Sheikh Hamdan marks 14 years as the Crown Prince of Dubai

Tuesday, February 1, marked the fourteenth anniversary of accession of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as the Crown Prince of Dubai. It was on the same day (February 1, 2008), that Sheikh Hamdan’s brother Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also assumed office as the Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

Over the years, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, has become a well-loved public figure in the UAE and beyond. Sheikh Hamdan, who is fondly called Fazza by fans, has played a major role in making Dubai a city that leads the world. One thing that endears him to fans is his humility and relatability. He shares photos of his days generously, where one can see him heading to the local races or even to Burj Khalifa. Here are some facts to celebrate the 13th anniversary of Sheikh Hamdan being the Crown Prince of Dubai.

He studied at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Sheikh Hamdan often shares 'throwback' pictures on his social media feeds of him dressed in the Sandhurst military greens. The academy has an illustrious alumni list filled with royals from all over the world including British royals William and Harry, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Hussein, the Crown Prince of Jordan.

Every year Dubai Crown Prince inspires and leads tens of thousands residents at the Dubai Run. During the run last year, he helped push Rio, an 18-year old Dubai Run participant in wheelchair, winning hearts. Rio has a chromosome disorder that affects motor and speech functions. “Thank you for being such an inspiring leader, a true role model and making time for your community,” said Team Angel Wolf – the Instagram account of Rio’s family.

Sheikh Hamdan’s love for the great outdoors is visible through the multitude of pictures on his Instagram account. He often shares photos and videos of himself skydiving, jet skiing, snowboarding or zip lining.

He also loves the sea; his fishing expedition is usually followed by a catch-of-the-day picture.

Sheikh Hamdan is all for staying fit and encouraging others to do so too. He came up with the idea for the annual Dubai Fitness Challenge, where he encourages people to do physical activity for 30 minutes a day, for 30 days, with the idea that it becomes a habit.

His nickname has special significance. The word Fazza in the Emirati dialect translates to “someone who rushes to help”. The words is used in Nabati poetry.

Did you know? Sheikh Hamdan is a top endurance athlete and has won several races.

Sheikh Hamdan is known for being a family man who often posts about his nieces and nephews on Instagram. Whether it's on a desert outing or at a day at the pool, the Crown Prince seems keen on spending quality time with his family members.

In 2021, Sheikh Hamdan became a father for the first time – to twins. The Crown Prince and his wife, Sheikha Sheikha bint Saeed, welcomed a boy and a girl, Rashid and Sheikha, in May. Since their birth, the doting father has posted a few images of the twins on social media.

An adrenaline enthusiast, it’s no secret that the Crown Prince loves adventure. Whether it’s cycling down Sheikh Zayed Road or jumping from an airplane, Sheikh Hamdan shows no fear when it comes to trying new things.

He’s also an ace photographer. Check out this picture, for instance, where he beautifully juxtaposes the wildness of the desert and the Dubai skyline. He called this shot: Two worlds, One city. #MyDubai. The Crown Prince’s love for photography led him to establish the Hamdan International Photography Award, which aims to nurture artistic talent and encourage the appreciation of art and culture.

He loves animals. Remember this one? Sheikh Hamdan had shared a video of chicks that had hatched next to his car’s windscreen and been cared for so that they could now take to the skies on their own.

Sheikh Hamdan is a fan of heights. In December, he climbed to top of Burj Khalifa; the video he shared went viral. This isn't the first time he scaled the tallest constructing on this planet, the first time was 2013 (pictured). This time though he captioned the success: “828 meters of pleasure”.