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A
few days back, the UAE suffered a huge loss when Sheikh
Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and
Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, passed away.
Sheikh Maktoum was one the rare leaders who could easily win
the love and full confidence of their peoples, because
he had within him all the noble traits of legendary
Arabian Knights. We all knew how modest, sincere,
loving, tolerant, wise and far-sighted he had always
been.
Since he was a young man,
Sheikh Maktoum proved
his true mettle, and consequently was charged with vital
issue, which changed the course of history in this part
of the world. His first
exposure to leadership was in 1958 when he delivered a
public speech at the ceremony marking the accession of
his father, the late Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
At that time, Sheikh Maktoum was only 15 years old. That
occasion had been a memorable event as it marked the
beginning of forging the future of the emirate under the
rule of the late Sheikh Rashid.
When Britain
decided to withdraw completely from the
Gulf, the governments of Dubai and Abu Dhabi
decided on a prompt course of action to press the
proposed union between the two Emirates forward. The two
sheikhdoms worked hard, day and night, over a six weeks
period, to solve all outstanding issues between them and
reach an acceptable basis for their union. This was a
time in which Sheikh Rashid relied heavily on Sheikh
Maktoum, who became one of the leading political figures
on the scene, traveling repeatedly to Abu Dhabi for
consultations with the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al
Nahyan and senior officials of his government.
On December 2,
1971,the United Arab Emirates was formally established.
The federation process saw Sheikh Maktoum emerge as a
leader of high standing, and this was reflected by
subsequent events. In all the positions he held since
then, Sheikh Maktoum proved to be a very responsible
leader.
The late Leader
played a fundamental role in strengthening the Union,
solving all emerging problems and overcoming obstacles.
As a Deputy Prime Minister, or as a Prime Minister, he
followed up personally the establishment of the
institutions of the young country.
In fact, it is impossible to
pay tribute to Sheikh Maktoum without remembering that
his years as a Crown Prince, and later on as a Ruler
were closely intertwined with the history of the
formation of the United Arab Emirates. Moreover,
throughout his life, Sheikh Maktoum was a witness and a
key player in the development of Dubai and the UAE, as
he strongly believed that maintaining and protecting the
Union was actually much more difficult than establishing
it.
Sheikh Maktoum generosity was not restricted by borders.
Under his instructions, the UAE was always the first
country to extend a helping hand to neighbours, to Arab,
Islamic and other world countries in their time of need
and in the face of calamities and catastrophes.
The late Sheikh Maktoum was one of the great men who
dedicated their life and efforts to building a modern
state, based on a firm strategy of freedom,
transparency, openness and free enterprise. His major
concern had always been his citizens. Under his wise
guidance, Dubai raced with time, and succeeded in
building state of the art infrastructure that impressed
the whole world and was instrumental in turning Dubai,
within a few decades, into a business paradise as well
as an international financial, economic and tourist hub.
Dubai was destined, under Sheikh Maktoum, to prove to
the world that diversification of revenues was not an
impossible task. This was achieved so successfully, that
Dubai’s oil revenues at present constitute less than one
tenth of the Emirates total revenues..
Our only reconciliation in our time of grief is that our
late leader is succeeded by his brother, His Highness
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum the new Ruler of
Dubai, who also assumed the positions of United Arab
Emirates Vice President and Prime Minister. We have full
confidence that our new leader will continue the march
towards a better future. We pledge HH Sheikh Mohammed
our unfaltering allegiance and loyalty to him and to our
nation.
Khalaf Ahmed Al Habtoor |
