1 February 2008
DUBAI - His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, has issued a decree in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, appointing Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as Crown Prince of Dubai.
The decree went into effect yesterday. It shall be published in the official gazette.
Shaikh Mohammed also issued a decree, naming Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum as Deputy Rulers of Dubai, as of February 1, 2008.
Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed is the chairman of the Dubai Executive Council which is entrusted with the task of overseeing Dubai Government entities.
Under his leadership, the council has achieved a number of significant milestones including the announcement of the Dubai Government strategy in February 2007, which laid the roadmap for the emirate’s development.
Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed is mandated to ensure proper implementation of government projects within the agreed deadlines. In addition to overseeing different movement committees and following up on the daily functions, his responsibilities include giving direction to the government’s drive to enhance performance.
Born on November 14, 1982, Shaikh Hamdan studied at the Rashid Private School, Dubai. After graduating, he went to the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in the United Kingdom, one of the finest military schools in the world. He has attended specialised courses at the London School of Economics and the Dubai School of Government.
Shaikh Hamdan possesses statesmanlike characteristics and unique leadership qualities that he has acquired from his father Shaikh Mohammed.
Shaikh Hamdan is also the president of Dubai Sports Council, Dubai Autism Centre and Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders.
An accomplished horse-rider, Shaikh Hamdan has won several awards at local and international endurance races, including the gold medal at the Asian Games.
He has a passion for poetry.
Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was born on November 24,1983. He completed the Secondary education at Rashid Private School in Dubai, and graduated from the American University in Dubai with BSc in Business Administration. He attended many training courses at Dubai College for Government Administration and Harvard University.
He has been holding the posts of Chairman of Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority (DTMFZA) since 2002 and chairman of Dubai Media Corporation, and has contributed to putting the name of the UAE on the world map of technology and media.
In the light of the vision of leading the sagacious emirate, and commitment to his directives and his continuous follow-up on the progress of its different establishments, the DTMFZA has managed to set up a number of significant projects, foremost being the Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and the Knowledge Village.
A range of major initiatives has come out as a result of these projects, which boosted the image of the country as a pioneering centre and hub of technology and media, not only in the Middle East, but also at the international level.
Due to his personal follow-up on the work progress in DTMFZA, Dubai Internet city has become the biggest-ever specialist hi-tech gathering in the Arab countries, while Dubai Media City has succeeded in establishing its position as a hub for the media in the region and home to nearly 1,200 companies belonging to famous Arab and international personalities in this field.
The success was followed by the establishment of new projects such as Dubai Studio City and the International Zone for Media Production, adding new scopes for the growing community of media, which found the suitable environment and climate to surge ahead. Many countries have sought cooperation with the Free Zone Authority for Technology and Media to benefit from its experiences in founding similar specialist communities.
Shaikh Maktoum enjoys the qualities of young, open-minded leadership. He has made taken important humanitarian initiatives, foremost being the Dubai Cares fundraising initiative aimed at providing the basic education to more than million child in the developing countries.
