The success story will continue

May God bless the soul of Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and give him a place in paradise, and may his departure from our world during the holy days of Haj be added to the good deeds of this great philanthropist and generous humanitarian.

I met Shaikh Maktoum for the first time at Shaikh Abdul Rahim Al Janahi School in 1946, when he was a little boy. He was brought to Al Janahi School to read and memorise the Holy Quran, while we went with other colleagues from Deira to learn calligraphy and the science of sentence calculation. This was during the summer holidays, when Al Ahmadiah School was closed and teachers (mutawas) took their leave.

Al Janahi School was located near the Ruler's Palace, which was built by Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum in the early 1940s.

Shaikh Maktoum then started attending Al Ahmadiah School. It was the only school in the UAE that taught Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) according to the four Islamic schools of thought, as well as Arabic language and composition.

Shaikh Maktoum gained attention when he delivered a speech on behalf of his father, in a ceremony held in front of the Ruler's Palace, after the death of his grandfather, Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum. This was when Shaikh Rashid became the Ruler of Dubai, in 1958.

Dubai saw many changes during the late 1950s, especially in departments such as water, electricity, telecommunications, municipality services, registration of property.

The late Shaikh Maktoum always kept up with this progress, and was given the direct responsibility for supervising the registration of nationals' and government property in a special land and property registration department. This was a very important task as most properties were owned and used without proper survey and organisation before the Land Department issued a ruling to demarcate borders and control properties.

Humanitarian qualities

Shaikh Maktoum used to attend the Municipal Council sessions, and listen to discussions regarding property and other issues. He was well known for his humanitarian qualities and his generosity, as well as his kindness, patience and humility in appearance and behaviour.

Shaikh Maktoum's decision to appoint Shaikh Mohammad as Crown Prince of Dubai was a farsighted and wise one Shaikh Mohammad proved beyond doubt, since he took charge, that he stood among pioneering leaders, such as Shaikh Maktoum Bin Hasher, who was one of his forethers, and Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, his father, and that he is a capable and self-confident man, determined to reach his goals with extreme professionalism and efficiency.

The late Shaikh Rashid used to see himself in Shaikh Mohammad and Shaikh Mohammad used to participate with his father in administrative affairs, and attend the meetings Shaikh Rashid had with important leaders.

I remember the first time Shaikh Mohammad accompanied his father during the coronation of the Shah of Iran in 1968, when he was only 17 years old. He met many kings and leaders who had gathered in Shiraz for the occasion. I was honoured with the mission of accompanying the delegation during this visit.

Shaikh Rashid appointed Shaikh Mohammad as Head of the Police and General Security, which was at the time headed by an arrogant English soldier of very limited education and experience. Removing him from the post was a bold decision. Shaikh Mohammad was the man who took the decision, in spite of the authority and power the British had.

Later, Shaikh Mohammad separated the police from the army, and conducted training camps for the UAE's national army. He also organised a police force that follows modern procedures in management.

When the UAE was established in 1971, Shaikh Mohammad was one of the main candidates for the Minister of Defence post, as he was trained in Military Science at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, Britain, and was experienced in the field.

It was not long before the Sharjah crisis took place, with the martyrdom of the late Shaikh Khalid Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, former Ruler of Sharjah. Shaikh Mohammad strongly confronted this strife, and succeeded in extinguishing its flames before they spread and resulted in civil clashes, at a time when the Federation was still very young and could have been blown apart by disturbances.

Shaikh Mohammad remained a source of support for his father, who assigned him the responsibility of oil affairs. Foreign companies used to benefit from oil more than Dubai did, and Shaikh Mohammad was courageous in handling the problems and monopolies of these companies.

Upper hand

He managed, with great wisdom, to give the Dubai government the upper hand on this issue. Oil revenues soared, and both his father and the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan were impressed. Shaikh Zayed saw Shaikh Mohammad as one of the strong men of the UAE, who could handle tough tasks.

Those who follow the massive progress that took place in Dubai during the 1990s and until now, which is the time Shaikh Mohammad handled development and economy, have no doubt that he is one of the great builders in the Arab history. Dr Abdul Khaleq Abdullah was right when he called this period "The Mohammadian Era", in his valuable book Dubai: An Arab City's Journey from Localism to Internationalism.

Dr Abdullah says of the Mohammadian Era: "Important as these developments are, the domestic factor remains the most important. A three-member leadership took control over Dubai in the early 1990s. This leadership was enthusiastic to end the stagnancy that lasted for 10 years, during Shaikh Rashid's illness.

"It consisted of the brothers Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry, and Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister.

"Shaikh Mohammad soon became prominent, armed with personal and leadership qualities, and established the Mohammadian Era of Dubai's modern history. The founder of this era has the vision, confidence, courage and ambition, as well as the initiative. He is also the one who plans to achieve the world's biggest, fastest, longest, richest and highest in all fields of development.

"The leader of this era is a well-known equestrian champion, especially in endurance races. He is also a poet. But besides this, Shaikh Mohammad is first and foremost a military personality. He was the world's youngest Defence Minister, with a military background that did not make him averse to taking risks and for being decisive, which pushed Dubai in the league of leading cities, on the GCC and Arab levels.

"At this time, Dubai is the city of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, after being the city of Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Dubai's life derives its vitality from the personality of the Crown Prince, who does not know rest and relaxation. He gave the city its high speed, re-arranged its priorities and specified a single goal for nationals and residents alike, which is shifting the city from localism to internationalism in the shortest possible time."

It is clear that 2006 will add a new dimension to Dubai's glorious journey, under the leadership of Shaikh Mohammad, who has now become the Ruler of Dubai, following the death of Shaikh Maktoum.

This dimension will be mirrored in activating local establishments and civil authorities in Dubai, to support the city's achievements, and the projects planned by the new Ruler for the upcoming period.

These establishments include the Municipality, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and others that will hold legislative elections, and elect new members for the Federal National Council.

Activating and restructuring those establishments is very important, as Shaikh Mohammad assumes his new responsibilities as UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister. Everyone agrees that Shaikh Mohammad has a new vision that meets local, regional and international requirements.

I believe Shaikh Mohammad will form the new Cabinet with care and professionalism, due to his long experience, and will enlist the help of the distinguished pioneers who played a leading role in the progress of the Federation, as they have all the necessary qualifications and experience to discharge their responsibilities, and perform their tasks in the best possible way.

- Abdul Gaffar Hussain is a UAE writer and researcher.