Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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Sheikh Mohammed in 2021
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| Vice President of the United Arab Emirates | |||||
| Assumed office 5 January 2006 Serving with Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan (2023–present)
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| President | Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
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| Preceded by | Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum | ||||
| 4th Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates | |||||
| Assumed office 11 February 2006 |
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| President | |||||
| Deputies |
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| Preceded by | Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum | ||||
| Minister of Defence | |||||
| In office 9 December 1971 – 2020 |
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| President | |||||
| Preceded by | Post established | ||||
| Succeeded by | Vacant Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (in 2024) |
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| President of the United Arab Emirates | |||||
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Acting
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| In office 13 May 2022 – 14 May 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan | ||||
| Succeeded by | Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan | ||||
| Ruler of Dubai | |||||
| Assumed office 4 January 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum | ||||
| Heir apparent | Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum | ||||
| Born | 15 July 1949 Dubai, Trucial States |
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| Spouse | See list | ||||
| Issue | See list | ||||
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| House | Al Maktoum | ||||
| Father | Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum | ||||
| Mother | Latifa bint Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan | ||||
| Religion | Islam | ||||
| Police career | |||||
| Department | Dubai Police Force | ||||
| Years of service | 1968–1970 | ||||
| Rank | Head of Dubai Police and Public Security | ||||
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Arabic: محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم, romanized: Muḥammad bin Rāšid Āl Maktūm; born 15 July 1949) is a leader from the United Arab Emirates. He is currently the ruler of Dubai. He also serves as the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE. Sheikh Mohammed became the ruler of Dubai and the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE in 2006. This happened after his brother, Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, passed away.
Sheikh Mohammed is known for his role in developing Dubai. He helped turn Dubai into a major global city. He also started many important companies. These include Emirates Airline, DP World, and the Jumeirah Group. He has overseen big projects in Dubai. These include the Palm Islands, the Burj Al Arab hotel, and Burj Khalifa. Burj Khalifa has been the tallest building in the world since 2010.
He is also very involved in horse riding. He founded Godolphin, a famous horse racing stable. He also owns Darley, which breeds thoroughbred horses in six countries. In 2012, he won the FEI World Endurance Championship.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sheikh Mohammed is the third of four sons. His father was Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who was the ruler of Dubai. The Al Maktoum family is the ruling family of Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed is the leader of their tribe. His mother was Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan. She was the daughter of a former ruler of Abu Dhabi. He grew up in a large house with many people.
Schooling and Training
From age four, Mohammed had private lessons. He learned Arabic and Islamic Studies. In 1955, he started formal school at Al Ahmedia School. He later attended Al Shaab School and Dubai Secondary School. In 1966, he went to England to study English. He also trained at the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot. He was the top student from the Commonwealth countries. He also trained to be a pilot in Italy.
Political Journey
Leading Dubai Police
When Mohammed returned to Dubai at age 20, his father gave him an important job. He was made the head of the Dubai Police Force. He also led the Dubai Defence Force. This force later became part of the Union Defence Force.
Becoming Minister of Defence
In 1968, Mohammed was there when his father and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan met. They met in the desert to discuss forming a union of emirates. This happened after Britain said it would leave the Trucial States. When the United Arab Emirates was formed on 2 December 1971, Mohammed became its first Minister of Defence. He was only 22 years old.
After the UAE was formed, there were some challenges. There were small fights between tribes over land. In 1972, the former ruler of Sharjah tried to take back power. Mohammed helped resolve this situation. He accepted the surrender of the former ruler.
In 1973, Mohammed helped in talks with hijackers of a Japanese airplane. The plane landed in Dubai. Later, he successfully negotiated with hijackers of a Dutch plane. They released the passengers and the plane safely. In 1977, Mohammed helped combine Dubai's military forces with those of other emirates.
Crown Prince of Dubai
On 3 January 1995, Mohammed's brother, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, made two important decisions. He named Mohammed as the Crown Prince of Dubai. He also named their brother Hamdan as the deputy ruler.
Mohammed started the Dubai Shopping Festival in late 1995. This yearly event has become very important for the economy of the UAE. In 2001, Mohammed ordered the arrest of a customs official.
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Ruler of Dubai, Vice President, and Prime Minister
Mohammed became the ruler of Dubai on 4 January 2006. This was after his brother Maktoum passed away. The next day, he was chosen as the new vice president of the UAE. On 11 February, he was approved as Prime Minister.
Mohammed has worked to support women's development. In 2006, he created the Dubai Establishment for Women Development. This was later renamed the Dubai Women Establishment. In 2015, he also formed the UAE Gender Balance Council.
In October 2020, Mohammed led a meeting that approved a peace agreement with Israel. This agreement made diplomatic relations normal between the two countries. In January, he approved opening an Emirati embassy in Tel Aviv. A month later, he swore in the first Emirati ambassador to Israel.
Space Exploration Efforts
Mohammed started the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in 2015. This center announced plans to send a spacecraft to Mars. The goal was to study Mars' atmosphere. He said Mars was chosen for its "epic challenge." He believed it would help the Emirati economy. He named the mission Hope after a public vote. He said the name would "send a message of optimism to millions of young Arabs." He hoped it would show that "Arab civilisation once played a great role in contributing to human knowledge, and [would] play that role again."
The Hope mission successfully reached Mars' orbit on 9 February 2021. Days later, Mohammed shared the first picture taken by the probe. Hope was the first Arab mission to space. It was also the first of three missions launched in July 2020 to arrive at Mars. The other two were from the United States and China.
In 2020, Mohammed announced a second mission, this time to the moon. The Emirates Lunar Mission used a lunar rover called Rashid. This rover was built entirely in the UAE. It launched on 11 December 2022. His book, The Journey from the Desert to the Stars, was launched from the International Space Station. This was a historic first, done by Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi.
Business and Development
Mohammed has overseen the creation and growth of many businesses in Dubai. Many of these are held by two companies he owns: Dubai World and Dubai Holding. In Dubai, the ruling family owns all undeveloped land. This has helped the family benefit from real estate development. During Mohammed's time as leader, Dubai's population grew a lot. This led to a big boom in real estate. This boom was helped by a 2002 rule from Sheikh Mohammed. This rule allowed foreigners to buy property in Dubai.
Mohammed created Dubai World in 2006. This company brought together many businesses. These included the logistics company DP World, property developer Nakheel Properties, and investment company Istithmar World. Dubai World has over 50,000 employees in more than 100 cities. It has investments in real estate, logistics, and other areas around the world. The government of Dubai owns this company.
Sheikh Mohammed's personal business group is Dubai Holding. This group invests in many different areas. Dubai Holding benefits from its connection to the ruling family of Dubai. The Dubai government gives it free land.
Mohammed was also responsible for starting Emirates Airline.
Starting Emirates Airline
In the 1970s, Mohammed was in charge of Dubai's energy and civil aviation. In March 1985, he founded Emirates Airline. He asked Maurice Flanagan to start a new airline called Emirates. This happened after a disagreement with another airline about Dubai's 'Open Skies' policy. The airline started with a budget of $10 million. Its first flight was on 25 October 1985. Sheikh Mohammed appointed his uncle, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, as the chairman. Emirates has always said it has not received more money from the government. It has grown to be one of the world's leading airlines.
In 1989, Mohammed started the first Dubai Airshow. By 2013, this show had over 1,000 companies. Emirates placed the largest airplane order in history there. They ordered planes from Airbus and Boeing.
Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah
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The Burj Al Arab hotel opened in December 1999. Sheikh Mohammed wanted an "iconic" building. It was designed by WS Atkins. The hotel calls itself "the world's most luxurious hotel." It was built on an island near the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. The Jumeirah Beach Hotel was the first property managed by Jumeirah. Jumeirah is a hotel management company started by Mohammed in 1997. The island for Burj Al Arab took three years to build. Jumeirah has grown to include 22 hotels in ten countries.
Dubai Internet City and TECOM
On 29 October 1999, Mohammed announced Dubai Internet City. This was a technology hub and free trade zone. It offered companies long leases and full ownership. It also gave them quick access to government services. DIC started with its first tenants in October 2000. Today, about 15,000 people work there. In November 2000, Dubai Media City was added. This is a free zone for media production. Mohammed promised media freedoms when DIC launched. In 2007, he made a rule that journalists could not be jailed for libel.
Palm Islands
The Palm Islands were built by Nakheel Properties. Sheikh Mohammed founded this company.
Interests and Philanthropy
Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiatives (MBRGI)
The Mohammed bin Rashid Global Initiatives is a charity foundation. It brings together 33 different charities and projects. Together, they run over 1,400 development programs. One of these is the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU).
Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government
The Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government is a school and research center. It focuses on public policy and how governments are run.
Helping Palestine
Mohammed gave 600 houses to Gaza. This was after the 2008–2009 Gaza war.
Supporting Mosque Construction
In 2000, Mohammed donated €4 million. This money helped build the Essalaam Mosque in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
In June 2017, two new initiatives were added to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives. These were the International Institute for Tolerance and the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Award for Tolerance. These aim to promote tolerance in the community. They also work to make the UAE a model for tolerance. They want to reject extreme views and discrimination. They also honor groups that promote tolerance and dialogue between different faiths.
Sporting Interests
Mohammed is a very important person in international thoroughbred horse racing and breeding. He owns Darley Stud. This is the biggest horse breeding operation in the world. It has farms in the United States, Ireland, England, and Australia. In 1985, he bought a famous Irish thoroughbred horse named Park Appeal. She had many successful foals and is an ancestor of many winning horses.
Mohammed raced horses as a child. He went to his first formal race in England in 1967. Ten years later, he won his first race with a horse named Hatta. Five years after that, he and his brother Hamdan had three horse farms and 100 horses.
In 1981, Mohammed bought Gainsborough Stud in England. He also owns Ballysheehan Stud in Ireland and Gainsborough Farm Inc. in the United States. His racing operations include Darley Stables. He is also a main partner in his family's Godolphin Stables. Mohammed hosts the Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse.
By 1992, Mohammed started training his horses in Dubai during the winter. This was often against the advice of trainers in the UK. But it led to many big wins. In 1994, he founded Godolphin. Godolphin's first big win was with Balanchine in England in 1994. This started a winning streak with many famous horses. These included Lammtarra, Daylami, and Dubai Millennium. Dubai Millennium was said to be Mohammed's favorite horse.
In 1996, the Dubai World Cup started. It was the richest horse race in the world. Today, the race meeting offers $27 million in prizes.
In the UK, Mohammed's horses have won many top races. His horses have also won races like the Irish Derby Stakes and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. In 2008, he bought the Woodlands Stud empire.
At 63, Mohammed won the 2012 World Endurance Championship. This was a 160 km course.
In the 15th Asian Games in 2006, his eldest son, Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, won a gold medal in endurance riding. His sons Rashid, Ahmed, Majid, and Hamdan won the team gold in endurance riding. His niece Latifa won a bronze in show jumping. His daughter Maitha led the UAE team in taekwondo. In 2013, when the UAE national football team won the Gulf Cup, Mohammed gave the team 50 million dirhams. His wife gave them another 25 million dirhams. Their grandsons also contributed 12 million dirhams.
Godolphin's horse Cross Counter won the 2018 Melbourne Cup.
Family Life
Sheikh Mohammed has 26 children from several wives.
One of Sheikh Mohammed's former wives is Princess Haya bint Hussein. She is the daughter of the former King Hussein of Jordan. She is also the half-sister of King Abdullah II of Jordan.
On 19 September 2022, he attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London. Besides Arabic, he also speaks English.
Wealth and Properties
In 2021, a report estimated that Sheikh Mohammed owned assets worth $14 billion.
Sheikh Mohammed owns a yacht called Dubai. It was built by a German company and designed by an English designer. The yacht is 162 meters long. In 2014, it was the world's third largest yacht. It can hold up to 115 people, including the crew. He also owns another yacht, the 40-meter Alloya.
Sheikh Mohammed owns properties in the United Kingdom worth over 100 million British pounds. He also has properties in Rome. A 2021 analysis suggested he is one of the largest landowners in the UK. He owns more than 100,000 acres. The exact number of properties is not known. Many are owned through offshore companies in places like Guernsey and Jersey. His lawyer has said these properties were not bought through offshore companies to avoid UK taxes.
In the 2021 Pandora Papers leaks, it was shown that Sheikh Mohammed was a shareholder in three more companies. These companies were registered in places that allow secrecy.
Wives and Children
Mohammed has been married to at least eleven women. As of 2023, he is divorced from all his wives except his first wife, Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Al Maktoum.
Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum
Mohammed and Hind married in 1979. They are first cousins. They have 12 children:
- Sheikha Hessa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 6 November 1980). She is married to Sheikh Saeed bin Dalmook Al Maktoum and they have three children:
- Sheikha Hind bint Saeed Al Maktoum (born 25 November 2009).
- Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (born 20 May 2012).
- Sheikha Salama bint Saeed Al Maktoum (born 17 July 2018).
- Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (12 November 1981 – 19 September 2015). Sheikh Rashid has one son:
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (born 18 November 2004).
- Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 14 November 1982), Crown Prince of Dubai (since 2008), Deputy Prime Minister of UAE (since 2024), and Defence Minister of UAE (since 2024). He is married to Sheikha Shaikha bint Saeed bin Thani Al Maktoum. He has four children:
- Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum (born 20 May 2021).
- Sheikha Shaikha bint Hamdan Al Maktoum (born 20 May 2021).
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamdan Al Maktoum (born 25 February 2023).
- Sheikha Hind bint Hamdan Al Maktoum (born 22 March 2025).
- Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 24 November 1983), First Deputy Ruler of Dubai (since 2008), Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE (since 2021), UAE Minister of Finance (since 2021). He is married to Sheikha Maryam bint Butti bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, and they have four daughters:
- Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum Al Maktoum (born 24 November 2020).
- Sheikha Latifa bint Maktoum Al Maktoum (born 11 January 2022).
- Sheikha Shaikha bint Maktoum Al Maktoum (born 25 January 2023).
- Maryam Bint Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (born 7 July 2025)
- Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 7 February 1987), Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai (since 2023). He is married to Sheikha Madiyah bint Dalmook Al Maktoum. They have one daughter:
- Sheikha Hind bint Ahmed Al Maktoum (born 22 October 2022).
- Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 20 March 1988).
- Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (III) (born 30 March 1989). She is married to Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, and they have five children:
- Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 29 December 2009).
- Sheikha Aisha bint Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 1 November 2011).
- Sheikha Fatima bint Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 11 March 2014).
- Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 15 December 2015).
- Sheikha Hind bint Mohammed Al Sharqi (born 22 June 2020).
- Sheikha Maryam bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (II) (born 11 January 1992). She is married to Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, and they have three sons:
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Khaled Al Nahyan (born 25 September 2020).
- Sheikh Hamdan bin Khaled Al Nahyan (born 25 August 2021).
- Sheikh Khalifa bin Khaled Al Nahyan (born 10 October 2022).
- Sheikha Shaikha bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 20 December 1992). She is married to Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and they have five children:
- Sheikha Sheema bint Nasser Al Khalifa (born 16 July 2010).
- Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser Al Khalifa (born 6 June 2012).
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Nasser Al Khalifa (born 6 June 2012).
- Sheikh Hamdan bin Nasser Al Khalifa (born 28 October 2018).
- Sheikh Khalid bin Nasser Al Khalifa (born 15 February 2022).
- Sheikha Futtaim bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 22 July 1994).
- Sheikha Salamah bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 8 August 1999).
- Sheikha Shamma bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 13 November 2001).
Haya bint Hussein
Sheikh Mohammed married Princess Haya bint Hussein on 10 April 2004. They divorced on 7 February 2019. They have two children:
- Sheikha Al Jalila bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 2 December 2007).
- Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 7 January 2012).
Randa bint Mohammad Al-Banna
The sheikh married Randa bint Mohammed Al-Banna in 1972. Mohammed and Randa later divorced. They have one daughter:
- Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 12 November 1977). She is married to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and they have five children:
- Sheikha Fatima bint Mansour Al Nahyan (born 9 June 2006).
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Mansour Al Nahyan (born 4 December 2007).
- Sheikh Hamdan bin Mansour Al Nahyan (born 21 June 2011).
- Sheikha Latifa bint Mansour Al Nahyan (born 23 January 2014).
- Sheikh Rashid bin Mansour Al Nahyan (born 22 March 2017).
Delila Aloula
Mohammed has three daughters from his marriage to Delila Aloula:
- Sheikha Dalal bint Mohammed Al Maktoum
- Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (I) (born 16 June 1983). She is married to Sheikh Faisal bin Saud bin Khalid Al Qassimi and they have four children:
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Faisal Al Qassimi (born 28 July 2018).
- Sheikha Shaikha bint Faisal Al Qassimi (born 29 October 2020).
- Sheikh Hamdan bin Faisal Al Qassimi (born 24 December 2021).
- Sheikha Hind bint Faisal Al Qassimi (born 14 May 2023).
- Sheikha Maryam bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (I) (born 11 August 1987). She is married to Sheikh Suhail bin Ahmed Al Maktoum and they have four children:
- Sheikha Fatima bint Suhail Al Maktoum (born 26 September 2019).
- Sheikh Ahmed bin Suhail Al Maktoum (born 1 December 2020).
- Sheikha Latifa bint Suhail Al Maktoum (born 17 February 2022).
- Sheikha Hessa bint Suhail Al Maktoum (born 3 February 2024)
Houria Ahmed Lamara
From his marriage to Houria Ahmed Lamara, Mohammed has five children:
- Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 5 March 1980).
- Sheikha Shamsa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 15 August 1981).
- Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (II) (born 5 December 1985).
- Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 16 October 1987). He is married to Hessa Beljafla and they have five children:
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Majid Al Maktoum (born 15 July 2015).
- Sheikha Dubai bint Majid Al Maktoum (born 15 July 2015).
- Sheikha Maitha bint Majid Al Maktoum (born 17 May 2017).
- Sheikh Rashid bin Majid Al Maktoum (born 2 February 2019).
- Sheikh Maktoum bin Majid Al Maktoum (born 15 July 2022).
- Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 26 June 1989).
Umm Marwan
Mohammed has a son with one of his former wives:
- Sheikh Marwan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 20 March 1981). He is married to Dalal Al Marzouq and they have two sons:
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Marwan Al Maktoum
- Sheikh Rashid bin Marwan Al Maktoum (born 18 June 2013)
Zoe Grigorakos
Mohammed has one daughter from his marriage to Zoe Grigorakos:
- Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 26 February 1994). She was married to Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum from 2023 until her divorce in 2024.
- Sheikha Mahra bint Mana Al Maktoum (born 1 May 2024)
Dalya Al Muthanna
Sheikh Mohammed was married to Dr. Dalya Al Muthanna. They have one daughter:
- Sheikha Haya bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 1 October 2000)
Honours and Awards
Brazil: Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross awarded by President Jair Bolsonaro (12 November 2021).
Bahrain: Collar of the Order of Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa
KSA: First Class of the Order of King Abdulaziz
Spain: Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III
Morocco: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Throne
Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau awarded by Queen Beatrix (8 February 1974)
UAE: Collar of the Order of Zayed (2 December 2012)
United Kingdom: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) awarded by Queen Elizabeth II (25 November 2010).- United Kingdom: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
See also
In Spanish: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum para niños
- Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park
- Timeline of Dubai
