Hamdan bin Mohammed Rashid al. Prince from an oriental fairy tale. The prince's personal life according to Wikileaks

Being one of 13 children, and not the eldest, on February 1, 2008 Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum was nevertheless announced crown prince Dubai. The devilishly attractive prince instantly became the object of media attention, and his personal Instagram has not thousands, but millions of subscribers. So who is he, the chosen one of fate?

Hamdan is 34 years old today, and his life is definitely not boring and far from idle. In addition to the official positions that a newly-crowned crown prince is entitled to (chairman of the Executive Council of the City of Dubai, head of the hedge fund HN Capital LLP, head of the Young Entrepreneurs Support League and president of the university), Hamdan has many hobbies to which he devotes his free time.

The Crown Prince manages to practice falconry, cycling, attends horse racing, diving, skydiving, and even writes poetry under the pseudonym Fazza. And at home, on his magnificent estate, the prince is waiting not only for his family, but also for his exotic pets, including camels, white tigers and lions. Hamdan also owns several thoroughbred stallions that regularly win races.

Of course, the Crown Prince is no stranger to the desire for luxury - he often travels around incredible beautiful places planet, stops only in the most best hotels, and also travels on his own yacht or in one of his many expensive cars. Not only is the prince fabulously rich, he is also very attractive and is still unmarried, which makes him one of the most eligible bachelors on the planet. Moreover, Hamdan is known for his excellent education and desire to help those in need - the prince devotes a lot of time to charity, helping sick children, the disabled and sponsoring hospitals.

I was looking for this post and decided to create it myself. from the series I Can't Be Silent. Well, a lot of things have accumulated: ozone holes, everything... again, recently here the Arab princes were included in some kind of war... It immediately became clear that the one who was deprived of this title was called a prince...

Girls, the affairs of the Arab crown are not inferior in complexity to the intrigues of the Magnificent Century. Moreover, I am oriented only in the affairs of the Emirate of Dubai. and there are not one or two emirates in the UAE.

Why is this interesting to me (and to you) - because the sheikhs there are quite pie-in-the-sky. Because there really is a serpentarium - two. and because this information is not available ANYWHERE in Russian at all. Even in the family’s fan community on VKontakte (several tens of thousands of readers, by the way), completely false information has been posted.

Therefore, I consider myself practically a torch, amen. let's get started.

Sheikh of Dubai - Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. He is many years old and a very popular man. He was born in 1949, which does not prevent him from having youngest son aged 3 years. Well done? Well done. Dubai recently celebrated 10 years of his reign and everyone cried with happiness. But here, by the way, I have nothing to argue with - Mohammed is a great man who made oil work for people. Imagine, it turns out that with petrodollars it was possible to build an oasis of tourism and trade in the desert. We didn’t even know (#mohammed_where_you_before_before)!

The Sheikh's eldest son is the unknown Sheikh Marwan, born in 1981. he lives in London and does not look like an Arab at all, because he was born of a German mother. but his children (as is expected with recessive inheritance) are Arabs, no matter what. Marwan is not even listed in the line of succession, although he is welcomed in the family. So he's a good person)

the second son of the sheikh is Sheikh Rashid, who tragically died in September 2015. He was 33. By the way, the emphasis is on the first syllable without variations, because in Arabic spelling there is only one vowel in this name) I found a way to unobtrusively show you that I know Arabic))))

The story with Sheikh Rashid is very dark and the truth will never be revealed to us. Officially, until 2011 (!), he was the heir to the throne. Sheikh Rashid was with his father everywhere and believe me - of all the sons, it was Rashid who succeeded the best. I would say this is the top of the “breed”, the brightest diamond, the most obvious leader. It was such power, such a magnet - you had to see it! But something terrible happened - Rashid turned out to be a “difficult passenger.” According to documents that are still on WikiLeaks, Sheikh Rashid was not only a drug addict, he also accidentally (?!) killed a servant in the palace. What is “haram” is a terrible monstrous sin.

For me, this was the character to rule the country, it just had to be trimmed. But Sheikh Rashid literally disappears from everywhere after this story. For some time he still occupies minor commercial positions, however, he soon loses this too. It is not shown anywhere else, so that, God forbid, a carefully erased old case does not come to light. In September, Rashid dies official version from a heart attack (I believe), according to the sub-version (I’m sure it was allowed by the palace service) he was shot in the battles for his homeland. The second version is categorically excluded, because Rashid was not allowed anywhere at all, so as not to shine and remind. I think for him (with his obvious arch-ambitiousness) it was a colossal blow, and it is not yet known whether everything turned out so tragically precisely because of this.

By the way, for the whole family, the death of Rashid became a terrible tragedy; the healthy men and brothers shed tears without being embarrassed by anything. Hamdan, I was actually afraid he would lose consciousness, he was shaking so much. Then I remember how the Windsor boys didn’t shed a tear at Diana’s funeral. Not as a reproach. I just think how different temperaments are!

in 2011, Crown Prince Hamdan is introduced to the world. his image is so sterile that I don’t believe a single word. Thanks to his service to the palace, he is known to the world under the pseudonym Fazza (faz3) - I won’t translate from Arabic what Fazza means, otherwise I’ll get confused. Fazza as a person is a poet, philanthropist, a lover of children, a defender of animals... by the way, his poems are the same as the image, it is impossible to read.

Fazza is the sterile, perfect image of Hamdan, polished to a shine, and only he himself knows what he really is. if he remembers of course.

But if he doesn’t remember, it’s okay, I remember)))

(hamdan on the right, next to Rashid)

Before becoming the heir, Fazza was an overweight (all Al Maktoums are very prone to being overweight), an extremely pimply youth, who made facial expressions a la Tarkan in front of the camera. Now they have knocked it out of him - they explained that with a romantic look he looks like a m....k, so he needs to frown menacingly. Working it out.

how the palace erases Hamdan’s photos is just a fairy tale) it’s almost impossible to catch unphotoshopped frames online, they don’t eat their bread in vain, however, here are a couple of samples of what Superman-Hamdan really looks like)))

Hamdan has a fiancée (a cousin, of course - that’s how it is, it’s okay), however, there are persistent rumors that the engagement has been broken off and he supposedly has a girlfriend. Now get ready for a flood of sugar in honey.

This means, according to “rumours” kindly spread by the palace service, Hamdan’s bride is a refugee from hot spots, whom he met when he worked as a volunteer distributing lunches for the homeless. This is such a fucking profanity that I almost cried with happiness when I first read it. Oh, almighty palace service - to what other heights will you reach? I don’t know who this is intended for - 10th graders? I can only say that even words such as "girl" in Arabic No. Dating is haram. If you like it, you'll get married. If you don't like it, move on. Here we all humbly remain silent about the famous parties with girls in the palace. keep quiet, I say! And we admire the glossy Hamdan with the approved skin tone “sexy number 6”.

The next son of the Sheikh (all from the same wife Hind - she, poor thing, gave him as many as 12 offspring) is Sheikh Maktoum. You can’t tell, but in general he’s only 32. He will be the vice-ruler of Dubai and seems to me the only sane member of the family. I like him very much, his English friend plays a significant role in this, who occasionally posts very touching photos with Maktoum, where he cuts a cake at a birthday party or goes skiing with friends. not a Superman look, not a poser look. It’s even strange - our man is right behind enemy lines.

Despite his very visible role in Dubai (and by the way, the father mostly goes everywhere with Maktoum, and not with Hamdan), Maktoum is very closed and uncommunicative with the press. It’s impossible to find a video with him even if you search in Arabic.

Sheikh Ahmed (emphasis is also on the first syllable because there are no more vowels) is the next son. local clown and my favorite. I look at him every time and can’t believe that one day they will trust him with something.

The palace's PR service carefully polishes his image and even came up with a nickname for him - Azzam. Something like "decisive" in Arabic. I’m laughing out loud now, because Ahmed seems to me to be the most natural stoner and hedonist. Like all his brothers, he was initially awesome handsome guy(the al-Maktums have the right genes), however, he gained weight. I wonder how much effort it takes Hamdan to stay in shape?

my favorite))

Ahmed performs the nominal functions of somewhere as a chairman, somewhere as a presenter... he does this with an invariably bored face, and the last thing that turned him on was the dancing of Arab actresses at some charity performance. Because of my studies, I constantly watch the news in their dialect and always eagerly wait for Ahmed to touch the Christmas tree? Touched. I was once again convinced that he is completely crazy and probably a pervert))) but in a series of sterile brothers, I find him extremely attractive.

The palace is diligently destroying all non-Photoshopped images online, so enjoy it while you can. In his youth, Ahmed loved to apply eyeliner. It's disco, baby)))

There is also Sheikh Said, born in 1988, however, he is a very strange character, fortunately, he hardly appears anywhere, because he has such a look... I would hide such a boy (which is what the palace does). I don't know anything about him. Either he did something wrong or he is not ambitious.

And finally, two more sons - from his wife from Morocco, although Russian-language sources mistakenly attribute the boys to different ladies. We probably won’t take our daughters, otherwise we won’t leave here (although the sheikh’s daughters are also wow!).

So, a wife from Morocco gave Sheikh Mohammed two rather prominent sons.

The first is Sheikh Majid. Let him appearance Don't deceive you, Prince William has thick hair in comparison. Just trust me.

Majid is 28 years old, and everything was in Swiss chocolate until he decided to marry a girl, Hesse, from, by the way, not the simplest family. The Al Maktums did not approve of this marriage to such an extent that a - they did not show up, b - after the wedding, Majid became a figurehead and moved to the second row at events, BEHIND all the other brothers and even his own younger brother. They didn't save the guy))

Majid is the only one of all the sheikh’s sons who is married and already has two children. he named his daughter Dubai (?!), which in the process finished off the palace, because no one congratulated him on the birth of his children on his social accounts. And they are all more than active online.

Sheikh Mansur - whom everyone here recently discussed on the main page, when he led the fire extinguishing of the Address Hotel. Mohammed's final work. Mansur is 26 years old, and since he was born from the same mother as Majid, he is also rapidly going bald.

photo proof. In this photo, Mansur is participating in a charity match with disabled people and coquettishly combs the rest of his hair forward. I need to tell him that this is also fashionable here.

although the Arabs generally don’t have much hair on their heads. It is, as it were, compensated by vegetation on the body))) By the way, Mansur’s body is unearthly and mutual love. He is practically Mr. Universe, which at least somehow compensates for his completely Bedouin appearance. Mansur is the only prince who travels to hot spots, but I assure you - only after they have cooled down)))

Mansur is the owner of some fabulous car park with Ferrari Lamborghini Bentley and whatever else. There is a report about this on YouTube, although in Arabic. but the picture is Speaks for Itself. The Sheikh's car number is D8. D - Dubai, 8 - the eighth man in the family (the first is Sam).

The sheikh gave birth to another son - three-year-old Zayed famous princess Haya. the one who fights for women's rights all over the world, while happily being in a polygamous marriage, and who insists on the fight against smoking, and then stealthily smokes at the races. I have no complaints about Princess Haya, I think she did everything right in life)

Last thing. Who is Sheikh Nasser? An outrageously playboy-looking sheikh of Bahrain, married to one of Mohammed's daughters. They have three children. I couldn’t help but include him here, because Sheikh Nasser was very successful.

I guess that's all. I have tired you out quite a bit with my libations, although believe me, it took me a lot of effort to restrain myself and I didn’t tell even a third of the story)

love you. I hope you won't be confused now)

Reminds me of a “real fairy tale”. It is generally accepted that they bask in luxury, denying themselves nothing. Comfortable planes, yachts, cars for the heirs to the throne in the UAE are a familiar and commonplace phenomenon. They can have fun as they please. However, the older generation royal dynasties instills in his offspring not only a love of pompous recreation, but also develops in them a talent for wise rule in the state, so that it prospers every year, and its inhabitants feel secure and happy.

It was in this spirit that 33-year-old Prince Hamdan was brought up. He prefers active image life, skillfully distributing time between government affairs and his hobbies. Perhaps this is the secret that today the Principality of Dubai is an economic miracle of the 21st century? Thanks to whom could it appear on the territory of the UAE? Naturally, thanks to the competent policies of the ruling elite. And, of course, Dubai made its contribution to this process. How does he manage to properly combine work and rest so that he has enough time for both? Let's consider this issue in more detail.

History of the dynasty

Not many people know that the mentioned Prince of Dubai is the son Arab sheikh Mohamed Al Maktoum. The heir's father is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the Emirates. Historiographers claim that the sheikh’s ancestry originates from the ancient Bani Yas tribes, who lived in areas where the cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai are currently located.

The Arab principality of Dubai was founded by Sheikh Maktoun bin Butta in 1833. Since then this ancient family and rules over them.

Curriculum Vitae

The thirty-three-year-old Prince of Dubai was born on November 14, 1982. It should be noted that he is not the only heir in the family. Sheikh Hamdan has 9 sisters and 6 brothers. In his homeland, the boy studied at one of the private colleges.

He spent his youth in Western Europe, namely in Great Britain, where he received an excellent education. First, the Prince of Dubai gnawed on the granite of science at a military school ground forces, located in Sanghdhurst, England. Then he graduated college of Economics in London, and upon returning home - the School of Administration in Dubai.

Government activities

The Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan, began ruling the principality on February 1, 2008, after his older brother “abdicated the throne.” In fairness, it should be noted that the parents assumed a similar outcome of the matter, so they prepared their son in advance for the fact that he would take the reins of government of the principality into his own hands.

And Prince Hamdan of Dubai lived up to the expectations placed on him: he is actively involved in political life home country, trying not to miss a single congress and summit.

Back in 2006, he was offered the position of head of the Emirate's Executive Council. In charge young man included monitoring and oversight of government agencies. In this responsible position, Crown Prince of Dubai Hamdan developed and invited his colleagues to accept strategic plan development of the Emirate for the coming years, which was done. The young manager showed his business qualities in another position - the head of the Sports Council of the Emirate of Dubai. He was also entrusted with leading the Institute of Young Entrepreneurs.

Social projects

Sheikh Hamdan spends a lot of time solving problems social nature. In particular, he funds several programs aimed at helping children and animals, often attending charity events. The Crown Prince even heads a specialized autism center in the Emirates.

Despite his high position and social status occupied in society, Sheikh Hamdan in life is a modest man who does not boast of his regalia and merits. That is why he earned great authority among the people.

Hobby

Dubai Hamdan has a lot of hobbies. He loves to roam the open spaces Persian Gulf on scooters and water skis. The young man is also interested in underwater world having fun practicing scuba diving.

Not everyone knows that the sheikh prefers to spend his time falconry. He likes skydiving. He usually does this over the artificial island. Prince is no stranger to jumping for a long time - long months of training take their toll.

Extreme

In addition, the heir to the throne in Dubai once experienced an ultra-modern aircraft JETLEV-FLYER, which operates in the air thanks to the power of giant jets of water. The young man was able to rise up and “soar” against the backdrop of the famous seven-star hotel called Burj al Arab. Sheikh Hamdan loves to get a good dose of adrenaline from time to time.

The heir to the throne is, among other things, an experienced horse rider. He participated in horse racing many times and repeatedly won prizes at prestigious competitions. In particular, the sheikh took first place at the Asian Olympic Games.

He spends fabulous money on purchasing camels, honoring Bedouin traditions.

And, of course, the royal offspring cannot do without traveling. However, he is more interested in extreme tourism. So, the Prince of Dubai has already gone to African continent, where I hunted lions with a photo gun. He also visited Russian Federation. In our country, he became more familiar with the traditions of falconry.

Romantic and altruist

Another unusual hobby of Sheikh Hamdan is poetry. The young man inherited it from his father. The prince composes on romantic and patriotic themes. He creates his poems under the pseudonym Fazza (“success in everything”). Moreover, his talent as a poet has already been noted by the public.

The heir to the throne of Dubai's hobbies also include doing good deeds, that is, helping people. He is one of the participants in the creation of the Society without Borders structure, the purpose of which is to provide support to people with disabilities.

Back in 2006, the prince initiated the “Integration” project, which was supposed to help members of society with disabilities simplify integration into the social environment.

The Sheikh also took care of strengthening road safety, increasing penalties for those drivers who ignore the rules traffic. At the same time, persistent violators will be deprived driver's license for up to 6 months.

Relationships with the opposite sex

Of course, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan, is every girl’s dream, and given that he is charming, handsome and smart, then a whole line of representatives of the fairer sex will line up in an attempt to win his heart. However oriental men wayward, temperamental, and the heir to the throne is no exception.

At the same time, the young man keeps the details of his personal life secret. Would girls give a lot to find out who the wife of the Prince of Dubai is? Previously, the press wrote that the heart of the “heir to the throne” is not occupied by anyone.

The media also mentioned that the sheikh imposes quite strict requirements on his potential chosen one, these are the traditions of the East. However, religion allows the sheikh to have as many wives as he wants, so it is quite difficult to talk about his love interests. Formally, women in the Emirates are not infringed on their rights, but they still dominate here, so the wife is obliged to unquestioningly obey her husband.

And yet, after some time, he revealed the secret of his personal life, saying that his engagement took place in infancy. This is the odious statement that the Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan, once made! The wife of the heir to the throne is his cousin on the maternal side. Her name is Sheikha bint Saeed bin Thani al-Maktoum. Newspapers several times published photographs in which the young man was captured with a stranger, whose face was hidden from prying eyes.

Next, we offer a look at how the Crown Prince of Dubai, Hamdan bin Mohammed al-Maktoum, spends his time. The 33-year-old man not only finds time for relaxation in his busy schedule, but also engages in charity work, sports, and regularly holds meetings with his employees.

The prince loves animals very much

Horses are the main passion of Hamdan ibn Mohammed al-Maktoum. He not only owns his own stable, but also represents the honor of the country on the world stage. For example, among his achievements is gold at the World Equestrian Games in France in 2014. In addition, the heir to the Dubai sheikh supports several charitable foundations helping animals.

Takes care of everyone

Charity and helping people in general are on the list of priorities for the new Aladdin.

Supports special people

Taking the title of Prince, Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum became the honorary patron of the Autism Research Center in Dubai. He actively participates in the life of several children's funds and purchases medical equipment.

Open to the world

It seems that the prince has a place in his heart for everyone. Under his patronage, various sports tournaments are held in Dubai, for example Nad Al Sheba. And he always finds time for communication and a kind word.

Looks up to the worthy

And he does not shy away from sitting in a wheelchair himself and competing with special people equally. "The daily achievements of people with special needs“The source of my inspiration, because they demonstrate what can be achieved with willpower and perseverance,” admits the prince after a friendly basketball match with the UAE Special Needs Team.

Performs daily feats

The prince also heads the Dubai Sports Committee, so his responsibility is to involve the youngest in sports.

Is enthusiastic about the job

IN ordinary life Prince Hamdan doesn't stand out too much: he loves baseball caps and sportswear. And he always takes part in city events, for example, in the yoga festival. Or helping organize the annual Dubai Marathon.

Leads by example

The prince does not miss the opportunity to show his class himself. What is it like, despite the titles, to take part in the unusual Spartan Dubai Race? Easily!

Supports young talents

Sheikh Hamdan al-Maktoum is seriously interested in photography and even founded international competition photographs Hamdan International Photography Award with an annual prize fund of about 400 thousand US dollars - the largest among competitions of this kind. The prince-poet calls photographers a ray of hope, who, with their creativity and vision, illuminate the path to a bright future for humanity.

Remains the most eligible bachelor

The sheikh's heir not only wins awards for Dubai, attracts investors, does charity work and loves extreme sports. He is modest, smart and well-mannered. Ideal image eastern prince. By the way, Hamdan ibn Mohammed al-Maktoum is still not married.

Officially, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Commander-in-Chief of the UAE Armed Forces.

In fact, the Emir of Abu Dhabi, the President of the UAE.

Third son of Sheikh Zayed. An interesting point is that he and Khalifa are half-brothers. Khalifa was born to his first wife, Hassa bint Mohammed ibn Khalifa. Sheikh Mohammed ibn Zayed was born to his third wife, Fatima bint Mubarak Al-Ketbi.

Sheikhin Fatima bint-Mubarak Al-Ketbi had only 6 sons: Muhammad, Hamdan, Hazza, Tanun, Mansur and Abdula. They are called “Bani Fatima” or “sons of Fatima”, they form the most influential bloc in the Al-Nahyan family.

Fatima's sons have always been influential; some political scientists even assign them a leading role in the changes in Abu Dhabi that have occurred since 2004. They received full power only in 2014, when Sheikh Khalifa suffered a stroke. Now it’s difficult to say whether the vector of their internal and foreign policy. Wait and see.

Mohammed ibn Zayed studied at school in Al Ain, then in Abu Dhabi. Entered Sandhurst Academy (UK) in 1979. Trained in military skills of helicopter piloting, driving armored vehicles, and parachute jumping. After returning from England, passed military training in Sharjah, became an officer in the UAE Armed Forces.

Was an officer in the Amiri Guards ( elite unit), a UAE Air Force pilot, and eventually became the Commander-in-Chief of the UAE Armed Forces.

In 2003, he was proclaimed the second Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. After the death of his father on November 2, 2004, he became crown prince. Since December 2004, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, member of the Supreme Petroleum Council.

For now, world leaders and political scientists are keeping an eye on Sheikh Mohammed. He is known to believe that the UAE should play a much larger role in world politics. He loves falconry, like his father. He is interested in poetry and writes poetry himself in the Nabati style.

Sheikhin Fatima bint Mubarak Al-Ketbi

Third wife of Sheikh Zayed, mother of six of his sons, including Crown Prince Mohammed (de facto ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE).

This woman played a large role in UAE politics during the reign of her husband Sheikh Zayed, and remains very influential to this day. She is called “Mother of the Nation”.

The exact date of her birth is unknown. She was probably born in the mid-40s in . In the 60s she married Zaid Al-Nahyan, becoming his third wife.

In 1973, she founded the Abu Dhabi Women's Awakening Society, the first women's public organization in the UAE. In 1975 she created and headed Main Union UAE women. The main area of ​​interest of these organizations was education, because at that time girls in the UAE did not study at all. In 2004, Fatima facilitated the appointment of the first female minister.

Now she still heads the Main Women's Union, the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the Family Development Foundation and several other organizations. And this despite his advanced age! Naturally, Fatima has a gigantic influence on the policies of Sheikh Mohammed and the affairs of Bani Fatima.

Dubai

The Emirate of Dubai is ruled by the Al Muktoum family.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Muktum

Ruling Emir (officially since January 4, 2006, actually since January 3, 1995), Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE since February 11, 2006.

Sheikh Mohammed is called “The Architect modern Dubai" He is a very well-rounded man and is now the most famous leader in the UAE.

Mohammed became the third son of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid ibn Saeed Al-Muktum. His mother Lafita was the daughter of the ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Hamadan ibn Zayed Al Nahyan. As a child, Muhammad received both secular and traditional Islamic education. In 1966 (at the age of 18) he studied in the UK at the Mons Cadet Corps and in Italy to become a pilot.

In 1968, Mohammed attended his father's meeting with Sheikh Zayed at Argub al-Sedira, where the rulers of Dubai and Abu Dhabi agreed on the imminent creation of the UAE. After the formation of the UAE, he was Minister of Defense and head of the Dubai Police.

On October 7, 1990, Muhammad's father and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid ibn Said, died. Power passed to the eldest son, Sheikh Muktum ibn Rashid, who was very fond of equestrian sports and was an excellent athlete, but was not drawn to politics and management.

On January 4, 1995, Muktum ibn Rashid appoints Mohammed as crown prince and, in fact, transfers power to him in the emirate of Dubai. On January 4, 2006, Muktum ibn Rashid died of a heart attack, Mohammed ibn Rashid became the official ruler of Dubai.

The list of achievements of Muhammad ibn Rashid is enormous. He diversified the economy of Dubai, now oil revenues account for only 4% of the emirate’s GDP, Dubai has become a shopping “mecca”, second only to London, the largest trading and financial center.

With his support or on his initiative, the following were created: the Emirates airline, the artificial islands of Palm and World, the world's largest artificial harbor of Jebel Ali, the Dubai Internet City zone and hundreds of other projects.

He became famous for his raids on enterprises, where he personally checked whether employees were in their places and fired those who were absent. Sheikh Mohammed ibn Rashid is famous for his intolerance of corruption; during his rule, hundreds of officials caught in bribes and using their positions for personal gain were sent to prison.

Now (note: the article was updated in the fall of 2019) he is already 70 years old, but he is full of energy and is successfully implementing his Dubai development plan until 2021. He recently took part in the Arab Strategic Forum, and you can't tell he's 70.