Sheikh Sheikh (pronounced or ; ar, شيخ ' , mostly pronounced , plural ' )—also transliterated sheekh, sheyikh, shaykh, shayk, shekh, shaik and Shaikh, shak—is an honorific title in the Arabic language. It commonly designates a chief of a ...

Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum ( ar, مكتوم بن راشد آل مكتوم, Maktūm bin Rāshid Āl Maktūm; 15 August 1943 – 4 January 2006) was an Emirati politician who served as the vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well as the ruler of Dubai. He was initially prime minister of the UAE from 1971 to 1979. He later served as the country's vice president and prime minister, and as ruler of Dubai, from 1990 to 2006. Maktoum was well regarded with being one of the key people in creating the UAE in 1971. He started the project of Dubai when he suddenly suffered a heart attack and was succeeded by his brother

Mohammed Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the monot ...

, the current ruler of Dubai.

Early life

He was born in 1943 in Al Shindagha,

Dubai Dubai (, ; ar, wikt:دبي, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the List of cities in the United Arab Emirates#Major cities, most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 ...

to the Al Maktoum family of the Al Bu Falasah tribe.

Political career

His father Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum became the Ruler of Dubai upon the death of his own father, Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Hasher Al Maktoum (Saeed II), in 1958. Sheikh Maktoum was Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates first from the country's independence on 2 December 1971 until 25 April 1979, when he was replaced by his father, who had been Vice President since 1971. Following his father's death on 7 October 1990, he resumed his position as Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and also took over as Ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates. He served in all three positions until his death on 4 January 2006. Sheikh Maktoum also briefly served as

acting Acting is an activity in which a story is told by means of its enactment by an actor or actress who adopts a character—in theatre, television, film, radio, or any other medium that makes use of the mimetic mode. Acting involves a broad r ...

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

of the

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (Middle East, The Middle East). It is ...

on 2–3 November 2004 between the death of Sheikh

Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan ( ar, زَايِد بِن سُلْطَان آل نَهْيَان, Zāyed bin Sulṭān Āl Nahyān; 6 May 1918 – 2 November 2004) was an Emirati politician, statesman, and philanthropist who served as ...

and the proclamation and installation of his son Sheikh

Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan ( ar,  خليفة بن زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان‎; 7 September 1948 – 13 May 2022) was the second president of the United Arab Emirates and the ruler of Abu Dhabi, serving from ...

as President of the United Arab Emirates on 4 November 2004. Sheikh Maktoum ran the emirate of Dubai along with his two brothers, Sheikh

(Crown Prince and Minister of Defense) and Sheikh

Hamdan Hamdan ( ar, حمدان ') is a name of Arab origin of aristocratic descent and many political ties within the middle east and the Arab World, controlling import/export mandates over port authorities. Among people named Hamdan include: Given nam ...

(Minister of Finance) of the United Arab Emirates. Internationally, he was also known as co-owner (with his brothers) of Dubai's

Godolphin Stables Godolphin Stables, also known as Stanley House Stables, is a thoroughbred racehorse ownership, training and breeding operation in Newmarket, Suffolk, which has produced many notable horses. It is one of the most famous racing establishments in t ...

, which competes in major horse races around the world.

Death

Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al Maktoum died on the morning of 4 January 2006, suffering a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which ma ...

while staying at Palazzo Versace Hotel in Gold Coast,

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...

. He was succeeded by his brother, Sheikh

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ( ar, محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم, links=no; ; born 15 July 1949) is the vice president, prime minister, and minister of defence of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as well as the ruler of Dubai ...

, as ruler of Dubai. His body was brought back from Australia and buried in Dubai.

Personal life

Sheikha Alia bint Khalifa Al Maktoum was Al Maktoum's wife until his death in 2006. They were married on 12 March 1971. Sheikha Alia, like other members of the Maktoum family, is involved in

horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic pr ...

. One of Al Maktoum's daughters with Alia bint Khalifa bin Saeed Al Maktoum, is Lateefa bint Maktoum Al Maktoum (born 11 February 1985). She has kept her life very private after her kidnapping following her wedding into the Al Nahyan family. Sheikha Lateefa bint Maktoum is the founder of the art center

Tashkeel Dubai Tashkeel is an art facility in the United Arab Emirates. Established in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2008 by Lateefa bint Maktoum, Tashkeel seeks to provide a nurturing environment for the growth of contemporary art and design practice rooted i ...

. Sheikha Alia's other children are Sheikha Hessa, Sheikha Maitha, Sheikh Saeed and Sheikh Rashid (1979-2002). Sheikha Bouchra bint Mohammed was Al Maktoum's second wife and had three sons named Sheikh Mohammed, Hamdan and Zayed with him. She was a hobbyist painter and a horse racing enthusiast.

Ancestry

References

Notes

External links

Official web page of HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al MaktoumObituary: Sheikh Maktoum
BBC
Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum dies

Gulf News ''Gulf News'' is a daily English language newspaper published from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was first launched in 1978, and is currently distributed throughout the UAE and also in other Persian Gulf Countries. Its online edition was launc ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maktoum, Maktoum Bin Rashid Al- 1941 births 2006 deaths Emirati politicians Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Prime Ministers of the United Arab Emirates Presidents of the United Arab Emirates Government ministers of the United Arab Emirates Emirati racehorse owners and breeders Rulers of Dubai 20th-century Emirati people