Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed: A vision that lives on

The late ruler Sheikh Rashid is hailed as the architect of modern Dubai

Last updated: October 06, 2025 | 14:47

2 MIN READ

Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the late Ruler of Dubai (1912-1990), is considered the architect of modern Dubai - it was during his time that development projects moved out of the boardroom to become a reality. Above, Sheikh Rashid looks out from the Galadari Galleria — part of the Hyatt Regency complex — while it was still under construction in this file photo. The building’s clean, modern lines have stood the test of time and remain one of Dubai’s enduring landmarks.

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1971: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, join other emirate leaders, officials, and media representatives as a British diplomat reads the document proclaiming the Union and declaring the UAE’s independence.

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Iconic photograph of the father of the nation Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (right) and Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

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Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, shares a light moment with Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, and Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah.

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May 27, 1981: During the first GCC Summit, held away from the plenary hall, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, sits with King Khalid bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

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Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, then Ruler of Dubai, greets Queen Elizabeth II during the inauguration of the Dubai World Trade Centre in 1979. The landmark event marked Dubai’s emergence as a rising hub for global commerce and innovation.

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Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum with Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India, during a banquet hosted in her honour at the Guest Palace in Dubai in 1981.

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Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, welcomes Zia ul-Haq, President of Pakistan, to the UAE. The two leaders are seen admiring a pair of falcons during the official welcoming ceremony in 1981.

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Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum greets the French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing upon his arrival in Dubai during an official visit to the United Arab Emirates.

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Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, with Margaret Thatcher, then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, during her visit to the UAE. The meeting reflected the strong ties between the two nations.

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