[lishan1997]

The current ruler of Dubai, His Royal Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was born in 1949 and took over as ruler of Dubai after the death of his older brother in 2006. This makes him the 13 th official Sheikh of the Emirate of Dubai. Remaining highly popular among residents and locals alike, he has managed to build Dubai into the world recognized superpower it is today, while also investing in infrastructure, schools, charities and international events to bring even more expats and immigrants to Dubai. His family is also highly popular, mostly thanks in part to his dashing (and single) oldest son, Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, known lovingly as Fazza by his fans, which is the name he uses on his Instagram account and when he publishes his popular love poetry to the public. here

[dkaparis]

The Al Maktoum family, the royal and ruling family of Dubai, is led by His Royal Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai. Although he and his royal family remain hugely popular and loved by the residents of both Dubai and the UAE, many people outside of the country know little about this royal family besides the fact that they are extremely rich. How did they come to power and how are they so popular?

[M.I.]

The Al Maktoum family are descendants of the Bani Yas tribe of the area of what is now the UAE, who were the most powerful and strategic of the familial tribes of ancient Arabia. In 1833, around 800 members of the Al Maktoum family branched away from the main Bani Yas family and took over the Emirate or region of Dubai, establishing themselves as the ruling family of this area. Without any opposition, the Al Maktoum family has ruled Dubai ever since and has now established themselves as the royal family with the titles of Sheikh, roughly translating as “king” in this case. The Sheikh of Dubai now also serves as the Vice President of the UAE, while also serving as the de facto Prime Minister and Defense Minister.

[Angela Clark]

The Ruler of Dubai’s other children are younger, however, they still remain popular thanks to the Sheikh’s hugely followed Instagram account. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is married to three wives, which accounts to why he does, in fact, have so many children, with his most recent wife being the daughter of the King of Jordan, Princess Haya bint Hussein. A graduate of Oxford University, an accomplished equestrian and a lover of fashion, she remains one of the Sheikh’s most followed family members on social media. [links]

[Albert Novel]

#weekend 🏊🏼🐟🍽 #MyDubai A post shared by Fazza (@faz3) on Sep 30, 2017 at 2:04am PDT [links]

[Cusipzzz]

Now, new videos made by Latifa have been released after being obtained by the BBC's investigative current affairs programme, Panorama. [links]

[hjordanfishere]

Sheikh Mohammed became ruler of Dubai and vice-president and prime minister of the UAE in 2006, after his brother died aged 62 during a visit to Australia.

[madtrade]

The court found that Sheikh Mohammed "continues to maintain a regime whereby both these two young women are deprived of their liberty".

[JohnnieMc]

Dubai's construction boom also relied on low-paid migrant construction workers, many of whom complained that they suffered exploitation. more

[mixedunicc]

A boat carrying them was intercepted at sea off the coast of India and Latifa was returned to Dubai. In a video filmed beforehand, she alleged that she had been imprisoned for more than three years and subjected to physical abuse after another unsuccessful escape attempt in 2002. [links]

[bitdragon]

But Sheikh Mohammed's personal conduct was called into question after the escape of his daughter Princess Latifa in March 2018 and then of his sixth wife, Princess Haya, in June 2019. [links]

[cuu508]

In 1971, a 22-year-old Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum — royal but not yet a ruler — witnessed the return of sovereignty to Dubai at the end of British rule.

[thrashaholic]

Forty-eight years later, he is the most powerful man in the United Arab Emirates. He is the vice president and prime minister of the UAE and also the ruler of Dubai, one of the world's most prosperous and advanced cities.

[redwine]

Here's how he took Dubai from a fishing village to a playground for the world's superrich, and also why three woman have fled his royal household in dramatic style. more

[AT-LOW]

[links]

[mimarob]

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai. more

[marywilliams937]

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[Mira]

Sheikh Mohammed, 71, is also a keen equestrian and is the founder of the Maktoum family-owned Godolphin racing stable and the owner of Darley, a thoroughbred breeding operation with operations in six countries.

[dmytrij]

Princess Latifa and best friend Tiina Jauhiainen during their escape from Dubai in 2018. Credit: here

[coins]

“Latifa was initially relieved when we got to the boat, but every day she was growing increasingly worried that her father might already be after her,” says Tiina. “At times, the days on the boat felt really, really long. It got hotter the closer we got to India, and the boat was full of cockroaches. Escaping on a yacht sounds glamorous, but it was the opposite. We spent most of our time downstairs, trying to contact journalists on our phones, as Latifa felt that might protect her.” [links]

[judcrews666]

David Haigh, a human-rights lawyer who helped Tiina create the #FreeLatifa campaign, adds, “We’ve spent a lot of time helping Haya and her legal team. We’re hopeful that when she’s able to talk publicly about what happened to her and her reasons for leaving, she’ll be able to help Latifa in the way we have helped her and her family. For us, this is a huge step. She’s one of the most high-profile women in the Arab world.”

[qube]

Sheikh Mohammed with Queen Elizabeth II in Abu Dhabi; he is an acquaintance of the British monarch and owns a racing stable and an estate in the UK. Credit: Getty Images