48fcf33f9aeb6130/ht/UAE-showers-riches-on-victorius-Gulf-Cup-victors|archive-date = 28 July 2013}}</ref>
In the ], his son ] took the individual gold in ], his sons Rashid, Ahmed, Majid, and ] took the team gold in ],<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.uaeequafed.ae/newsdetail41.htm|title = UAE Equestrian Racing Federation|publisher = UAE Equafed|date = 14 December 2006|accessdate = 30 March 2012}}
</ref> his niece Latifa took a bronze in ],<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.uaeinteract.com/russian/news/default.asp?ID=196|title = Latifa does UAE proud as she qualifies for Beijing Olympics, UAE interact|publisher = Uae interact|accessdate = 30 March 2012}}
</ref> and his daughter ] led the UAE team in ].<ref>{{Cite news|title = Shaikha Maitha bound for Beijing Olympics|url = http://archive.gulfnews.com/indepth/olympics08/sports/10199968.html|newspaper = ]|date = 24 March 2008|accessdate = 15 June 2008}}
</ref> In 2013 when ] won ], Sheikh Mohammed gave the team 50 million ] ($13.7 million). His wife awarded the team a further 25 million dirhams ($6.8 million), while the pair's grandsons contributed 12 million dirhams ($3.3 million).<ref name="UAEGulfCup2013Awards2">{{cite web|title = UAE showers riches on victorius Gulf Cup victors|url = http://www.arabherald.com/index.php/sid/212127737/scat/48fcf33f9aeb6130/ht/UAE-showers-riches-on-victorius-Gulf-Cup-victors|accessdate = 25 Jan 2013|publisher = Arab Herald}}
</ref>


Godolphin's ], ridden by ] and trained by ] won the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-04/melbourne-cup-2018-field-form-guide-and-sweep/10441492|title=Melbourne Cup: 2018 field, form guide and sweep|date=4 November 2018|work=ABC News|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106065343/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-04/melbourne-cup-2018-field-form-guide-and-sweep/10441492|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/melbourne-cup-2018-all-the-races-fashion-and-colour-of-flemington-20181106-p50e7a.html|title=Melbourne Cup 2018: Cross Counter takes out the Melbourne Cup|date=6 November 2018|work=The Age|access-date=6 November 2018|archive-date=6 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106091144/https://www.theage.com.au/sport/melbourne-cup-2018-all-the-races-fashion-and-colour-of-flemington-20181106-p50e7a.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Cultural humanitarianism ==
Sheikh Mohammed is a poet in classical Arabic as well as the Bedouin (colloquial) ''Nabati'' style.<ref name="poetry">{{cite web|url=http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=6d1d5c1090cc4110VgnVCM1000007064a8c0RCRD|title=The Poet|publisher=Sheikh Mohammed|date=30 September 2000|accessdate=30 March 2012}}</ref> He first started writing poetry as a young man, using pseudonyms such as 'Saleet' so his poetry would not be associated with the son of the then Ruler of Dubai. He received encouragement from the poetess Fatat Al Arab, when she composed a reply to one of his earliest poems - unusual for an unknown poet.


== Controversies ==
In 1998, Sheikh Mohammed set up the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU), a not-for-profit organisation that aims to raise awareness and demystify the local culture, customs and religion of the United Arab Emirates. Operating under the motto "Open Doors. Open Minds", SMCCU aims to improve cross-cultural understanding and communication between UAE locals and guests visiting or residing in the UAE.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.cultures.ae/index.php/aboutus|title = About Us|date = |accessdate = November 2014|website = Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Cultural Understanding|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>
=== Sheikha Latifa and Sheikha Shamsa kidnapping allegations ===
:'' Mohammed has three daughters named Latifa. The other two daughters are not connected to this allegation. ''
An early 2000s British police investigation of allegations, made by a former riding instructor about the attempted escape of Mohammed's daughter ] (born 1985) from her family estate in England and the subsequent kidnapping on a street in ] of Latifa's sister ] in 2001, was inconclusive. He has been indicted due to the mistreatment Sheikh Laitfa Al Maktoum since then.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Millar |first1=Stuart |last2=Wilson |first2=Jamie |title=Unruly daughter of wealthy sheikh made a bid for freedom. But what happened next? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/dec/15/jamiewilson.stuartmillar1 |access-date=11 February 2019 |newspaper=Guardian |date=14 December 2001 |archive-date=29 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829163025/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/dec/15/jamiewilson.stuartmillar1 |url-status=live }}</ref>


]
A recent initiative by Sheikh Mohammed will see Dubai's Metro stations turned into art galleries in the period leading up to .<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.arabianbusiness.com/dubai-metro-stations-be-transformed-into-art-museums-542949.html|title = Dubai metro stations to be transformed into art museums|last = Sambidge|first = Andy|date = May 2014|work = Arabian Business|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref>
On 11 March 2018, a video was released of Sheikha Latifa<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yee |first1=Vivian |title=A Princess Vanishes. A Video Offers Alarming Clues. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/10/world/middleeast/princess-latifa-sheikha-dubai.html?module=inline |access-date=11 February 2019 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=10 February 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212012033/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/10/world/middleeast/princess-latifa-sheikha-dubai.html?module=inline |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/08/sheikha-latifa-how-princess-plotted-escape-dubai-maktoum-khashoggi-fitaihi/3003369002/|title=Princess Sheikha Latifa tried to flee Dubai. She left a video to prove it|last=Hjelmgaard|first=Kim|website=USA TODAY|language=en|access-date=3 August 2019|archive-date=3 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803034410/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/03/08/sheikha-latifa-how-princess-plotted-escape-dubai-maktoum-khashoggi-fitaihi/3003369002/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Citation|last=Escape from Dubai|title=Latifa Al Maktoum – FULL UNEDITED VIDEO – Escape from Dubai – Hervé Jaubert|date=11 March 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN7OEFyNUkQ| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/UN7OEFyNUkQ?url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN7OEFyNUkQ| archive-date=20 September 2021|access-date=24 June 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> after her failed attempt to flee the UAE and subsequent disappearance,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/4336b41b8075420280fe4011c6bc185e|title=Ex-spy: Daughter of Dubai ruler missing since escape attempt|work=AP News|access-date=16 July 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=7 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507061726/https://apnews.com/4336b41b8075420280fe4011c6bc185e|url-status=live}}</ref> in which she claimed she was fleeing from her family, made allegations of abuse, and said her father was responsible for a number of murders, including the murder of his deceased older brother's wife. The escape attempt was the focus of a documentary by Australian broadcaster ] as well as ] investigation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/07/15/08/51/60-minutes-princess-latifa-of-dubai-missing-sheik-mohammed|title=Where is Princess Latifa?|website=www.9news.com.au|date=15 July 2018 |access-date=16 July 2018|archive-date=16 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716140624/https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/07/15/08/51/60-minutes-princess-latifa-of-dubai-missing-sheik-mohammed|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-44017588|title=Call for clarity on Dubai missing princess|date=5 May 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=16 July 2018|language=en-GB|archive-date=16 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716194232/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-44017588|url-status=live}}</ref>


In December 2018, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights ], after meeting Latifa in the presence of other family members, said that Latifa was now in the care of her family. Her statement was criticised by human rights groups, who said that Robinson would not have been able to tell in the meeting whether Latifa truly had psychological issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-46697867|title=Sheikha Latifa: Mary Robinson 'backed Dubai version of events'|access-date=28 December 2018|website=BBC News|language=en|date=27 December 2018|archive-date=28 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228004544/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-46697867|url-status=live}}</ref> A spokeswoman for "The Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice" confirmed that Robinson was approached by Latifa's stepmother ], an old friend of Robinson's, and was requested to go to Dubai by Princess Haya and that Haya paid the fare, less than two weeks after the ] ran a documentary detailing Latifa's failed escape attempt in March.<ref>{{cite news |title=UAE princess's relative paid for Mary Robinson's flight to see her in Dubai |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uae-princesss-relative-paid-mary-robinsons-flight-see-her-dubai |access-date=11 February 2019 |publisher=Middle East Eye |date=30 December 2018 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011850/https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uae-princesss-relative-paid-mary-robinsons-flight-see-her-dubai |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Feehan |first1=Conor |last2=McQuinn |first2=Cormac |title=Robinson 'had nothing to do' with press ban on her speech |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/robinson-had-nothing-to-do-with-press-ban-on-her-speech-37686220.html |access-date=11 February 2019 |publisher=Independent.ie |date=7 January 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212012829/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/robinson-had-nothing-to-do-with-press-ban-on-her-speech-37686220.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Quinn |first1=Ben |title=Mary Robinson labelled a 'willing pawn' over visit with UAE princess |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/27/mary-robinson-labelled-a-willing-pawn-of-uae-over-visit-with-princess |access-date=11 February 2019 |newspaper=Guardian |date=27 December 2018 |archive-date=6 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190106150051/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/27/mary-robinson-labelled-a-willing-pawn-of-uae-over-visit-with-princess |url-status=live }}</ref> Robinson admits she was "horribly tricked" when photographs of the private lunch were made public and that both she and Haya had been told of details of Latifa's ], a condition which she does not have.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Finn |first1=Melanie |title=Mary Robinson says she feels 'horribly tricked' by the family of Dubai's Princess Latifa |url=https://www.independent.ie/news/mary-robinson-says-she-feels-horribly-tricked-by-the-family-of-dubais-princess-latifa-40098707.html |access-date=19 February 2021 |publisher=Independent Ireland |date=16 February 2021 |archive-date=19 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219103902/https://www.independent.ie/news/mary-robinson-says-she-feels-horribly-tricked-by-the-family-of-dubais-princess-latifa-40098707.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Latifa's cousin Marcus Essabri reported that Latifa's photos with Mary Robinson seem to show Latifa medicated while held in Dubai under her father's orders.<ref name="201907_60minutesAustralia2"/>
=== Patrons of the Arts Awards ===


In February 2021, video footage obtained by the BBC showed Latifa saying she has been "a hostage" for over a year "with no access to medical help" in "]" without access to medical or legal help in a "villa jail" with windows and doors barred shut, and guarded by police. The governments of Dubai and the UAE have not responded to requests for comment from the BBC.<ref>{{cite news |title=Princess Latifa: 'Hostage' ordeal of Dubai ruler's daughter revealed |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-56084768 |access-date=19 February 2021 |publisher=BBC Panorama |date=16 February 2021 |archive-date=19 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219013407/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-56084768 |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite her family's insistence that she has been enjoying time with them at home the past two years, Latifa says in the series of videos released by her advocates that she is "a hostage" and fears for her life. "Every day, I'm worried about my safety in my life. I don't really know if I'm going to survive this situation. The police threaten me that they would take me outside and shoot me if I didn't cooperate with them," she said. "They also threatened me that I would be in prison my whole life and I'll never see the sun again."<ref>{{cite news |title=Princess Latifa: 'Hostage' ordeal of Dubai ruler's daughter revealed |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56075528 |access-date=19 February 2021 |publisher=BBC Panorama |date=16 February 2021 |archive-date=19 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210219070844/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56075528 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Yee |first1=Vivian |title=In Videos, Dubai Princess Says She Is a 'Hostage' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/world/middleeast/sheikha-latifa-video-dubai.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/world/middleeast/sheikha-latifa-video-dubai.html |archive-date=28 December 2021 |url-access=limited |access-date=19 February 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=16 February 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
Sheikh Mohammed established the '''Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of the Arts Awards''' in March 2009 to honour individuals and organisations who have contributed towards arts development in Dubai. The award allows artists and projects to benefit from the private sector’s support under four categories: Distinguished Patrons of the Arts (AED 15 million), Patrons of the Arts (AED 2-5 million), Supporters of the Arts (AED 500,000), and Friends of the Arts (AED 50,000-50,0000). The award aims to grant significant support financial or in kind, to the visual and performing arts, literature and film sectors, which significantly contributes to enriching the artistic and cultural scene in Dubai.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.patronsofthearts.ae/|title = Patrons of the Arts|date = |accessdate = November 2014|website = Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons Of The Arts Awards|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>


In 2021, investigative reporting into the ] found that Latifa's name was added to a list of names that were potential targets of the spyware just days before she was seized by commandos of an unknown country, off the coast of India, while she was aboard a yacht in an attempt to flee Dubai.<ref>{{Cite news|date=21 July 2021|title=A princess raced to escape Dubai's powerful ruler. Then her phone appeared on the list.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/21/dubai-princesses-spyware/|access-date=21 July 2021|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|archive-date=21 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721162832/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/21/dubai-princesses-spyware/|url-status=live}}</ref> A brief statement issued on Latifa's behalf by law firm ] stated that she was free to travel and requested privacy.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Sabbagh |first=Dan |date=2021-06-22 |title=Statement released on behalf of Dubai’s Princess Latifa says she is free to travel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/22/i-can-travel-where-i-want-says-dubais-princess-latifa |access-date=2024-12-29 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Dubai's Latifa is free to travel, statement issued through lawyers says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/dubais-latifa-is-free-travel-statement-issued-through-lawyers-says-2021-06-23/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221003173805/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/dubais-latifa-is-free-travel-statement-issued-through-lawyers-says-2021-06-23/ |archive-date=2022-10-03 |access-date=2024-12-29 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}}</ref> In the same year the #FreeLatifa campaign ended after Latifa had been photographed in public places such as Dubai, Spain and Iceland.<ref name=":8" />
=== Knowledge Award ===
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation's $1 million '''Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award''' was inaugurated on 7 December 2014, the first award being made jointly to the computer scientist and inventor of the World Wide Web, ] and entrepreneur and co-founder of Misplaced Pages, ] "in recognition of their efforts and contributions in the field of spreading knowledge throughout the world." The award, which was shared equally,<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.sheikhmohammed.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=5cdbb08376b1a410VgnVCM1000003f64a8c0RCRD&vgnextchannel=2777bc9e88caf210VgnVCM1000004d64a8c0RCRD&vgnextfmt=sheikhNews&date=1417968421473&type=sheikh|title = Mohammed attends opening of first Knowledge Conference|date = 7 December 2014|accessdate = 14 December 2014|website = Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref> was presented by Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, chairman of the ], in the presence of Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the ] and Ruler of ].<ref>Shabandri, Muaz (8 December 2014) "". khaleejtimes.com. Retrieved 8 December 2014.</ref>


In February 2022, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, stated that she met Latifa in Paris and that Latifa was well and wished for respect for her privacy.<ref>{{Cite news |last=France-Presse |first=Agence |date=2022-02-19 |title=Princess Latifa: Dubai ruler’s daughter is ‘well’, says UN human rights chief |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/19/princess-latifa-dubai-rulers-daughter-is-well-says-un-human-rights-chief |access-date=2024-12-29 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
== Charitable Work ==
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has been known for his ] ]s. On 19 May 2007, he announced plans to give US$10 billion to set up the ], an educational foundation in the ].<ref>{{cite news|date=19 May 2007|title=Dubai ruler in vast charity gift|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6672923.stm|newspaper=BBC News|accessdate=19 May 2007|first=Jon|last=Leyne}}</ref> Sheikh Mohammed stated that the money is meant to bridge the knowledge gap between the Arab region and the developed world. The announcement was made at the 2007 ] in ].


=== Princess Haya escape ===
In September 2003, he set up Dubai Humanitarian City, which has since grown to be the world's largest logistics hub for humanitarian aid. The hub is used by nine UN aid agencies and some 50 NGOs and commercial operators.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.ihc.ae/page/who-we-are|title = Who We Are|date = |accessdate = November 2014|website = International Humanitarian City|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>
In June 2019, it was reported that Princess Haya had fled Dubai along with her two children, a son and a daughter, and was in Germany seeking ].<ref name="bbc">{{Cite news|date=30 July 2019|title=Dubai ruler's wife seeks marriage protection order|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-49162276|url-status=live|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210929011754/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-49162276|archive-date=29 September 2021|access-date=6 October 2021}}</ref> A subsequent poem composed by Mohammed (an occasional couplet-writer) and posted on ] alluded to betrayal in love.<ref name="foreignpolicy_20190710">{{Cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/07/10/the-fairy-tale-is-over-for-dubais-royal-family/|title=The Fairy Tale Is Over for Dubai's Royal Family|first=Ola|last=Salem|date=10 July 2019 |access-date=16 July 2019|archive-date=16 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716174855/https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/07/10/the-fairy-tale-is-over-for-dubais-royal-family/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="france24_20190705">{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190705-dubai-ruler-sheikh-mohammed-maktoum-scandal-princess-haya-refuge-london-court|title=Dubai's ruling family rocked by fresh scandal as Princess Haya seeks refuge in London|date=5 July 2019|website=France 24|access-date=16 July 2019|archive-date=16 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716152830/https://www.france24.com/en/20190705-dubai-ruler-sheikh-mohammed-maktoum-scandal-princess-haya-refuge-london-court|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, a 34-page fact-finding ruling by the UK High Court Family Division found that Princess Haya had been having an affair with her bodyguard.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-05 |title=Re: AI M handed down by Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division |url=https://www.judiciary.uk/judgments/re-ai-m-handed-down-by-sir-andrew-mcfarlane-president-of-the-family-division/ |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Courts and Tribunals Judiciary |language=en-US}}</ref> She paid around $9 million to hide the affair.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-12-21 |title=Princess Paid Bodyguard $9M in Blackmail to Keep Their Affair Quiet, but Still Got Busted |url=https://news.yahoo.com/princess-paid-lover-9m-blackmail-123524175.html |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}</ref>


Haya moved from Germany to the United Kingdom, filed for ] of their two children, a ] (FMPO), and a ] at the ] in London in July 2019.<ref name="bbc"/>
=== Dubai Cares ===


]
In September 2007, he launched the ] campaign to raise money to educate 1 million children in poor countries. The campaign is Dubai's contribution to the U.N. Millennium Development Goals for providing Children's Primary Education to every child by 2015. The amount donated by the public to the inaugural 2007 campaign exceeded AED 1.65 billion (approximately US$450 million) and this sum was matched by Sheikh Mohammed to make a total of Dh3.5bn (Approximately US$1 billion).<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/education/mohammad-gives-dh1-7b-to-dubai-cares-1.98187|title = Mohammad gives Dh 1.7bn to Dubai Cares|last = Al Lawati|first = Abbas|date = 25 November 2007|work = Gulf News|accessdate = November 2007}}</ref> The initiative has become an ongoing charitable work with concrete goals and engagements in a number of countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.dubaicares.ae/en/section/where-we-work|title = Where We Work|date = |accessdate = November 2014|website = Dubai Cares|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>


In December 2019, a UK ] ruled that, ], Mohammed may have committed the crime of "taunting" Haya after her adulterous affair with a bodyguard became known, which verbal "taunting," the court held, amounted to subjecting Haya to "a campaign of intimidation,"<ref>{{cite news |title=Dubai ruler threatened ex-wife, abducted daughters |url=https://www.dw.com/en/dubai-ruler-threatened-ex-wife-abducted-daughters-uk-court-says/a-52657741 |access-date=24 December 2023 |agency=Reuters |date=6 March 2020}}</ref> reportedly including guns placed on her pillow.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-04 |title=Stunning New Developments in the Case of the Runaway Princesses of Dubai |url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a29848986/dubai-princess-disappearance-divorce/ |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Town & Country |language=en-US}}</ref> The findings were published in March 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Siddique|first=Owen Bowcottand Haroon|date=5 March 2020|title=Dubai ruler organised kidnapping of his children, UK court rules|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/05/dubai-ruler-sheikh-mohammed-organised-kidnapping-of-his-children-uk-court-finds|access-date=5 March 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=14 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114075305/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/05/dubai-ruler-sheikh-mohammed-organised-kidnapping-of-his-children-uk-court-finds|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Al-M-Factfinding-APPROVED-Judgment-111219-for-publication.pdf|title=<nowiki>Re Al M EWHC 3415 (Fam)</nowiki>|access-date=8 March 2020|archive-date=12 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112075837/https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Al-M-Factfinding-APPROVED-Judgment-111219-for-publication.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBC53202"/> In October 2021, the ] ruled that Mohammed's agents used the Israeli ] to hack the phones of Princess Haya, her solicitors, a personal assistant and two members of her security team in the summer of 2020. The court ruled that the agents acted "with the express or implied authority" of the sheikh; he denied knowledge of the hacking. The judgment referred to the hacking as "serial breaches of (UK) domestic criminal law", "in violation of fundamental common law and ] rights", "interference with the process of this court and the mother's access to justice" and "abuse of power" by a ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Gardner|first=Frank|author-link=Frank Gardner (journalist)|date=6 October 2021|title=Princess Haya: Dubai ruler had ex-wife's phone hacked – UK court|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-58814978|url-status=live|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211006163200/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58814978|archive-date=6 October 2021|access-date=6 October 2021}}</ref>
=== Noor Dubai ===


In December 2021, Haya was granted full custody of her children, and ] and support in the amount of US$720 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/12/21/dubai-divorce-maktoum-haya/|first=Liz|last=Sly|access-date=21 December 2021|date=21 December 2021|title=Dubai princess gets record $720 million divorce payout|newspaper=The Washington Post|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211221170731/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/12/21/dubai-divorce-maktoum-haya/|archive-date=21 December 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, the court ordered that there should be no direct contact between Mohammed and his children, and no input by him into decision-making about their lives.<ref name="Guardian_Siddique_20222"/>
On 3 September 2008, Sheikh Mohammad also launched a new ] initiative under the name "Noor Dubai", aiming to help the ] (WHO) and ] (IAPB) in achieving its goals outlined in VISION 2020: the Right to Sight.<ref name="Al Ras">{{Cite news|url = http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/mohammed-boosts-fund-for-palestinians-1.383155|title = Mohammed boosts fund for Palestinians|last = Al Ras|first = Haya Farouk|date = 2 April 2002|work = Gulf News|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref> Noor Dubai aimed to treat and provide health services to one million people suffering from treatable blindness and visual impairment in developing countries on a local, regional, and international scale, but by 2011 had reached and treated over 5.8 million.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/health/5-8-million-people-helped-through-noor-dubai-initiative-1.791320|title = 5.8 million helped through Noor Dubai|last = |first = |date = 13 April 2011|work = Gulf News|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref> A three-year programme in Ethiopia together with the ] aims to help a further 7,900 villages where up to 9 million children are affected by the bacterial condition ].<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/health/noor-dubai-foundation-visits-ethiopia-to-eliminate-trachoma-1.1334000|title = Noor Dubai Visits Ethiopia|last = |first = |date = 17 May 2014|work = Gulf News|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref>


=== UAE Pakistan Assistance Program === === Child camel jockeys ===
In September 2006, Mohammed was accused of encouraging the abduction and ] of thousands of boys for use as jockeys in ]. A ] suit was filed against him in the US state of Florida.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/dubai-princes-accused-of-masterminding-trade-in-jockey-slaves-416101.html|newspaper=The Independent|location=London|title=Dubai princes accused of masterminding trade in jockey slaves|first=Andrew|last=Gumbel|date=15 September 2006|access-date=13 May 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303142836/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/dubai-princes-accused-of-masterminding-trade-in-jockey-slaves-416101.html|archive-date=3 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5346430.stm|newspaper=BBC News|title=Dubai's ruler accused of slavery|date=14 September 2006|access-date=13 May 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202134935/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5346430.stm|archive-date=2 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nysun.com/foreign/dubai-leader-faces-charges-of-enslavement/62611/|title=A Dubai Leader Faces Charges of Enslavement|newspaper=The New York Sun|date=14 September 2007|access-date=30 March 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013002829/http://www.nysun.com/foreign/dubai-leader-faces-charges-of-enslavement/62611/|archive-date=13 October 2012}}</ref> In 2006, American lawyers representing the UAE raised a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that none of the involved parties resided in the US, arguing that the UN program best served the interests of the children. In July 2007, Judge ] accepted the motion and dismissed the suit.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2007/07/31/dubai-ruler-accused-slavery|title = Dubai ruler accused of slavery|date = 31 July 2007|work = SBS|access-date = 1 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111114302/http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2007/07/31/dubai-ruler-accused-slavery|archive-date = 11 November 2014}}</ref>


A 2006 ]-sponsored program with the UAE government resulted in the repatriation of hundreds of children formerly ] as ], and provided them with social services and compensation upon return to their home countries of Pakistan, Sudan, Mauritania, and Bangladesh. The UAE government set aside US$2.7 million in initial funding in 2005 with an additional $9 million for the second phase, and to enforce compliance, adopted a law officially banning the practice with penalties of jail time and a $27,200 fine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uae-us.org/page.cfm?id=63|title=Initiatives to Combat Human Trafficking|publisher=UAE Embassy|access-date=30 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229160217/http://uae-us.org/page.cfm?id=63|archive-date=29 December 2008}}</ref> ] endorsed the UAE's efforts and expressed the hopes that "the UAE's programme will serve as a model to other countries in the region, as a means of ending all forms of exploitation of children".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unicef.org/media/media_26692.html|title=UAE supports UNICEF in safe return of camel jockeys to home countries|publisher=UNICEF|access-date=30 March 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510102714/http://www.unicef.org/media/media_26692.html|archive-date=10 May 2012}}</ref>
On 12 January 2011, the was launched in order to help and provide assistance to Pakistan and mitigate the impact of floods by redeveloping infrastructure, according to the directives of Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the ] and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The UAE PAP has worked along a comprehensive redevelopment plan that takes into account the harsh geography and the rough weather conditions of the region while focusing on four main areas of social redevelopment: health, education, water and infrastructure. The Program provided for the construction and rehabilitation of two bridges, 52 schools and 7 hospitals, as well as the implementation of 64 water supply schemes.<ref>http://gulfnews.com/news/world/pakistan/uae-pakistan-assistance-programme-key-projects-1.1154153</ref>


=== Aid to Palestine === === Horse racing drugs scandal ===
In April 2013, Mohammed's Godolphin stables trainer ] was disqualified for eight years from ] by the ] for administering ] to eleven racehorses. Mohammed stated that he was "appalled and angered" by the case and announced that the stable would be locked down while drug tests were carried out on all horses under Al Zarooni's care.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-horseracing-doping-idUKBRE93O15C20130425|title=Trainer Al Zarooni gets eight-year ban for doping horses|website=]|date=25 April 2013|access-date=3 July 2019|archive-date=3 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703023700/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-horseracing-doping-idUKBRE93O15C20130425|url-status=live}}</ref> In May, Mohammed, as prime minister of the UAE, issued a decree outlawing and criminalizing the use of ]s on horses in the UAE.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/horse-racing/22644130|title=Sheikh Mohammed to criminalise use of anabolic steroids in UAE|website=BBC|date=23 May 2013|access-date=3 July 2019|archive-date=3 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703023655/https://www.bbc.com/sport/horse-racing/22644130|url-status=live}}</ref>
Sheikh Mohammed has made a number of charitable donations to Palestinian causes,<ref name="Al Ras"/> including a grant of 600 houses to Gaza following the Israeli incursions of 2009,<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/vp-donates-600-houses-palestinians-gaza|title = VP donates 600 houses to Palestinians in Gaza|last = |first = |date = 10 January 2009|work = Reliefweb|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref> when he cancelled New Year celebrations and the official opening of the Dubai Shopping Festival to mark solidarity with the Palestinians, as well as donations for refugees displaced by Israeli actions. Reflecting widespread public reaction to the events, and part of a groundswell of donations from prominent Emirati citizens, he also dedicated his victory and prize money from winning a major endurance race in Bahrain on 10 January 2009 to the Palestinian people.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09ABUDHABI34_a.html|title = HUMANITARIAN AID THE FOCUS OF PUBLIC EFFORTS ON GAZA|date = 11 January 2009|accessdate = November 2014|website = Wikileaks|publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>


In October 2013, Mohammed faced another scandal in the venue of ], with reports of potentially toxic and dangerous steroids, ], and ]s being shipped into the UAE, mislabeled as "]". '']'' commented that a "PR campaign is already underway, with Sheikh Mohammed again cast as a victim of employee malpractice".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/10345803/Sheikh-Mohammeds-equine-operations-must-not-be-above-the-law-after-recent-drug-scandals.html|work=Telegraph|title=Sheikh Mohammed's equine operations must not be above the law after recent drug scandals|last=Hayward|first=Paul|date=1 October 2014 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227234415/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/10345803/Sheikh-Mohammeds-equine-operations-must-not-be-above-the-law-after-recent-drug-scandals.html|archive-date=27 December 2014}}</ref>
He has frequently alluded to the need to pursue a two state solution and negotiate a settlement to the Palestinian issue before any normalisation of relations with Israel.


=== Aid to Afghanistan === === Pandora Papers ===
In October 2021, an investigation by the ] (ICIJ) revealed that over 330 prominent politicians and public officials across the world had ties with offshore companies. Amongst them were 35 current and former world leaders. The leaked 11.9 million files revealed that Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also used offshore companies to manage and expand his wealth. In order to carry out his dealings, he registered three companies in the ]s of the ] (BVI) and the Bahamas. Registered by an Emirati firm, Axiom Limited, the three companies were Tandem Investco Limited and Tandem DirectorCo Limited in BVI and Allied International Investments Limited in the Bahamas. Partly owned by the ], in which Mohammed owns major shares, Axiom Limited used the three companies to “expand its core business”.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/global-investigation-tax-havens-offshore/|title=Offshore havens and hidden riches of world leaders and billionaires exposed in unprecedented leak|accessdate=3 October 2021|website=International Consortium of Investigative Journalists|date=3 October 2021|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003164024/https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/global-investigation-tax-havens-offshore/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/pandorapapersworldleaderstonyblairkenyattashakirasachintendulkartaxhavensleaks/a-59376192|title=Pandora Papers: Secret tax havens of world leaders, celebrities revealed|accessdate=3 October 2021|website=Deutsche Welle|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003170914/https://www.dw.com/en/pandorapapersworldleaderstonyblairkenyattashakirasachintendulkartaxhavensleaks/a-59376192|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/pandora-papers-uae-dubai-ruler-sheikh-mohammed-offshore-companies|title=Pandora Papers: The offshore companies of UAE's Sheikh Mohammed|accessdate=4 October 2021|website=Middle East Eye|archive-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102225119/https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/pandora-papers-uae-dubai-ruler-sheikh-mohammed-offshore-companies|url-status=live}}</ref>
Having made calls for US restraint in Afghanistan both in public and in meetings with US officials,<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=a9cbbdc0f1884110VgnVCM1000003f140a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=c7c8001ff133e210VgnVCM1000004d64a8c0RCRD&vgnextfmt=default|title = Mohammed warns of 'human catastrophe'|last = |first = |date = 27 September 2001|work = Gulf News|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref> Sheikh Mohammed moved to donate $2mn for temporary housing for those displaced by the US bombing campaign of 2001/2002.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/mohammed-donates-2m-for-refugees-1.426180|title = Mohammed donates 2mn for refugees|last = |first = |date = 3 October 2001|work = Gulf News|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref> The move sparked a wave of donations from wealthy and notable Emiratis<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/donation-pledged-for-afghan-camp-1.431518|title = Donation pledged for Afghan camp|last = |first = |date = 2 December 2001|work = Gulf News|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref> as news of widespread dislocation and need from Afghan civilians as a result of the strikes spread and led to the establishment of a village in Kandahar to house displaced families. The following year, some 15,000 refugees were repatriated from the Afghan/Pakistan border where they had been housed in the temporary accommodation.


== Personal life ==
In 2000, Sheikh Mohammed donated ]4 million for the construction of the Essalaam Mosque in ], the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forums.ansaar.nl/moskee%EBn/47056-maktoum-moskee-rotterdam-zuid-na-7-5-jaar-open.html |title=Maktoum Moskee in Rotterdam Zuid na 7,5 jaar OPEN!|publisher=Ansaar Community|accessdate=3 September 2011}}</ref>
Sheikh Mohammed has 26 children from several wives.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809012449/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-48843168 |date=9 August 2019 }}, ], ], 2 July 2019</ref>{{Update inline|date=June 2024}}


One of Sheikh Mohammed's ex-wives is ], daughter of former King ] and half-sister of King ].<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704174933/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/world/middleeast/princess-haya-sheikh-mohammed-bin.html |date=4 July 2019 }}, The New York Times, 2 July 2019</ref> In 2022, the High Court of England and Wales ruled and mandated that Sheikh Mohammed must not have direct contact with his children by Princess Haya, or input into decision-making about them, because of his coercive and abusive behaviour which "had emotionally and psychologically harmed their children".<ref name="Guardian_Siddique_20222"/> On 19 September 2022, he attended the ] at ], London.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/culture/royal-watch/arab-royals-at-queen-elizabeth-ii-funeral |title=Queen Elizabeth II's Funeral: Arab Royals Pay Their Respects Ahead of The Ceremony |date=19 September 2022 |magazine=Harper's Bazaar |access-date=24 October 2022 |language=en |archive-date=24 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024111515/https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/culture/royal-watch/arab-royals-at-queen-elizabeth-ii-funeral |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Marriage and family ==
His senior wife is ], his ] and herself a member of Dubai's ruling family, whom he married in 1979. She is mother of 12 of the Sheikh's children including his ], ] (born 1982), the ] of Dubai.


In addition to ], he also speaks English.<ref>{{Citation |title=Sheikh Mohammed (FULL) exclusive interview - BBC NEWS | date=17 January 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeDb2nU9jKU |access-date=2024-01-03 |language=en}}</ref>
His best-known junior wife is ], daughter of King ] and half-sister of King ], whom he married on 10 April 2004, and with whom he has two children, a daughter, Al-Jalila, born 2 December 2007 and a son, Zayed, born 7 January 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nettyroyal.nl/newsapr04.html|title=The Royal News|publisher=Nettyroyal|date=10 April 2004|accessdate=30 March 2012}}</ref><ref> '']'' (2 December 2007). Retrieved 2 December 2013.</ref> Sheikh Mohammed announced the arrival of his son Zayed on Twitter.<ref> '']'' (8 January 2012).</ref> The first woman to represent her native Jordan in international equestrian sport and a participant in the ] in ], she served two terms as President of the ].<ref name="FEI">{{cite web|last1=Staff|title=FEI PRESIDENT HRH PRINCESS HAYA|url=http://www.fei.org/fei/about-fei/fei-president|publisher=International Federation for Equestrian Sport (FEI)|accessdate=19 October 2014}}</ref>


=== Wealth and assets ===
Sheikh Mohammed has 23 officially acknowledged children, nine sons and fourteen daughters, of whom the following married into other Middle East royal families:
In 2021, the ] estimated that Sheikh Mohammed owned assets worth $14 billion.<ref name=":17">{{Cite web|last=OCCRP|title=Luxembourg Companies Lead to Luxury Real Estate Across Europe|url=https://www.occrp.org/en/openlux/luxembourg-companies-lead-to-luxury-real-estate-across-europe|access-date=14 July 2021|website=OCCRP|language=en|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804175322/https://www.occrp.org/en/openlux/luxembourg-companies-lead-to-luxury-real-estate-across-europe|url-status=live}}</ref>


Sheikh Mohammed owns the yacht named '']'', built by the German company ] and designed by English designer ], who owns Winch Design. The yacht is {{convert|162|m}} long, and was the world's third largest yacht as of 2014, with the capacity for up to 115 people including crew.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ealuxe.com/worlds-most-expensive-yachts-2013/|title=Luxury on the Sea: Most Expensive Yachts on Earth|date=27 September 2016|access-date=29 October 2013|archive-date=14 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014191002/http://www.ealuxe.com/worlds-most-expensive-yachts-2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Another of his yachts is the {{convert|40|m}} ''Alloya'', built by Sanlorenzo in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/the-sanlorenzo-40-alloy-in-dubai/|title=The Sanlorenzo 40 Alloy in Dubai – SuperYacht Times|date=20 March 2014 |access-date=12 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420022320/http://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/the-sanlorenzo-40-alloy-in-dubai/|archive-date=20 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/sanlorenzo-s-alloya-superyacht-in-dubai/|title=Sanlorenzo's Alloya superyacht in Dubai – SuperYacht Times|date=5 April 2016 |access-date=12 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421125655/http://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/sanlorenzo-s-alloya-superyacht-in-dubai/|archive-date=21 April 2016}}</ref>
* ] (born 1977), married to ] of ]
* Hassa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (born 1980), married to Saeed bin Dalmouk Al Maktoum
* Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (born 1989), married to ], Crown Prince of ]
* ] (born 1992), married to ] of ]


Sheikh Mohammed owns real estate in the United Kingdom worth more than 100 million British pounds, as well as properties in ] through a company registered in Luxembourg.<ref name=":17" /> According to a 2021 analysis by '']'' and Transparency International, Sheikh Mohammed is one of the largest landowners in the UK, owning more than 100,000 acres.<ref name=":18">{{Cite web|date=14 April 2021|title=Revealed: the huge British property empire of Sheikh Mohammed|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/14/revealed-the-huge-british-property-empire-of-sheikh-mohammed|access-date=23 July 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724013601/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/14/revealed-the-huge-british-property-empire-of-sheikh-mohammed|url-status=live}}</ref> The exact number of properties is not known, as most of the properties connected to him are owned through ] in the ]s of ] and ].<ref name=":18" /> When asked about these holdings, Sheikh Mohammed's lawyer rejected that the properties were bought through offshore companies or that the holdings were intended to avoid UK taxes.<ref name=":18" />


In the 2021 ] leaks, it was revealed that Sheikh Mohammed was a shareholder in three additional companies registered in jurisdictions allowing secrecy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pandora Papers: Secret tax havens of world leaders, celebrities revealed |url=https://www.dw.com/en/pandorapapersworldleaderstonyblairkenyattashakirasachintendulkartaxhavensleaks/a-59376192 |date=3 October 2021 |last1=Ünker |first1=Pelin |last2=Vardar |first2=Serdar |access-date=3 October 2021 |website=] |archive-date=3 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003170914/https://www.dw.com/en/pandorapapersworldleaderstonyblairkenyattashakirasachintendulkartaxhavensleaks/a-59376192 |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Yachts ===
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum owns the yacht ], built by the German company ]. The yacht is 162m long and is the world’s third largest yacht (2014) and can host up to 115 people including crew.<ref>http://www.ealuxe.com/worlds-most-expensive-yachts-2013/</ref> On google earth{{what|date=May 2015}} you can see the yacht lying in front of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoums ].


=== Net worth === ===Wives and children===
Mohammad has been married to at least eleven women. As of 2023, he is divorced from all his wives except his first wife, Sheikha ].
His family wealth is estimated to be "in excess of" US$4 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/investopedia/2011/04/29/the-worlds-richest-royals/2/|title=The World's Richest Royals|publisher=Forbes.com|accessdate=18 April 2013}}</ref>


====Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum====
==Controversies==
Mohammed and Hind married in 1979. The couple are first cousins. Together they have 12 children:
In 2005, a UNICEF-sponsored program with the UAE government resulted in the repatriation of hundreds of children formerly enslaved as camel jockeys, and provided them with social services and compensation upon return to their home countries of Pakistan, Sudan, Mauritania, and Bangladesh. The UAE government set aside US$2.7 million in initial funding in 2005 with an additional US$9 million for the second phase, and to enforce compliance, adopted a law officially banning the practice with penalties of jail time and a $US27,200 fine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uae-us.org/page.cfm?id=63|title=Initiatives to Combat Human Trafficking |publisher=UAE Embassy|accessdate=30 March 2012}}</ref> UNICEF endorsed the UAE’s efforts and expressed the hopes that "the UAE’s programme will serve as a model to other countries in the region, as a means of ending all forms of exploitation of children".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unicef.org/media/media_26692.html|title=UAE supports UNICEF in safe return of camel jockeys to home countries|publisher=UNICEF|accessdate=30 March 2012}}</ref>
* Sheikha Hessa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 6 November 1980). She is married to Sheikh Saeed bin Dalmook Al Maktoum and they have three children:
** Sheikha Hind bint Saeed Al Maktoum (born 25 November 2009).
** Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (born 20 May 2012).
** Sheikha Salama bint Saeed Al Maktoum (born 17 July 2018).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://lovin.co/dubai/en/news/royal-family-baby-girl |title=Mabrook! The Dubai Royal Family Has Just Welcomed A Baby Girl |date=19 July 2018 |work=lovin.co |access-date=25 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* ] (12 November 1981 – 19 September 2015).<ref>{{cite web |title=10000376 – Rashid Bin Mohd AL MAKTOUM (UAE) |url=https://data.fei.org/Person/Detail.aspx?p=2C972500738EF87B7C053B20DC30F5EF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803024116/https://data.fei.org/Person/Detail.aspx?p=2C972500738EF87B7C053B20DC30F5EF |archive-date=3 August 2019 |access-date=3 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=19 September 2015 |title=Dubai Ruler's Son Dies of Heart Attack |work=DT News |location=Dubai |url=http://www.newsofbahrain.com/viewNews.php?ppId=6008&TYPE=Posts&pid=21&MNU=2&SUB=1 |url-status=live |access-date=9 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090326/http://www.newsofbahrain.com/viewNews.php?ppId=6008&TYPE=Posts&pid=21&MNU=2&SUB=1 |archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> Sheikh Rashid has one son:
** Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (born 18 November 2004).
* ] (born 14 November 1982), Crown Prince of Dubai (since 2008), Deputy Prime Minister of UAE (since 2024), and Defence Minister of UAE (since 2024). He is married to Sheikha Shaikha bint Saeed bin Thani Al Maktoum.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 May 2019 |title=Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan Just Got Married |newspaper=Harper\'S Bazaar Arabia |url=https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/people/news/dubai-crown-prince-sheikh-hamdan-just-got-married |publisher=Harper's Bazaar Arabia |language=en |access-date=2 August 2019 |archive-date=17 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617142210/https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/people/news/dubai-crown-prince-sheikh-hamdan-just-got-married |url-status=live }}</ref> He has three children:
** Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum (born 20 May 2021).<ref name="thenationalnews.com"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701010556/https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/government/sheikh-hamdan-welcomes-twins-rashid-and-sheikha-into-the-world-1.1226853 |date=1 July 2021 }} ''The Nation''. 21 May 2021.</ref>
** Sheikha Shaikha bint Hamdan Al Maktoum (born 20 May 2021).<ref name="thenationalnews.com"/>
** Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamdan Al Maktoum (born 25 February 2023).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dubai-sheikh-hamdan-announces-birth-of-third-child|title=Dubai: Sheikh Hamdan announces birth of third child|work=Khaleej Times|first=Nasreen|last=Abdulla|date=25 February 2023|accessdate=25 February 2023}}</ref>
* ] (born 24 November 1983), First Deputy Ruler of Dubai (since 2008), Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE (since 2021), UAE Minister of Finance (since 2021). He is married to Sheikha Maryam bint Butti bin Maktoum Al Maktoum,<ref name="gulfnews-wedding4">{{cite news |date=6 June 2019 |title=UAE celebrates Hamdan, Maktoum, Ahmad weddings |newspaper=Gulf News |url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/uae-celebrates-hamdan-maktoum-ahmad-weddings-1.64367858 |access-date=2 August 2019 |archive-date=2 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702025815/https://gulfnews.com/uae/uae-celebrates-hamdan-maktoum-ahmad-weddings-1.64367858 |url-status=live }}</ref> and they have three daughters:
** Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Al Maktoum (born 24 November 2020).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/culture-society/dubais-sheikh-maktoum-welcomes-baby-daughter-shaikha |title=Dubai's Sheikh Maktoum welcomes baby daughter – Shaikha |date=6 January 2023 |work=Arabian Business |access-date=25 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
** Sheikha Latifa bint Maktoum Al Maktoum (born 11 January 2022).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://emirateswoman.com/sheikh-hamdan-congratulates-sheikh-maktoum-on-second-child-birth/ |title=Sheikh Hamdan congratulates brother Sheikh Maktoum on birth of his second child |date=12 January 2022 |work=Emirates Woman |access-date=25 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
** Sheikha Shaikha bint Maktoum Al Maktoum (born 25 January 2023).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/dubai-sheikh-maktoum-blessed-with-another-baby-girl-royal-siblings-take-to-social-media-to-wish-hi?amp=1 |title=Dubai: Sheikh Maktoum blessed with baby girl; royal siblings take to social media to wish him |date=26 January 2023 |work=Khaleej Times |access-date=25 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* ] (born 7 February 1987), Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai (since 2023). He is married to Sheikha Madiyah bint Dalmook Al Maktoum.<ref name="gulfnews-wedding4"/> They have one daughter:
** Sheikha Hind bint Ahmed Al Maktoum (born 22 October 2022).
* Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 20 March 1988).
* Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (III) (born 30 March 1989).<ref>{{cite web |title=10045216 – Sheikha Latifa Mohd Bin Rashid AL MAKTOUM (UAE) |url=https://data.fei.org/Person/Detail.aspx?p=A055C9E5273E020D0B891080B1178CF3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803030954/https://data.fei.org/Person/Detail.aspx?p=A055C9E5273E020D0B891080B1178CF3 |archive-date=3 August 2019 |access-date=3 August 2019}}</ref> She is married to ], Crown Prince of ], and they have five children:
** Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 29 December 2009).
** Sheikha Aisha bint Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 1 November 2011).
** Sheikha Fatima bint Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 11 March 2014).
** Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 15 December 2015).<ref>{{cite web |title=The Ruling Family |url=http://www.fujairahobserver.ae/fujairah-city/the-ruling-family-1298032500.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150729010132/http://www.fujairahobserver.ae/fujairah-city/the-ruling-family-1298032500.html |archive-date=29 July 2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |website=Fujairah Observer}}</ref>
** Sheikha Hind bint Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 22 June 2020).
* Sheikha Maryam bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (II) (born 11 January 1992). She is married to Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, and they have three sons:
** Sheikh Mohammed bin Khaled Al Nahyan (born 25 September 2020).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://emirateswoman.com/sheikh-mohammeds-daughter-sheikha-maryam-given-birth-first-child/ |title=Sheikh Mohammed's daughter Sheikha Maryam has given birth to her first child |date=29 September 2020 |work=Emirates Woman |access-date=2 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
** Sheikh Hamdan bin Khaled Al Nahyan (born 25 August 2021).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://emirateswoman.com/sheikha-maryam-shares-adorable-photo-sheikh-hamdan-newborn-nephew/ |title=Sheikha Maryam shares adorable photo of Sheikh Hamdan with his newborn nephew |date=2 September 2021 |work=Emirates Woman |access-date=2 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
** Sheikh Khalifa bin Khaled Al Nahyan (born 10 October 2022).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://emirateswoman.com/sheikh-mohammeds-daughter-sheikha-maryam-welcomes-third-child/ |title=Mabrook! Sheikh Mohammed's daughter, Sheikha Maryam, welcomes third child |date=11 October 2022 |work=Emirates Woman |access-date=21 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* Sheikha Sheikha bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 20 December 1992). She is married to ], and they have five children:
** Sheikha Sheema bint Nasser Al Khalifa (born 16 July 2010).
** Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser Al Khalifa (born 6 June 2012).
** Sheikh Mohammed bin Nasser Al Khalifa (born 6 June 2012).
** Sheikh Hamdan bin Nasser Al Khalifa (born 28 October 2018).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bna.bh/en/HRHPremierissuedEdict33/CrownPrincecongratulatesShaikhNasseronnewbornbaby.aspx?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2BDgic9sqwaaEZhPXEQflyF0I%3D |title=Crown Prince congratulates Shaikh Nasser on newborn baby |date=28 October 2018 |work=Bahrain News Agency |access-date=21 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
** Sheikh Khalid bin Nasser Al Khalifa (born 15 February 2022).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://emirateswoman.com/sheikh-mohammeds-daughter-welcomes-baby-boy-with-husband-sheikh-nasser/ |title=Mabrook! Sheikh Mohammed's daughter welcomes baby boy with husband Sheikh Nasser |date=16 February 2022 |work=Emirates Woman |access-date=21 June 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* Sheikha Futtaim bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 22 July 1994).<ref>{{cite web |title=10045073 – Sheikha Futaim Mohd Bin Rashid AL MAKTOUM (UAE) |url=https://data.fei.org/Person/Detail.aspx?p=A40ABC0528703519233EF782164B3763 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803023239/https://data.fei.org/Person/Detail.aspx?p=A40ABC0528703519233EF782164B3763 |archive-date=3 August 2019 |access-date=3 August 2019}}</ref>
* Sheikha Salamah bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 8 August 1999).
* Sheikha Shamma bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 13 November 2001).


====Haya bint Hussein====
In September 2006, Sheikh Mohammed was accused of encouraging the abduction and enslavement of thousands of boys for use as ]s in ]. A ] suit was filed against him in the US state of ].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/dubai-princes-accused-of-masterminding-trade-in-jockey-slaves-416101.html|newspaper=The Independent|location=London|title=Dubai princes accused of masterminding trade in jockey slaves|first=Andrew|last=Gumbel|date=15 September 2006|accessdate=13 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5346430.stm|newspaper=BBC News|title=Dubai's ruler accused of slavery|date=14 September 2006| accessdate=13 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nysun.com/foreign/dubai-leader-faces-charges-of-enslavement/62611/ |title=A Dubai Leader Faces Charges of Enslavement|newspaper=The New York Sun|date=14 September 2007|accessdate=30 March 2012}}</ref> However, in 2006, American lawyers representing the UAE raised a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that none of the involved parties resided in the U.S., arguing that the UN program best served the interests of the children. In July 2007, judge ] accepted the motion and dismissed the suit.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2007/07/31/dubai-ruler-accused-slavery|title = Dubai ruler accused of slavery|last = |first = |date = 31 July 2007|work = SBS|accessdate = November 2014}}</ref>
Sheikh Mohammed married ] on 10 April 2004, and they divorced on 7 February 2019. They have two children:
*Sheikha Al Jalila bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 2 December 2007).<ref name="Biography">{{cite web |title=Biography |url=http://english.princesshaya.net/biographies#hrh-princess-haya |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151004105832/http://english.princesshaya.net/biographies#hrh-princess-haya |archive-date=4 October 2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |website=Official Website of Princess Haya bint Hussein}}</ref>
*Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 7 January 2012).<ref name="Biography" />


====Randa bint Mohammad Al-Banna====
On 9 March 2007, the London-based ] newspaper wrongly published a picture of Sheikh Mohammed, attributing it to the terror suspect ]. It has since apologised for the error.<ref>, Metro News, 9 March 2007</ref>
The sheikh married Randa bint Mohammed Al-Banna in 1972. Mohammed and Randa later divorced.<ref>{{cite news |last=Callaghan |first=Louise |date=22 December 2019 |title=Randa al-Banna interview: 'Our baby is now in her forties. The emir still won't let me near' |work=] |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/randa-al-banna-interview-our-baby-is-now-in-her-forties-the-emir-still-wont-let-me-near-xbgsx5f27 |url-status=live |access-date=21 September 2021 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200224002526/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/randa-al-banna-interview-our-baby-is-now-in-her-forties-the-emir-still-wont-let-me-near-xbgsx5f27 |archive-date=24 February 2020 }}</ref> They have one daughter:
* ] (born 12 November 1977). She is married to ], and they have five children:
** Sheikha Fatima bint Mansour Al Nahyan (born 9 June 2006).
** Sheikh Mohammed bin Mansour Al Nahyan (born 4 December 2007).
** Sheikh Hamdan bin Mansour Al Nahyan (born 21 June 2011).
** Sheikha Latifa bint Mansour Al Nahyan (born 23 January 2014).
** Sheikh Rashid bin Mansour Al Nahyan (born 22 March 2017).<ref>{{cite web |date=22 March 2017 |title=Sheikh Mohammed meets his newborn grandson |url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/dubai/sheikh-mohammed-meets-his-newborn-grandson |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519063046/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/dubai/sheikh-mohammed-meets-his-newborn-grandson |archive-date=19 May 2017 |access-date=20 June 2017 |website=Khaleej Times}}</ref>


====Delila Aloula====
In July 2013, following international pressure and extensive media coverage, Sheikh Mohammed pardoned ], who, after she reported being raped, was convicted of extramarital sex and alcohol consumption.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/uriks/English-version-Dubai-ruler-pardons-Marte-Dalelv_-who-was-convicted-after-she-reported-rape-7261096.html|work=Aften Posten |title=English version: Dubai ruler pardons Marte Dalelv, who was convicted after she reported rape.- Now I am free. Finally, says Dalelv.|last=Skjeggestad|first=Helene|date=22 July 2013|accessdate=31 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23404042|work=BBC|title=Dubai rape case Norwegian woman 'free to go'|last=Atkinson|first=Simon|date=22 July 2013|accessdate=31 July 2013}}</ref>
Mohammed has three daughters from his marriage to Delila Aloula:
* Sheikha Dalal bint Mohammed Al Maktoum
* ] (born 16 June 1983). She is married to Sheikh Faisal bin Saud bin Khalid Al Qassimi and they have four children:
** Sheikh Mohammed bin Faisal Al Qassimi (born 28 July 2018).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://whatson.ae/2018/07/dubais-royal-family-welcomes-a-baby-boy/ |title=Dubai's royal family welcomes a baby boy |date=29 July 2018 |work=whatson.ae |access-date=16 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
** Sheikha Shaikha bint Faisal Al Qassimi (born 29 October 2020).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/sheikh-mohammeds-daughter-sheikha-latifa-gives-birth-to-baby-girl?amp=1 |title=Sheikh Mohammed's daughter Sheikha Latifa gives birth to baby girl |date=29 October 2020 |work=Khaleej Times |access-date=16 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
** Sheikh Hamdan bin Faisal Al Qassimi (born 24 December 2021).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://en.vogue.me/culture/hh-sheikha-latifa-bint-mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum-announces-birth-third-child-baby-boy/amp/ |title=HH Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Announces the Birth of Her Third Child, a Baby Boy |date=26 December 2021 |work=Vogue Arabia |access-date=16 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
** Sheikha Hind bint Faisal Al Qassimi (born 14 May 2023).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-sheikh-mohammeds-daughter-sheikha-latifa-announces-birth-of-baby-girl-reveals-baby-name |title=UAE: Sheikh Mohammed's daughter Sheikha Latifa announces birth of baby girl, reveals baby name |date=14 May 2023 |work=Khaleej Times |access-date=16 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* Sheikha Maryam bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (I) (born 11 August 1987). She is married to Sheikh Suhail bin Ahmed Al Maktoum and they have four children:
** Sheikha Fatima bint Suhail Al Maktoum (born 26 September 2019).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/article/dubai-royal-family-welcomes-baby-girl |title=Dubai royal family welcomes baby girl |date=26 September 2019 |work=Khaleej Times |access-date=5 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
** Sheikh Ahmed bin Suhail Al Maktoum (born 1 December 2020).
** Sheikha Latifa bint Suhail Al Maktoum (born 17 February 2022).
** Sheikha Hessa bint Suhail Al Maktoum (born 3 February 2024)


====Houria Ahmed Lamara====
In October 2013, scandal returned to Sheikh Mohammed in the venue of horseracing, with reports of potentially toxic and dangerous steroids, anesthetics, and anti-inflammatory drugs being shipped into UAE, mislabeled as "horse tack".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/10345803/Sheikh-Mohammeds-equine-operations-must-not-be-above-the-law-after-recent-drug-scandals.html|work=Telegraph|title=Sheikh Mohammed's equine operations must not be above the law after recent drug scandals
From his marriage to Houria Ahmed Lamara, Mohammed has five children:
|last=Hayward|first=Paul|date=1 October 2014|accessdate=27 December 2014}}</ref> ''The Telegraph'' commented dubiously, that a "PR campaign is already under way, with Sheikh Mohammed again cast as a victim of employee malpractice".{{Citation needed|reason=Your explanation here|date=March 2015}}
* ] (born 5 March 1980).
* ] (born 15 August 1981).
* ] (born 5 December 1985).
* ] (born 16 October 1987).<ref>{{cite web |title=10014773 – Majid Bin Mohd AL MAKTOUM (UAE) |url=https://data.fei.org/Person/Detail.aspx?p=243CFA79A5431B5EB13C303474BDBA9B |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803023404/https://data.fei.org/Person/Detail.aspx?p=243CFA79A5431B5EB13C303474BDBA9B |archive-date=3 August 2019 |access-date=3 August 2019}}</ref> He is married to Hessa Beljafla and they have five children:
** Sheikh Mohammed bin Majid Al Maktoum (born 15 July 2015).
** Sheikha Dubai bint Majid Al Maktoum (born 15 July 2015).
** Sheikha Maitha bint Majid Al Maktoum (born 17 May 2017).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/photos-dubai-royal-family-welcomes-new-bundle-of-joy |title=Photos: Dubai royal family welcomes new bundle of joy |date=18 May 2017 |work=Khaleej Times |access-date=7 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
** Sheikh Rashid bin Majid Al Maktoum (born 2 February 2019).
** Sheikh Maktoum bin Majid Al Maktoum (born 15 July 2022).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://emirateswoman.com/mabrook-sheikh-mohammed-welcomes-a-new-grandchild-on-his-birthday/ |title=Mabrook! Sheikh Mohammed welcomes a new grandchild on his birthday |date=19 July 2022|work=Emirates Woman |access-date=7 July 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 26 June 1989).


==See also== ====Umm Marwan====
Mohammed has a son with one of his former wives:
* Sheikh Marwan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 20 March 1981). He is married to Dalal Al Marzouqi and they have two sons:
** Sheikh Mohammed bin Marwan Al Maktoum
** Sheikh Rashid bin Marwan Al Maktoum (born 18 June 2013)

====Zoe Grigorakos====
Mohammed has one daughter from his marriage to Zoe Grigorakos:
* Sheikha ] (born 26 February 1994). She was married to Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum from 2023 until her divorce in 2024.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://people.com/dubai-princess-posts-new-photo-baby-daughter-since-declaring-divorce-instagram-8681498|title=Dubai Princess Shares New Photo with Baby Daughter After Declaring Divorce on Instagram|magazine=People|first=Janine|last=Henni|date=July 22, 2024|access-date=July 23, 2024}}</ref>
** Sheikha Mahra bint Mana Al Maktoum (born 1 May 2024)

==== Dalya Al Muthanna ====
Sheikh Mohammed was married to Dr. Dalya Al Muthanna,{{cn|date=December 2024}} They have one daughter:
* Sheikha Haya bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 1 October 2000)

==Honours==
* {{Flag|Brazil}}: Collar of the ] awarded by President ] (12 November 2021).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://noticias.uol.com.br/politica/ultimas-noticias/2021/11/12/bolsonaro-condecora-lideres-do-oriente-medio-antes-de-viagem.htm |title=Bolsonaro condecora líderes do Oriente Médio antes de viagem à região |date=12 November 2021 |work=noticias.uol.com.br |access-date=16 November 2022 |language=pt |archive-date=17 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117223754/https://noticias.uol.com.br/politica/ultimas-noticias/2021/11/12/bolsonaro-condecora-lideres-do-oriente-medio-antes-de-viagem.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* {{Flag|Bahrain}}: Collar of the ]
* {{Flag|KSA}}: First Class of the ]
* {{Flag|Spain}}: Grand Cross of the ]
* {{Flag|Morocco}}: Grand Cordon of the ]
* {{Flag|Netherlands}}: Knight Grand Cross of the ] awarded by ] (8 February 1974)
* {{Flag|UAE}}: Collar of the ] (2 December 2012)
* {{Flag|United Kingdom}}: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the ] (GCMG) awarded by Queen ] (25 November 2010).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/512855/2010_Honorary_Awards.pdf |title=Honorary awards |date= |work=gov.uk |access-date=16 November 2022 |archive-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518035952/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/512855/2010_Honorary_Awards.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.emirates247.com/news/government/president-khalifa-confers-order-of-zayed-on-queen-2010-11-25-1.321318 |title=President Khalifa confers Order of Zayed on Queen |date=25 November 2010 |work=Emirates 24/7 |access-date=16 November 2022 |language=en |archive-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930083545/https://www.emirates247.com/news/government/president-khalifa-confers-order-of-zayed-on-queen-2010-11-25-1.321318 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* {{Flag|United Kingdom}}: Knight Grand Cross of the ]

==Ancestry==
{{ahnentafel
|collapsed=yes |align=center|ref=<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sheikhmohammed.ae/en-us/RulingFamilyDubai|title=Ruling Family in Dubai|date=|work=sheikhmohammed.ae|access-date=5 March 2021|language=en|archive-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213213147/https://sheikhmohammed.ae/en-us/RulingFamilyDubai|url-status=live}}</ref>
|boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;
|boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;
|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
|1= 1. '''Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum'''
|2= 2. ]
|3= 3. Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan
|4= 4. ]
|5= 5. Sheikha Hassa bint Al Marr
|6= 6. ]
|7= 7. Sheikha Shamseh bint Obaid bin Mejren
|8= 8. ]
|12= 12. ]
|14= 14. Sheikh Obaid bin Mejren
}}

== See also ==
* ]
* ] * ]


==References== == References ==
{{Reflist|30em}} {{Reflist}}


==Further reading== == Further reading ==
* {{Cite book|title = My Vision: Challenges in the Race for Excellence|last = Maktoum|first = Mohammed|publisher = Motivate|year = 2012|isbn = 9781860633447|location = UAE|pages = }} Vision for governance. * {{Cite book|title = My Vision: Challenges in the Race for Excellence|last = Maktoum|first = Mohammed|publisher = Motivate|year = 2012|isbn = 978-1-86063-344-7|location = UAE}} Vision for governance.
* {{Cite book|title = Spirit of the Union|last = Maktoum|first = Mohammed|publisher = Motivate|year = 2012|isbn = 9781860633300|location = UAE|pages = }} Talks about UAE independence & union. * {{Cite book|title = Spirit of the Union|last = Maktoum|first = Mohammed|publisher = Motivate|year = 2012|isbn = 978-1-86063-330-0|location = UAE}} Talks about UAE independence & union.
* {{Cite book|title = Flashes of Thought|last = Maktoum|first = Mohammed|publisher = Motivate|year = 2013|isbn = 9781860633560|location = UAE|pages = }} A number of insights into policy, attitude & approach to leadership. * {{Cite book|title = Flashes of Thought|last = Maktoum|first = Mohammed|publisher = Motivate|year = 2013|isbn = 978-1-86063-356-0|location = UAE}} A number of insights into policy, attitude & approach to leadership.
* ''Dubai The Maktoum Story'' by John M. Smith; in English; a book which criticizes the governance of Sheikh Mohammed * ''Dubai The Maktoum Story'' by John M. Smith; in English; a book which criticizes the governance of Sheikh Mohammed


==External links== == External links ==
{{Commons}} *{{Commons category-inline}}
{{Wikiquote}} *{{Wikiquote-inline}}
*
*
*
*
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928064811/http://www.sheikhmohammed.ae/ |date=28 September 2007 }}

* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019235629/https://www.vision2021.ae/en/news |date=19 October 2017 }}
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{{Persondata
| NAME =Maktoum, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Enirati politician
| DATE OF BIRTH =15 July 1950
| PLACE OF BIRTH =], ]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maktoum, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-}}
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Latest revision as of 14:32, 3 January 2025

Ruler of Dubai (born 1949)

In this Arabic name, the surname is Al Maktoum.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
  • محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم
Sheikh Mohammed in 2021
Vice President of the United Arab Emirates
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 January 2006Serving with Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan (2023–present)
President
Preceded byMaktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
4th Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates
Incumbent
Assumed office
11 February 2006
President
Deputies
Preceded byMaktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Minister of Defence
In office
9 December 1971 – 2020
President
Preceded byPost established
Succeeded byvacant
Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (in 2024)
President of the United Arab Emirates
Acting
In office
13 May 2022 – 14 May 2022
Preceded byKhalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Succeeded byMohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Dubai
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 January 2006
Preceded byMaktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Heir apparentHamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Born (1949-07-15) 15 July 1949 (age 75)
Dubai, Trucial States
SpouseSee list
IssueSee list
Names
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Saeed bin Maktoum bin Hasher bin Maktoum bin Butti bin Suhail
HouseAl Maktoum
FatherRashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
MotherLatifa bint Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan
ReligionIslam
Police career
DepartmentDubai Police Force
Service years1968–1970
RankHead of Dubai Police and Public Security
WebsiteOfficial website

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Arabic: محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم, romanizedMuḥammad bin Rāšid Āl Maktūm; born 15 July 1949) is an Emirati politician and royal who is the current ruler of Dubai, and serves as the vice president and prime minister of the UAE. Mohammed succeeded his brother Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum as UAE vice president, UAE prime minister, and ruler of Dubai following the latter's death in 2006.

A billionaire, Mohammed generates most of his income from real estate and is described as "one of the world's most prominent real estate developers". There is a blurred line between the assets of the Government of Dubai and those of the ruling Al Maktoum family. Land which is owned by him is managed as an asset of the state. He oversaw the growth of Dubai into a global city, as well as the launch of a number of government-owned enterprises including Emirates Airline, DP World, and the Jumeirah Group. Some of these are held by Dubai Holding. Mohammed has overseen the development of certain projects in Dubai, such as the Palm Islands and the Burj Al Arab hotel, as well as Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world as of 2024.

Mohammed is the absolute ruler of Dubai and the prime minister of the UAE, a position appointed by the president. The government is autocratic.

On 5 March 2020, a British court ruled that on the balance of probabilities, Mohammed had abducted two of his daughters, Shamsa and Latifa, and had threatened his former wife, the Jordanian princess Haya bint Hussein. Allegedly, Shamsa and Latifa were forcibly medicated while held in Dubai under Mohammed's orders since 2000 and 2018, respectively. On 16 February 2021, BBC's Panorama broadcast a documentary featuring Latifa's video messages that she made secretly under enforced detention in Dubai on her father's orders.

Mohammed is an equestrian and is the founder of the Maktoum family-owned Godolphin stable and the owner of Darley, a thoroughbred breeding operation, operational in six countries. In 2012, he rode the horse Madji Du Pont 160 km to take the FEI World Endurance Championship.

Early life

Sheikh Mohammed is the third of four sons of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai. The Al Maktoum family is Dubai's ruling family and descendants of the House of Al-Falasi, of which Mohammed is the tribal leader. His mother was Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, daughter of former ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan. He grew up in a house without electricity. A hundred people or more lived there, including guards and maids.

Education

From the age of four, Mohammed was privately tutored in Arabic and Islamic Studies. In 1955, he began formal education at Al Ahmedia School. At the age of 10, he moved to Al Shaab School, and two years later, attended Dubai Secondary School. In 1966, with his cousin Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, he attended the Bell Educational Trust's English Language School in the United Kingdom. He subsequently studied at the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, passing out with the sword of honour as the top Commonwealth student. He also travelled to Italy to train as a pilot.

Political career

Dubai Police

Mohammed at the Dubai Air Show, 2007

Upon Mohammed's return to Dubai from military training at age 20, his father, Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, appointed him as the head of the Dubai Police Force and the Dubai Defence Force (which later became a part of the Union Defence Force).

Minister of Defence

In January 1968, Mohammed was present when his father and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan first met in the desert between Dubai and Abu Dhabi at Argoub El Sedira to agree to the formation of a union of emirates following British notification of intent to withdraw from the Trucial States. When the new country of the United Arab Emirates was founded on 2 December 1971, Mohammed became its first minister of defence at the age of 22.

A period of uncertainty and instability followed the Union of the United Arab Emirates, including skirmishes between tribes over property, straddling new borders. On 24 January 1972, the exiled former ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, Sheikh Saqr bin Sultan Al Qasimi, led an insurrectionist coup against his successor, Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. Following a spirited firefight between the Union Defence Force and Sheikh Saqr's forces – mostly Egyptian mercenaries who had entered the UAE through Ras Al Khaimah – Mohammed accepted Saqr's surrender. Sheikh Khalid had been killed in the action, leading to the accession of his brother Sultan as ruler of Sharjah. Mohammed delivered Saqr to UAE president Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who put Saqr under house arrest in Al Ain.

In 1973, Mohammed was involved in protracted negotiations with the hijackers of JAL 404, led by Japanese Red Army member Osamu Maruouka, which landed in Dubai after being hijacked as it departed Schiphol Airport. Although unsuccessful in obtaining the release of the hostages (they were finally freed, and the 747 blown up, in Libya), he was more successful in a later negotiation with the three hijackers of KLM 861, who released the balance of their hostages and handed over the plane in return for safe passage. In 1977, Mohammed oversaw the integration of Dubai's military forces with those of the other emirates.

Crown Prince of Dubai

With Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh (right), March 2010

On 3 January 1995, Mohammed's brother Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, signed two decrees. One decree appointed Mohammed as crown prince and the other appointed their brother Hamdan as the deputy ruler of Dubai.

Mohammed created the Dubai Shopping Festival in late 1995, an annual event that has become a significant contributor to the economy of the UAE.

In 2001, Mohammed ordered the arrest of Obaid Saqr bin-Busit, the head of Dubai Customs and the chairman of the World Customs Association.

With Argentinian president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, April 2014
With Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, April 2014
With US vice president Joe Biden, March 2016

Ruler of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister

After roughly a decade of de facto rule, Mohammed became the ruler of Dubai on 4 January 2006, upon the death of his brother Maktoum. The following day, the Federal National Council selected him as the new vice president of the UAE. On 11 February, the Council approved President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan's nomination of Sheikh Mohammed for prime minister.

Mohammed is the absolute monarch of Dubai. The government is described as autocratic, as there are no democratic institutions, and internal dissent is prohibited. Scholars characterize the UAE as authoritarian. According to human rights organizations, there are systematic human rights violations, including the torture and forced disappearance of government critics. There is a blurred line between the assets of the state of Dubai and those of the Al Maktoum ruling family.

Mohammed issued a law in 2006 to form the Dubai Establishment for Women Development, renamed by law in 2009 as the Dubai Women Establishment. He also formed the UAE Gender Balance Council in 2015.

On 19 October 2020, Mohammed led the UAE Council of Ministers meeting that ratified a peace agreement with Israel, normalizing diplomatic relationships between the countries. The Council, again headed by Mohammed, approved the decision to found an Emirati embassy in Tel Aviv in January, and Mohammed swore in the first Emirati ambassador to Israel, Mahmoud Al Khajah, a month later.

Space exploration

Mohammed founded the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in 2015, which announced it would be launching a spacecraft to Mars to study the planet’s atmosphere; He stated that the planet was chosen for its "epic challenge," saying it would benefit the Emirati economy. He announced that the mission would be called Hope after a public vote, as the name would "send a message of optimism to millions of young Arabs," since "Arab civilisation once played a great role in contributing to human knowledge, and play that role again."

Mohammed announced that the Hope mission had succeeded at orbit insertion on 9 February 2021, and shared the first picture the probe had captured days later. Hope became the first Arab mission to space, as well as the first of three missions in July 2020—the others from the United States and China–to arrive at Mars.

In 2020, Mohammed announced a second mission, this one to the moon. The Emirates Lunar Mission used a lunar rover named Rashid, reportedly built entirely in the UAE. It was launched on 11 December 2022 on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket. In a historic first, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s book titled "The Journey From the Desert to the Stars" was launched from the International Space Station (ISS) through Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi.

Business career

At the World Economic Forum Summit on the Global Agenda, 2008

Mohammed has overseen the creation and growth of a number of businesses and economic assets of Dubai, with a number held by two companies under his ownership, Dubai World and Dubai Holding. According to the laws of Dubai, the ruling family owns all undeveloped land in Dubai, which has allowed the family to prosper from real estate development. During Mohammed's rule, Dubai has seen enormous population growth, causing a real estate boom in Dubai. The boom was in part facilitated by Sheikh Mohammed's 2002 decree that foreigners would be allowed to purchase property in Dubai.

Mohammed established Dubai World by decree, leading to the company's launch on 2 July 2006, as a holding company consolidating a number of assets including logistics company, DP World, property developer Nakheel Properties, and investment company Istithmar World. With more than 50,000 employees in over 100 cities around the globe, the Group has real estate, logistics and other business investments in the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. The company is owned by the government of Dubai.

Sheikh Mohammed's personal corporate portfolio is the Dubai Holding Group, which is involved in a variety of investments. Dubai Holding benefits from its association with the ruling family of Dubai, and is given free land by the Dubai government.

Mohammed was responsible for the launch of Emirates Airline.

Launch of Emirates Airline

Through the 1970s, as well as his role as head of Dubai Defence Force and UAE Minister of Defence, Mohammed oversaw Dubai's energy resources and was in charge of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority. It was in this latter role, in March 1985, that he founded Emirates Airline, tasking then-head of Dnata, Maurice Flanagan, with launching a new airline to be called Emirates after a dispute with Gulf Air over Dubai's 'Open Skies' policy. The launch budget of the airline was $10 million (the amount Flanagan said he needed to launch an airline) and its inaugural flight took place on 25 October 1985. Sheikh Mohammed appointed his uncle Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum as chairman of the new company. A further $75 million in facilities and materials was provided, but Emirates has always maintained that it has received no further subsidies throughout the company's meteoric growth to become one of the world's leading airlines.

In 1989, Mohammed inaugurated the first Dubai Airshow. In 2013, the exhibition had grown to over 1,000 exhibiting companies, and was the venue for Emirates' placement of the largest aeroplane order in history, with $99 billion combined orders with Airbus for its A380 and Boeing for its 777X.

Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah

Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach

The Burj Al Arab was inaugurated in December 1999. The hotel, constructed from a design by WS Atkins in response to a brief from Mohammed to create "a truly iconic" building, styles itself as "the world's most luxurious hotel". It was constructed on an island offshore from the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, the first property managed by Jumeirah, the hotel management company launched by Mohammed in 1997 and headed by ex-Trust House Forte executive Gerald Lawless. While work began on both hotels at the same time, the island to house the Burj Al Arab required three years to build before construction began above ground. Jumeirah's international expansion, driven after it became part of Dubai Holding in 2004, encompasses 22 hotels in ten countries.

Dubai Internet City and TECOM

On 29 October 1999, Mohammed announced Dubai Internet City, a technology hub and free trade zone. Offering companies long leases, full ownership, and fast access to government services, DIC grew from its first tenants in October 2000, to a current zone employing about 15,000 people. In November 2000, it was joined by Dubai Media City, a content and media production-free zone, which is co-located with DIC. The launch of DIC came with assurances from Mohammed regarding media freedoms. In 2007, he issued a decree banning the imprisonment of journalists following an incident in which local journalists were accused of libel and sentenced to jail terms.

Palm Islands

Palm Jumeirah seen from space

The Palm Islands were developed by Nakheel Properties, which Mohammed founded.

Interests, activities and philanthropic work

Mohammed bin Rashid Global initiatives (MBRGI)

The Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiatives is a charitable foundation which consolidates the work of some 33 charitable foundations, entities and initiatives which, together, implement more than 1,400 development programs, including the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU).

Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government

The Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government (previously the Dubai School of Government) is an academic and research institution in the area of public policy and administration.

Aid to Palestine

Mohammed made a grant of 600 houses to Gaza following the 2008–2009 Gaza war.

Aiding mosque construction in the Netherlands

In 2000, Mohammed donated €4 million for the construction of the Essalaam Mosque in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

In June 2017, two new initiatives were added to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives, within the "Empowering Communities" sector, namely the International Institute for Tolerance and the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Award for Tolerance. In this respect, Sheikh Mohammed issued Law No. (9) of 2017 on the Establishment of the International Institute for Tolerance and Decree No. (23) of 2017 on the Formation of a Board of Trustees and Decree No. (28) of 2017 on the Appointment of a Managing Director for the International Institute for Tolerance. In this respect, Law No. (9) of 2017 includes the launch of the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Award for Tolerance, administered in accordance with the provisions and statute of said Law. Hence, the establishment of the International Institute for Tolerance aims at instilling a spirit of tolerance across the community, building a cohesive society, strengthening the UAE's standing and position as a model of tolerance, as well as renouncing extremism and all forms of discrimination among people on the basis of religion, sex, race, color or language, in addition to honoring all entities and institutions contributing to the promotion of tolerance and open, interfaith dialogue.

Sporting interests

Mohammed is a major figure in international thoroughbred horse racing and breeding. He owns Darley Stud, the biggest horse breeding operation in the world with farms in the United States, Ireland, England, and Australia. In 1985 he bought the Irish thoroughbred Park Appeal for an undisclosed sum at the end of her second season. She went on to produce at least nine winners from twelve foals and is the ancestor of many successful horses.

Mohammed had raced horses as a child (he would share his breakfast with his horse on the way to school) but he attended his first formal race at Newmarket in 1967 with his brother Hamdan, watching Royal Palace win the 2,000 guineas. Becoming an owner in his own right, ten years later he won his first race with Hatta at Brighton. And five years after that, Mohammed and Hamdan had three studs and 100 horses under training.

Racing silks of Mohammed (Darley Racing)

In late 1981, Mohammed purchased Gainsborough Stud at Woolton Hill, near Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom. He owns Ballysheehan Stud in County Tipperary, Ireland; as well as Gainsborough Farm Inc. in Versailles, Kentucky, United States. His racing operations include the ownership of Darley Stables and he is the leading partner in his family's Godolphin Stables. Mohammed hosts the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse.

By 1992, Mohammed had started 'wintering' his horses in Dubai, frequently against the advice of trainers and pundits in the UK. The results were a string of high-profile wins, and by 1994 he founded Godolphin. In 1995, his hands-on approach to racing resulted in a major split with leading trainer Henry Cecil after a disagreement over racing a horse Mohammed insisted was injured. Cecil took the argument public and Mohammed removed all his horses from Cecil's stable.

Godolphin's first win, Balanchine taking the Oaks at Epsom Downs, England, in 1994, was to mark the beginning of a winning streak with horses such as Lammtarra, Daylami, Fantastic Light, Street Cry, Sulamani, Dubawi, and Ramonti among them. Dubai Millennium, said to be Mohammed's favourite, won nine of his ten starts before succumbing to injury followed by grass sickness in 2001.

In 1996, the Dubai World Cup was inaugurated as the world's richest horserace, drawing the legendary American dirt track horse Cigar to race in Dubai. Today, held at the Meydan Racecourse, the race meeting carries a prize of $27 million.

In the UK, Mohammed's horses have won Group One races including several of the British Classic Races. His horses have also won the Irish Derby Stakes, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and, the 2006 Preakness Stakes with Bernardini in the US. In 2008, he bought the Woodlands Stud empire for more than $460 million. The same year, he nearly bought out Charlton Athletic but he later turned down.

Sheikh Mohammed and his son Hamdan participating in an endurance ride

At the age of 63, Mohammed won the 2012 World Endurance Championship over a 160 km course. Both his thoroughbreds and endurance horses have failed drug tests – although his trainers (including Mahmood Al Zarooni) have accepted the blame. His endurance racing stable has also been involved in other scandals, including both fatal injuries, and ringers. In 2015, the FEI suspended the United Arab Emirates following a series of scandals.

In the 15th Asian Games in 2006, the sheikh's eldest son, Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, took the individual gold in endurance riding. Mohammed's sons Rashid, Ahmed, Majid, and Hamdan took the team gold in endurance riding, his niece Latifa took a bronze in show jumping, and his daughter Maitha led the UAE team in taekwondo. In 2013, when the UAE national football team won the Gulf Cup, Mohammed gave the team 50 million dirhams ($13.7 million). His wife awarded the team a further 25 million dirhams ($6.8 million), while their grandsons contributed 12 million dirhams ($3.3 million).

Godolphin's Cross Counter, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy and trained by Charlie Appleby won the 2018 Melbourne Cup.

Controversies

Sheikha Latifa and Sheikha Shamsa kidnapping allegations

Mohammed has three daughters named Latifa. The other two daughters are not connected to this allegation.

An early 2000s British police investigation of allegations, made by a former riding instructor about the attempted escape of Mohammed's daughter Latifa (born 1985) from her family estate in England and the subsequent kidnapping on a street in Cambridge of Latifa's sister Shamsa in 2001, was inconclusive. He has been indicted due to the mistreatment Sheikh Laitfa Al Maktoum since then.

Sheikha Latifa escaped Dubai before being captured in the Indian Ocean.

On 11 March 2018, a video was released of Sheikha Latifa after her failed attempt to flee the UAE and subsequent disappearance, in which she claimed she was fleeing from her family, made allegations of abuse, and said her father was responsible for a number of murders, including the murder of his deceased older brother's wife. The escape attempt was the focus of a documentary by Australian broadcaster Nine News as well as BBC Newsnight investigation.

In December 2018, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, after meeting Latifa in the presence of other family members, said that Latifa was now in the care of her family. Her statement was criticised by human rights groups, who said that Robinson would not have been able to tell in the meeting whether Latifa truly had psychological issues. A spokeswoman for "The Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice" confirmed that Robinson was approached by Latifa's stepmother Princess Haya bint Hussein, an old friend of Robinson's, and was requested to go to Dubai by Princess Haya and that Haya paid the fare, less than two weeks after the BBC ran a documentary detailing Latifa's failed escape attempt in March. Robinson admits she was "horribly tricked" when photographs of the private lunch were made public and that both she and Haya had been told of details of Latifa's bipolar disorder, a condition which she does not have. Latifa's cousin Marcus Essabri reported that Latifa's photos with Mary Robinson seem to show Latifa medicated while held in Dubai under her father's orders.

In February 2021, video footage obtained by the BBC showed Latifa saying she has been "a hostage" for over a year "with no access to medical help" in "solitary confinement" without access to medical or legal help in a "villa jail" with windows and doors barred shut, and guarded by police. The governments of Dubai and the UAE have not responded to requests for comment from the BBC. Despite her family's insistence that she has been enjoying time with them at home the past two years, Latifa says in the series of videos released by her advocates that she is "a hostage" and fears for her life. "Every day, I'm worried about my safety in my life. I don't really know if I'm going to survive this situation. The police threaten me that they would take me outside and shoot me if I didn't cooperate with them," she said. "They also threatened me that I would be in prison my whole life and I'll never see the sun again."

In 2021, investigative reporting into the Pegasus spyware found that Latifa's name was added to a list of names that were potential targets of the spyware just days before she was seized by commandos of an unknown country, off the coast of India, while she was aboard a yacht in an attempt to flee Dubai. A brief statement issued on Latifa's behalf by law firm Taylor Wessing stated that she was free to travel and requested privacy. In the same year the #FreeLatifa campaign ended after Latifa had been photographed in public places such as Dubai, Spain and Iceland.

In February 2022, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, stated that she met Latifa in Paris and that Latifa was well and wished for respect for her privacy.

Princess Haya escape

In June 2019, it was reported that Princess Haya had fled Dubai along with her two children, a son and a daughter, and was in Germany seeking political asylum. A subsequent poem composed by Mohammed (an occasional couplet-writer) and posted on Instagram alluded to betrayal in love. In 2020, a 34-page fact-finding ruling by the UK High Court Family Division found that Princess Haya had been having an affair with her bodyguard. She paid around $9 million to hide the affair.

Haya moved from Germany to the United Kingdom, filed for sole custody of their two children, a forced marriage protection order (FMPO), and a non-molestation order at the High Court of Justice in London in July 2019.

Princess Haya bint Hussein

In December 2019, a UK family court ruled that, on the balance of probabilities, Mohammed may have committed the crime of "taunting" Haya after her adulterous affair with a bodyguard became known, which verbal "taunting," the court held, amounted to subjecting Haya to "a campaign of intimidation," reportedly including guns placed on her pillow. The findings were published in March 2021. In October 2021, the High Court ruled that Mohammed's agents used the Israeli Pegasus spyware to hack the phones of Princess Haya, her solicitors, a personal assistant and two members of her security team in the summer of 2020. The court ruled that the agents acted "with the express or implied authority" of the sheikh; he denied knowledge of the hacking. The judgment referred to the hacking as "serial breaches of (UK) domestic criminal law", "in violation of fundamental common law and ECHR rights", "interference with the process of this court and the mother's access to justice" and "abuse of power" by a head of state.

In December 2021, Haya was granted full custody of her children, and alimony and support in the amount of US$720 million. In 2022, the court ordered that there should be no direct contact between Mohammed and his children, and no input by him into decision-making about their lives.

Child camel jockeys

In September 2006, Mohammed was accused of encouraging the abduction and enslavement of thousands of boys for use as jockeys in camel races. A class-action suit was filed against him in the US state of Florida. In 2006, American lawyers representing the UAE raised a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that none of the involved parties resided in the US, arguing that the UN program best served the interests of the children. In July 2007, Judge Cecilia Altonaga accepted the motion and dismissed the suit.

A 2006 UNICEF-sponsored program with the UAE government resulted in the repatriation of hundreds of children formerly enslaved as camel jockeys, and provided them with social services and compensation upon return to their home countries of Pakistan, Sudan, Mauritania, and Bangladesh. The UAE government set aside US$2.7 million in initial funding in 2005 with an additional $9 million for the second phase, and to enforce compliance, adopted a law officially banning the practice with penalties of jail time and a $27,200 fine. UNICEF endorsed the UAE's efforts and expressed the hopes that "the UAE's programme will serve as a model to other countries in the region, as a means of ending all forms of exploitation of children".

Horse racing drugs scandal

In April 2013, Mohammed's Godolphin stables trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni was disqualified for eight years from thoroughbred horse racing by the British Horseracing Authority for administering steroids to eleven racehorses. Mohammed stated that he was "appalled and angered" by the case and announced that the stable would be locked down while drug tests were carried out on all horses under Al Zarooni's care. In May, Mohammed, as prime minister of the UAE, issued a decree outlawing and criminalizing the use of anabolic steroids on horses in the UAE.

In October 2013, Mohammed faced another scandal in the venue of horseracing, with reports of potentially toxic and dangerous steroids, anaesthetics, and anti-inflammatory drugs being shipped into the UAE, mislabeled as "horse tack". The Telegraph commented that a "PR campaign is already underway, with Sheikh Mohammed again cast as a victim of employee malpractice".

Pandora Papers

In October 2021, an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) revealed that over 330 prominent politicians and public officials across the world had ties with offshore companies. Amongst them were 35 current and former world leaders. The leaked 11.9 million files revealed that Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also used offshore companies to manage and expand his wealth. In order to carry out his dealings, he registered three companies in the tax havens of the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the Bahamas. Registered by an Emirati firm, Axiom Limited, the three companies were Tandem Investco Limited and Tandem DirectorCo Limited in BVI and Allied International Investments Limited in the Bahamas. Partly owned by the Dubai Holding, in which Mohammed owns major shares, Axiom Limited used the three companies to “expand its core business”.

Personal life

Sheikh Mohammed has 26 children from several wives.

One of Sheikh Mohammed's ex-wives is Princess Haya bint Hussein, daughter of former King Hussein of Jordan and half-sister of King Abdullah II of Jordan. In 2022, the High Court of England and Wales ruled and mandated that Sheikh Mohammed must not have direct contact with his children by Princess Haya, or input into decision-making about them, because of his coercive and abusive behaviour which "had emotionally and psychologically harmed their children". On 19 September 2022, he attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey, London.

In addition to Arabic, he also speaks English.

Wealth and assets

In 2021, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project estimated that Sheikh Mohammed owned assets worth $14 billion.

Sheikh Mohammed owns the yacht named Dubai, built by the German company Blohm + Voss and designed by English designer Andrew Winch, who owns Winch Design. The yacht is 162 metres (531 ft) long, and was the world's third largest yacht as of 2014, with the capacity for up to 115 people including crew. Another of his yachts is the 40 metres (130 ft) Alloya, built by Sanlorenzo in 2013.

Sheikh Mohammed owns real estate in the United Kingdom worth more than 100 million British pounds, as well as properties in Rome through a company registered in Luxembourg. According to a 2021 analysis by The Guardian and Transparency International, Sheikh Mohammed is one of the largest landowners in the UK, owning more than 100,000 acres. The exact number of properties is not known, as most of the properties connected to him are owned through offshore companies in the tax havens of Guernsey and Jersey. When asked about these holdings, Sheikh Mohammed's lawyer rejected that the properties were bought through offshore companies or that the holdings were intended to avoid UK taxes.

In the 2021 Pandora Papers leaks, it was revealed that Sheikh Mohammed was a shareholder in three additional companies registered in jurisdictions allowing secrecy.

Wives and children

Mohammad has been married to at least eleven women. As of 2023, he is divorced from all his wives except his first wife, Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Al Maktoum.

Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum

Mohammed and Hind married in 1979. The couple are first cousins. Together they have 12 children:

  • Sheikha Hessa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 6 November 1980). She is married to Sheikh Saeed bin Dalmook Al Maktoum and they have three children:
    • Sheikha Hind bint Saeed Al Maktoum (born 25 November 2009).
    • Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (born 20 May 2012).
    • Sheikha Salama bint Saeed Al Maktoum (born 17 July 2018).
  • Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (12 November 1981 – 19 September 2015). Sheikh Rashid has one son:
    • Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (born 18 November 2004).
  • Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 14 November 1982), Crown Prince of Dubai (since 2008), Deputy Prime Minister of UAE (since 2024), and Defence Minister of UAE (since 2024). He is married to Sheikha Shaikha bint Saeed bin Thani Al Maktoum. He has three children:
    • Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum (born 20 May 2021).
    • Sheikha Shaikha bint Hamdan Al Maktoum (born 20 May 2021).
    • Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamdan Al Maktoum (born 25 February 2023).
  • Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 24 November 1983), First Deputy Ruler of Dubai (since 2008), Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE (since 2021), UAE Minister of Finance (since 2021). He is married to Sheikha Maryam bint Butti bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, and they have three daughters:
    • Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Al Maktoum (born 24 November 2020).
    • Sheikha Latifa bint Maktoum Al Maktoum (born 11 January 2022).
    • Sheikha Shaikha bint Maktoum Al Maktoum (born 25 January 2023).
  • Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 7 February 1987), Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai (since 2023). He is married to Sheikha Madiyah bint Dalmook Al Maktoum. They have one daughter:
    • Sheikha Hind bint Ahmed Al Maktoum (born 22 October 2022).
  • Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 20 March 1988).
  • Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (III) (born 30 March 1989). She is married to Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, and they have five children:
    • Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 29 December 2009).
    • Sheikha Aisha bint Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 1 November 2011).
    • Sheikha Fatima bint Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 11 March 2014).
    • Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 15 December 2015).
    • Sheikha Hind bint Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 22 June 2020).
  • Sheikha Maryam bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (II) (born 11 January 1992). She is married to Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, and they have three sons:
    • Sheikh Mohammed bin Khaled Al Nahyan (born 25 September 2020).
    • Sheikh Hamdan bin Khaled Al Nahyan (born 25 August 2021).
    • Sheikh Khalifa bin Khaled Al Nahyan (born 10 October 2022).
  • Sheikha Sheikha bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 20 December 1992). She is married to Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and they have five children:
    • Sheikha Sheema bint Nasser Al Khalifa (born 16 July 2010).
    • Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser Al Khalifa (born 6 June 2012).
    • Sheikh Mohammed bin Nasser Al Khalifa (born 6 June 2012).
    • Sheikh Hamdan bin Nasser Al Khalifa (born 28 October 2018).
    • Sheikh Khalid bin Nasser Al Khalifa (born 15 February 2022).
  • Sheikha Futtaim bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 22 July 1994).
  • Sheikha Salamah bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 8 August 1999).
  • Sheikha Shamma bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 13 November 2001).

Haya bint Hussein

Sheikh Mohammed married Princess Haya bint Hussein on 10 April 2004, and they divorced on 7 February 2019. They have two children:

  • Sheikha Al Jalila bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 2 December 2007).
  • Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 7 January 2012).

Randa bint Mohammad Al-Banna

The sheikh married Randa bint Mohammed Al-Banna in 1972. Mohammed and Randa later divorced. They have one daughter:

  • Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 12 November 1977). She is married to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and they have five children:
    • Sheikha Fatima bint Mansour Al Nahyan (born 9 June 2006).
    • Sheikh Mohammed bin Mansour Al Nahyan (born 4 December 2007).
    • Sheikh Hamdan bin Mansour Al Nahyan (born 21 June 2011).
    • Sheikha Latifa bint Mansour Al Nahyan (born 23 January 2014).
    • Sheikh Rashid bin Mansour Al Nahyan (born 22 March 2017).

Delila Aloula

Mohammed has three daughters from his marriage to Delila Aloula:

  • Sheikha Dalal bint Mohammed Al Maktoum
  • Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (I) (born 16 June 1983). She is married to Sheikh Faisal bin Saud bin Khalid Al Qassimi and they have four children:
    • Sheikh Mohammed bin Faisal Al Qassimi (born 28 July 2018).
    • Sheikha Shaikha bint Faisal Al Qassimi (born 29 October 2020).
    • Sheikh Hamdan bin Faisal Al Qassimi (born 24 December 2021).
    • Sheikha Hind bint Faisal Al Qassimi (born 14 May 2023).
  • Sheikha Maryam bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (I) (born 11 August 1987). She is married to Sheikh Suhail bin Ahmed Al Maktoum and they have four children:
    • Sheikha Fatima bint Suhail Al Maktoum (born 26 September 2019).
    • Sheikh Ahmed bin Suhail Al Maktoum (born 1 December 2020).
    • Sheikha Latifa bint Suhail Al Maktoum (born 17 February 2022).
    • Sheikha Hessa bint Suhail Al Maktoum (born 3 February 2024)

Houria Ahmed Lamara

From his marriage to Houria Ahmed Lamara, Mohammed has five children:

Umm Marwan

Mohammed has a son with one of his former wives:

  • Sheikh Marwan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 20 March 1981). He is married to Dalal Al Marzouqi and they have two sons:
    • Sheikh Mohammed bin Marwan Al Maktoum
    • Sheikh Rashid bin Marwan Al Maktoum (born 18 June 2013)

Zoe Grigorakos

Mohammed has one daughter from his marriage to Zoe Grigorakos:

  • Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 26 February 1994). She was married to Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum from 2023 until her divorce in 2024.
    • Sheikha Mahra bint Mana Al Maktoum (born 1 May 2024)

Dalya Al Muthanna

Sheikh Mohammed was married to Dr. Dalya Al Muthanna, They have one daughter:

  • Sheikha Haya bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 1 October 2000)

Honours

Ancestry

Ancestors of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
8. Sheikh Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum
4. Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum
2. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
5. Sheikha Hassa bint Al Marr
1. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
12. Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
6. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan
3. Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan
14. Sheikh Obaid bin Mejren
7. Sheikha Shamseh bint Obaid bin Mejren

See also

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Further reading

  • Maktoum, Mohammed (2012). My Vision: Challenges in the Race for Excellence. UAE: Motivate. ISBN 978-1-86063-344-7. Vision for governance.
  • Maktoum, Mohammed (2012). Spirit of the Union. UAE: Motivate. ISBN 978-1-86063-330-0. Talks about UAE independence & union.
  • Maktoum, Mohammed (2013). Flashes of Thought. UAE: Motivate. ISBN 978-1-86063-356-0. A number of insights into policy, attitude & approach to leadership.
  • Dubai The Maktoum Story by John M. Smith; in English; a book which criticizes the governance of Sheikh Mohammed

External links

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum House of Al MaktoumBorn: 15 July 1949
Regnal titles
Preceded byMaktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Ruler of Dubai
2006–present
Incumbent
Heir:
Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Political offices
Preceded byMaktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Prime Minister and Vice President
of the United Arab Emirates

2006–present
Incumbent
Preceded byKhalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Acting President of the United Arab Emirates
2022
Succeeded byMohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
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