Leader who cared for his country

Dubai: Condolences on the death of Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum continued to pour in.

Top government officials underlined Shaikh Maktoum's role in building up and strengthening the UAE federation, his unflinching efforts in Dubai's development, and his generosity towards his peoples.

Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of Economy and Planning, expressed her deepest grievances on the death of Shaikh Maktoum.

She described his death as a disaster which wiped off the smile of hope. Shaikh Maktoum's creative mind is visible in the development of the country, especially in Dubai. He was a kind father to all of us. He taught us how to love others and how to love the nation, she said.

"The man who possessed a heart that had place for all, a hand that does not know but giving has departed. We are weeping for him the kind father, the generous brother, and the wise commander. He gave justice to people; therefore, we loved him and learnt a lot from him. We are weeping for him because he has left us at a time when we really needed him."

She expressed her sincere condolences to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, his brothers, Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry, and their brothers.

She pledged to be faithful and sincere to the march that Shaikh Maktoum had started with the other leaders since he took over the affairs as Prime Minister in the first federal government. "We will all work seriously and faithfully to realise the goals set out for our country," she said.

Dr Mohammad Khalfan Bin Kharbash, Minister of State for Financial and Industrial Affairs, described Shaikh Maktoum as one of the statesmen who participated in the build up and strengthened the federation.

He said Shaikh Maktoum was always caring for his people; that he was faithfully meeting all their needs courteously. The humanist in him was evident from most of his works. His hands were always giving in order to ease difficulties and burdens of others.

Dr Bin Kharbash said: "I knew him since I was young. His main characters were forgiveness and love. His conduct was exemplary and eminent."

He described Shaikh Maktoum's death as a great loss and disaster. He was following the same trends of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

He concluded that the march of economy will continue in future because the UAE is a state of establishments. The UAE rulers and brothers of late Shaikh Maktoum will continue on the same track.

Sultan Ahmad Bin Sulayem, CEO of Dubai Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation and Chairman of Palm Developer, said that the loss of Shaikh Maktoum is irreparable to the people of the UAE and to the Arab and Islamic world as well.

He said Shaikh Maktoum has offered so much in serving the country and its people.

Since childhood, Shaikh Maktoum grew up with a dedication to work for the country. Under the guidance of his father late Shaikh Rashid he and his brothers, who shared the same dedication, worked for the interest of Dubai and the Emirates.

Shaikh Maktoum had a large heart. He was known as a gracious man with high conduct. He was known for his unpretentiousness, Bin Sulayem said.

Bin Sulayem described Shaikh Maktoum's death as a formidable loss. The UAE people will miss him.

"We pray Allah to grant his blesses on Shaikh Maktoum and accept him in heaven, give strength to his family members so that they can complete the way he had started."