Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates Date of Birth: 22.06.1949 Country: UAE

Biography of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Dubai. He was born as the third of four sons to Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. From the age of four, he studied Arabic and Islam under the guidance of private tutors before receiving formal education in 1955. In 1966, he was sent to the United Kingdom to attend Bell Educational Trust's English Language School, accompanied by his cousin Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Maktoum.

In 1979, Sheikh Mohammed married his first wife, Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum. Among his other wives, Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, the daughter of Hussein bin Talal and step-sister of Abdullah II, the previous and current kings of Jordan, is the most well-known. Currently, Sheikh Mohammed has 21 officially recognized children - 8 sons and 12 daughters.

Both Sheikh Mohammed and his children are passionate about traditional Arab arts, including poetry. The entire family actively participates in projects that provide aid to developing countries such as Jordan, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, and Yemen. The Al Maktoum clan also shares a love for sports, particularly horse and camel racing. In the 2006 Asian Games, Rashid Al Maktoum won gold medals in both individual and team endurance races, alongside his brothers Ahmed, Majid, and Hamdan.

Sheikh Mohammed is also an accomplished and renowned horse breeder, earning him the reputation as one of the world's largest and most successful racing and breeding figures. On January 3, 1995, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum appointed Mohammed as the Crown Prince of Dubai. Under his leadership, iconic landmarks such as the Burj Al Arab hotel and the Palm Islands were built. Sheikh Mohammed also oversaw the construction of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest standalone building in the world.

In his role as Crown Prince, Mohammed founded Dubai Holding, a conglomerate known for its vast financial wealth and significant debt burden, currently 99.67% owned by Sheikh Mohammed. On January 4, 2006, Sheikh Mohammed became the official ruler of Dubai following the passing of his older brother, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The next day, he was appointed as the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, a position approved by the members of the country's Federal National Council upon the recommendation of the President.

Sheikh Mohammed is widely recognized for his active involvement in various charitable projects. In May 2007, he pledged $10 billion to an educational charity project in the Middle East, aiming to bridge the gap between the Arab region and the civilized world. As of June 2010, Forbes estimated Sheikh Mohammed's net worth at $12.3 billion.