Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Arabic: الشيخ محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم) (born 1949) is currently the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Ruler of Dubai. His fortune is estimated to be in the region of $14 billion. [1] If he were listed on Forbes' list of The World's Richest People, he would rank 23rd, but Forbes does not list him because it is impossible to determine what belongs to him and what belongs to his government. On 4th December 2006 his Dubai International Capital (DIC) Investment Group has engaged in takeover negotiations for Liverpool Football Club in a deal rumoured to be worth £479m.
His wealth is said to be more than the $14billion that is listed, the $14 billion is "family money", he has a personal wealth of $13.8 billion which would take his net worth up to $27.8 billion(£14 billion) which would put him 5th in the world's rich list.
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[edit] Personal life and education
He is the third of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum's four sons. From the age of four, Sheikh Mohammed was privately tutored in Arabic and Islamic Studies. In 1955, he began his formal education at Al Ahmedia School. At the age of 10 he moved to Al Shaab School and two years later he went to Dubai Secondary School. In August 1966, he and his cousin, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Maktoum attended the Bell Educational Trust's English Language School in the United Kingdom.
He is affectionately known to ex-pats as "Sheikh Mo" or "Big Mo".
His senior wife is Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, whom he married in 1979. His junior wife is Princess Haya bint Al-Hussein, daughter of Hussein of Jordan and half-sister of current king Abdullah II of Jordan, whom he married on April 10, 2004.[2][3] Sheikh Mohammed has 16 children: seven sons and nine daughters.
Al Maktoum and his wives are known to be avid horse and camel racing enthusiasts.
In September 2006, Al Maktoum and his brother Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum were served with a lawsuit in US district court in Miami, Florida for the enslavement of 30,000 boys in the past three decades for use as jockeys for camel racing, a popular and lucrative form of entertainment in the UAE. The suit was filed on behalf of parents of six victims on the basis of international laws banning slavery and the use of child labor. The case was filed in Miami because the defendants own property in Florida, including a horse farm.
Later in September, the UAE removed all the child jockeys and sent them back home, to countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, et cetera, with the help of UNICEF.
[edit] Political and business career
On January 3, 1995, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum signed two decrees that appointed Sheikh Mohammed as Crown Prince of Dubai.
Sheikh Mohammed oversaw the development of numerous projects in Dubai including the creation of the Palm Islands and the luxury Burj al-Arab hotel. He is also promoting the construction of Burj Dubai which, if completed, would be a contender for the tallest building in the world. He has also been involved in horse racing, hosting the world's richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup, and owning the Godolphin stables, considered to be among the finest stables in the world. He also owns American Thoroughbreds, including 2006 Preakness Stakes winner Bernardini.
He became the Ruler of Dubai on January 4, 2006 upon the death of his elder brother Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He was also nominated by the President of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayan, to be the next Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE on January 5, 2006. The members of the UAE Federal National Council accepted the President's nomination shortly after.
On July 4, 2006 Sheikh Mohammed pardoned and released U.S. R&B producer Dallas Austin for a conviction of drug possession. Senator Orrin Hatch and musicians Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones aided in the release. [4]
[edit] Liverpool F.C. Takeover Bid
On 4th December 2006, through his Dubai International Capital (DIC) Investment Group, Sheikh Mohammed has engaged in takeover negotiations for Liverpool Football Club in a deal rumoured to be worth £479m. As an adjunct to this takeover, the Dubai International Capital Group have also initiated a bid to purchase Tranmere Rovers F.C. for £19.75m. DIC see Tranmere Rovers role as being a feeder club to Liverpool Football Club [citation needed] as Tranmere Rovers are based not far from Liverpool, only over the River Mersey but play in a lower division in English professional football.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Forbes.com Fortunes Of Kings, Queens And Dictators
- ^ Khaleej Times Interview on the princess's official website
- ^ The Royal News, 2004-04-10
- ^ CNN report, 2006-07-08
[edit] External links
- His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's official site
- Dubai Photos of Dubai - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's yacht—the largest in the world
