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Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
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Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (1912 - October 7, 1990) (Arabic: راشد بن سعيد آل مكتوم) was the Prime Minister of United Arab Emirates from 1979 to 1990 and Emir (Ruler) of Dubai. He ruled for 32 years, until his death.
Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum can be called the first visionary of modern U.A.E.citation needed It was during his rule that Dubai grew from a small trading town into a major cosmopolitan city. Following discovery of oil in the region in 1960s, one of his first tasks was the construction of a modern sea port and air ports in Dubai. The U.A.E. witnessed a lot of construction activity in the 1970s most of which was in Dubai. Construction of a second port in Jebel Ali, Dubai Dry Dock, Shindaga tunnel and the Dubai Trade Center to name a few.citation needed These projects paved the way for later development of the city which continues until today. His daughter was married to the then Emir of Qatar who assisted in the financing other projects. The emir of Kuwait assisted in the financing of the Dredging of the Creek, which resulted in Dubai's prominence as an entrepot. His mother Sheikha Hussah bint Murr owned land, engaged in trade and shared rulership of Dubai.
Sheikh Rashid had four sons:
- Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum (1943-2006)
- Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum (b. 1945)
- Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (b. 1949)
- Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (b. 1950)
Both his predecessor (as Prime Minister) and his successor was his son, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who was the prime minister of United Arab Emirates 1971 to 1979 and who was the Emir of Dubai from October 7, 1990 until his death on January 4, 2006. Another of Sheikh Rashid's sons, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, took over these positions following Sheikh Maktoum's death.
One of the more successful rulers in the Middle East, Sheikh Rashid was responsible for the transformation of Dubai into a modern port city and commercial hub. His famous line, "My grandfather rode a camel, my father rode a camel, I drive a Mercedes, my son drives a Land Rover, his son will drive a Land Rover, but his son will ride a camel." reflects his concern that Dubai's oil will run out in a decade or two. Thus he worked to build up an economy in Dubai that could survive the end of Dubai's oil boom.
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