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Image Credit: Twitter/ Courtesy:@HamdanMohammed

Dubai: Members of the UAE ruling families paid tribute to Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Dubai’s founding father, to mark the anniversary of his death.

Old photographs of the late ruler surfaced on social media, as members from the ruling family of Dubai and other emirates disclosed their family pictures to the public.

Shaikh Rashid, the eighth ruler from the Al Maktoum family, was loved and deeply respected by residents as he ruled the emirate with compassion and a clear vision of what was required to transform Dubai into a modern city.

He was responsible for a great deal of accomplishments in the emirate’s transition to a modern state, and launched a number of noteworthy projects such as Al Maktoum Hospital, Al Maktoum Bridge, Dubai airport, and personally chose Jebel Ali as the location for his new port.

Shaikh Rashid's death, on October 7, 1990, was commemorated first and foremost by his grandson Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council.

Shaikh Hamdan’s photo with his grandfather and siblings was posted online with the caption: “The founder of Dubai… Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, may God have mercy on him.”

On his official Twitter account, Shaikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, recalled the leader’s remarkable legacy.

“On the anniversary of the death of Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, we recall a remarkable leader who stood side by side with Shaikh Zayed on the journey of building the nation, and laying the foundations for development. [His legacy] is continued in the confidence and success of the sons of the United Arab Emirates.” 

Shaikh Faisal Bin Saud Al Qasimi revealed a heart-warming photograph of Shaikh Rashid and his wife Shaikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the daughter of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai.