Brief
Sheikh Mohammed honors late mother in heartfelt letter
In a new excerpt from his book, the Dubai ruler describes his mother as the foundation of his success and recalls personal memories.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has published an emotional tribute to his late mother, Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, in a letter titled “A Letter to My Mother.” The letter appears in the second volume of his book What Life Has Taught Me and was reported by Khaleej Times on 9 October 2026.
What happened
The ruler reflects on his mother’s love, generosity and influence, describing her as his “heart, soul, homeland and beloved.” He writes that her love was his refuge in hardship and her presence brought peace to their home. He recalls specific memories, such as morning breakfasts, coffee, and her caring for the sick, the poor and orphans. He also mentions how she prepared him for his first trip to London, buying his first suit and gifting him a souvenir.
What the reports add
Khaleej Times notes that Sheikh Mohammed calls his mother the “reason for his existence” and the “foundation of his success.” The outlet quotes him saying, “Your love was my refuge in times of hardship, my shelter in moments of sorrow and my comfort when I was weary.” The article also highlights his view that “whoever has a mother is rich beyond measure,” and that losing a mother means losing one’s world.
What was said
Sheikh Mohammed wrote, “Life has taught me many things, Mother, but it has never taught me how to live without you.” He also described her voice as a lifelong education and her touch as a healing force.
How it came about
The letter is part of the second volume of What Life Has Taught Me, a collection of personal reflections by the Dubai ruler. Earlier this month, Felo News reported on Sheikh Mohammed’s messages about Dubai’s future and leadership principles, showing his ongoing practice of sharing personal and public guidance through published letters.
Key facts
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum wrote a tribute titled “A Letter to My Mother” (khaleejtimes.com)
- The letter appears in the second volume of his book “What Life Has Taught Me” (khaleejtimes.com)
- He described his mother as the foundation of his success and the reason for his existence (khaleejtimes.com)
- He recalled personal memories such as morning breakfasts, coffee and her preparing his first suit for a London trip (khaleejtimes.com)
Sources
- [1] khaleejtimes.com — originally reported as “'The foundation of my success': Sheikh Mohammed pens heartfelt letter to mother”
