Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum
Encyclopedia
HH The Emir Sheikh
Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (1912 - October 7, 1990) was the Vice-President and Prime Minister
of United Arab Emirates
and Emir
of Dubai
. He ruled for 32 years from 1958 until his death in 1990.
to 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." http://www.gluckman.com/DubaiBiz.html reflected his concern that Dubai's oil, which was discovered in 1966 and which began production in 1971, would run out within a generation. He therefore worked to develop the economy of Dubai so that it could survive after the end of oil production, and was a driving force behind a number of major infrastructure projects to promote Dubai as a regional hub for trade:
at the time Sheikh Rashid became Ruler of Dubai following the armed border dispute between the two Sheikhdoms in 1946, and he establish a close relationship with Qatar
. Sheikh Rashid's daughter married the then Emir of Qatar in 1961, and the Emir provided US$700 in the financing of Port Rashid as a wedding present. In 1966, India devalued the rupee, and Qatar and Dubai adopted the Gulf Rupee
as a common currency, whilst Abu Dhabi adopted the Bahraini dinar.
The Emir of Kuwait assisted in the financing of the Dredging of the Creek, which resulted in Dubai's prominence as an entrepot
.
Sheikh Rashid brought Dubai to join Abu Dhabi and other northern Emirates to create the United Arab Emirates
in 1971, and in 1973, Dubai joined the other emirates to adopt a uniform currency, the UAE dirham.
Jebel Ali port was established in 1979, and the customs free zone Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) was built around the port in 1985. By the late 1990s JAFZ developed into a commercial free zone.
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.
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (1912 - October 7, 1990) was the Vice-President and Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
and Emir
Emir
Emir , meaning "commander", "general", or "prince"; also transliterated as Amir, Aamir or Ameer) is a title of high office, used throughout the Muslim world...
of Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
. He ruled for 32 years from 1958 until his death in 1990.
Development of Dubai
Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum was responsible for the transformation of Dubai from a small cluster of settlements near the Dubai CreekDubai Creek
Dubai Creek or Khor Dubai is a saltwater creek located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates . It ends at Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. Some sources say that the creek extended as far inland as Al Ain, and that the Ancient Greeks called it River Zara. Historically, the creek divided the city into two...
to 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." http://www.gluckman.com/DubaiBiz.html reflected his concern that Dubai's oil, which was discovered in 1966 and which began production in 1971, would run out within a generation. He therefore worked to develop the economy of Dubai so that it could survive after the end of oil production, and was a driving force behind a number of major infrastructure projects to promote Dubai as a regional hub for trade:
- Port Rashid (opened in 1972)
- Al Shindagha TunnelAl Shindagha TunnelAl Shindagha Tunnel is a tunnel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It goes under Dubai Creek to connect the neighborhoods of Deira and Al Shindagha. It is the only underwater crossing at Dubai Creek. The tunnel has a total of four lanes, two in each direction. It opened in 1975....
(opened in 1975) - Jebel Ali Port (opened in 1979)
- Dubai World Trade Center (built in 1978)
- The second major dredging and widening of the Dubai CreekDubai CreekDubai Creek or Khor Dubai is a saltwater creek located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates . It ends at Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. Some sources say that the creek extended as far inland as Al Ain, and that the Ancient Greeks called it River Zara. Historically, the creek divided the city into two...
(early 1970s) - Dubai DrydocksDubai DrydocksDubai Drydocks is a drydocks facility located adjacent to Port Rashid in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The idea for Dubai Drydocks began in 1971. After feasibility studies and construction, the facility opened in 1983. It is the only large drydocks facility in the Persian Gulf.-External links:*...
(opened in 1983)
Relationship with Other Persian Gulf Emirates
Dubai remained in a stand-off with Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
at the time Sheikh Rashid became Ruler of Dubai following the armed border dispute between the two Sheikhdoms in 1946, and he establish a close relationship with Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
. Sheikh Rashid's daughter married the then Emir of Qatar in 1961, and the Emir provided US$700 in the financing of Port Rashid as a wedding present. In 1966, India devalued the rupee, and Qatar and Dubai adopted the Gulf Rupee
Gulf rupee
The Gulf rupee, also known as the Persian Gulf rupee , was a currency used in the countries of the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula between 1959 and 1966...
as a common currency, whilst Abu Dhabi adopted the Bahraini dinar.
The Emir of Kuwait assisted in the financing of the Dredging of the Creek, which resulted in Dubai's prominence as an entrepot
Entrepôt
An entrepôt is a trading post where merchandise can be imported and exported without paying import duties, often at a profit. This profit is possible because of trade conditions, for example, the reluctance of ships to travel the entire length of a long trading route, and selling to the entrepôt...
.
Sheikh Rashid brought Dubai to join Abu Dhabi and other northern Emirates to create the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
in 1971, and in 1973, Dubai joined the other emirates to adopt a uniform currency, the UAE dirham.
Jebel Ali port was established in 1979, and the customs free zone Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) was built around the port in 1985. By the late 1990s JAFZ developed into a commercial free zone.
Heirs
Sheikh Rashid had four sons:- Maktoum bin Rashid Al MaktoumMaktoum bin Rashid Al MaktoumMaktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also referred to as Sheikh Maktoum was the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the emir of Dubai.-Biography:...
(1943–2006) - Hamdan bin Rashid Al MaktoumHamdan bin Rashid Al MaktoumHamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the Minister of Finance and Industry of the United Arab Emirates . He is the second son of the late ruler, Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum ....
(b. 1945) - Mohammed bin Rashid Al MaktoumMohammed bin Rashid Al MaktoumMohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , also Sheikh Mohammed, , is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates , and absolute monarch of Dubai.-Personal life and education:...
(b. 1949) - Ahmed bin Rashid Al MaktoumAhmed bin Rashid Al MaktoumMajor General Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Deputy Chairman of Dubai Police & Public Security. He is the current Chairman of the Al Wasl FC club located in Dubai....
(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
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
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.