'He has a vision that sees many years into the future'

Dubai: Gulf News readers and expatriates in Dubai praised the vision and achievements of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as he marked the third anniversary of his accession.

Abin Ninan, an Indian expatriate and resident of Dubai for 23 years, thinks that Dubai has had an extreme makeover in these years.

"Living in Dubai has been a great experience. Shaikh Mohammad is doing a great job as a leader and we must commend him for Dubai's fruitful development."

Farouk Bhagani, an American expatriate and resident of Dubai for 15 years, believes that Shaikh Mohammad is one of the reasons why Dubai has developed rapidly.

Dynamic personality

He said: "I think Shaikh Mohammad is a very intelligent man and is well aware of the constraints and requirements of the city. Dubai is already a world-class city in terms of growth and education."

Tanzim Akhyar, a Bangladeshi expatriate and resident of Sharjah, looks up to Shaikh Mohammad as one of the most daring leaders in the UAE.

"Dubai is definitely the most developed city in the region and we have to thank Shaikh Mohammad for the progress. I have been living in this country for 10 years and have personally seen Dubai grow."

Maher Arafat, a 37-year-old doctor from Palestine, said: "Shaikh Mohammad's vision is very great; he is a very optimistic leader. I think he is trying to make Dubai the best and most progressive city in the Arab world and he is doing a very good job as he tries to achieve his goal. I think he will manage to sustain the city's progress despite the current economic situation and Dubai will improve even further."

Ann Whittle, 48, arrived from the UK recently. She said: "I think Shaikh Mohammad's vision for Dubai is rather exciting; he ensures things get done very quickly. I have only been here for a few months but every day you can see projects coming to fruition, such as the Dubai Metro, the Burj Dubai and the Palm Jumeirah. He has done a great job and is the right man to lead Dubai through the tough economic times ahead."

Raziuddin Ahmad, a 70-year-old retiree from Pakistan, said: "Shaikh Mohammad's vision is very progressive and calculated. He is very intelligent and this can be seen in his policies. He has a dynamic personality and he has done a lot to improve the welfare of those living in the city, particularly Emiratis. He has a vision that sees many years into the future."