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Without
trying be unduly flattering or exaggerating let’s talk
about some of the high points of the period when HH
Sheikh Mahammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum took on the
mantle of Crown Prince of Dubai:
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The development and massive growth in both,
infrastructure and real estate.
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Diversification of the economy away from a rapidly
depleting oil supply
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Development of the Government, including the
establishment the e-government in all local
departments, which saw a leap into the technological
future of Government.
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Supporting the dream of local Dubai based companies of
becoming truly international and enabling them to
compete with their overseas counterparts for business.
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Wider distribution of wealth by setting up the DFM and
Joint Stock companies, which allowed smaller to
participate in the growth of the economy. This
improved the income of Nationals and allowed residents
to be part of the success story.
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Making Dubai a hub of attraction for top Arab brains
and experts who want to better themselves and enjoy
Dubai’s increasingly opulent lifestyle.
This was achieved not only because of HH Sheikh
Mohammed’s driving ambition but also because he set us
ever higher goals to achieve. Dubai has been a
flourishing Emirate since the sixties and could have
followed a gradual progress like any other developing
country, but Sheikh Mohammed achieved his objective by
continouously raising his expectations from both UAE
Citizens and Expatriates.
Much has been achieved but the march of progress goes on
with the help of careful planning, a firm eye on the
historical perspective and a strong vision of the
future.
The recent death of HH Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum has burdened HH Sheikh Mohammed with additional
duties but we know him to be an exceptional man and that
he is at his best when things get tough.
As a young man, he was instrumental in establishing the
UAE along with the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sulan Al Nahyan
and Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum. Since then, he
has been an example constantly following up on
political, economic and social issues because, for him,
the interests of the Nation come first.
HH Sheikh Mohammed has managed to change many of our
basic concepts about how the Arab World is run. His
truly exceptional skill in leadership is critical in the
continual success he has achieved for himself and for
all of us living here.
Among his many fine traits, fairness stands out;
fairness in his judgment, in his vision and in his
relationship with his society and its citizens. He is
without doubt the right man to make the difficult
decisions on the Nation’s future. He is a man who
believes in himself and in his wisdom and justice and
communicates it to his people. The experience of many
years has helped to make those qualities more mature
ensuring that the country is in the right hands.
As we overcome our grief over the untimely death of our
great leader HH Sheikh Maktoum, HH Sheikh Mohammed will
inspire us to keep our lines tight in the march towards
the glorious future of our Nation.
We are positive that his new role as Ruler of the
Emirate, Vice President of the UAE and Prime Minister
will definitely invigorate the Federal Authorities which
are being ably led by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin
Zayed Al Nahyan.
We are confident that our march will continue to pursue
all its objectives with the help of the Almighty. Under
Sheikh Mohammed’s leadership, side by side with the
President, our country will continue its balanced and
wise foreign policy.
That policy has given our homeland a uniquely
independent and moderate position; and consequently,
many disputes from all over our Arab world are being
referred to us for solution, further enhancing our
international status.
Our topmost priority is in care and attention given to
UAE Nationals whose grandfathers gave a lot to the
country and to the issues of their Arab Homeland.
Here in our home, the UAE, we are wholly content with
the promising modern direction of HH Sheikh Mohammed’s
economic aspirations which have formed a new theory
based on harmony and coordination between the
capabilities of both the Country and the Citizen. This
made our economy surpass economies that have
significantly better natural resources.
In my mind, I think that the greatest success Sheikh
Mohammed has achieved is in welding Emirati society into
a loving and caring unit that is spurred on by a feeling
that it belongs to a Great Nation.
Finally, I would like to say, proudly, that we stand
behind our great Leader, following his example, inspired
by his leadership and vision to create a model country
and an economy that matches the best in the world.
Khalaf Ahmed Al Habtoor | 
