Brief
UAE commemorates Sheikh Rashid’s legacy on 36th anniversary of his death
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum published a personal tribute as the UAE marked the anniversary of his father’s passing.
By Felo News Desk · Published
On Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates marked the 36th anniversary of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum’s death, a day after his son, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, released a personal tribute describing his father as his “first teacher”, “first leader” and “first inspiration”.
What happened
Sheikh Rashid died on 7 October 1990 after 32 years as ruler of Dubai. The anniversary was observed with statements from senior officials and media coverage highlighting his infrastructure legacy, including the deepening of Dubai Creek, the opening of Dubai’s first airport, the construction of ports and the development of major roads and crossings.
What the reports add
Gulf News notes that Sheikh Rashid assumed power in 1958, when Dubai was a modest trading settlement still reeling from the collapse of the pearl trade and before oil revenues transformed the Gulf. Despite those constraints, he pursued a policy of building infrastructure ahead of demand, a principle the outlet says defined Dubai’s later growth. The article describes how the creek was dredged and widened in the 1950s‑60s to accommodate larger vessels, and how early airport and port projects were launched without waiting for a boom.
What was said
In the tribute, Sheikh Mohammed wrote that his father carried a small compass on his travels to find the direction of the Qibla for prayer. “Your compass is still with us,” he wrote, using the object as a metaphor for the principles Sheikh Rashid left behind – justice, respect for people, support for traders, careful use of resources and a relentless focus on building for the future.
How it came about
Sheikh Rashid’s tenure began at a difficult moment in Gulf economic history. The article explains that the collapse of the pearl trade had damaged regional livelihoods, and Dubai’s oil wealth had not yet arrived. Rather than adopt caution, Rashid believed infrastructure could create growth conditions, not merely respond to them. This forward‑thinking approach laid the groundwork for later projects such as the Dubai Metro and the emirate’s global aviation hub, themes echoed in Felo’s recent coverage of Dubai’s humanitarian initiatives and transport milestones.
Key facts
- Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum died on 7 October 1990 after 32 years as ruler of Dubai. (gulfnews.com)
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum published a tribute describing his father as his “first teacher” and “first inspiration”. (gulfnews.com)
- Rashid’s legacy includes deepening Dubai Creek, opening the first airport, building ports and major road networks. (gulfnews.com)
- He became ruler in 1958 when Dubai was a small trading settlement still affected by the pearl‑trade collapse. (gulfnews.com)
- Rashid’s policy was to build infrastructure before demand, a principle that shaped Dubai’s later rapid growth. (gulfnews.com)
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “Sheikh Rashid: The visionary leader who built Dubai's future before it arrived”
