Mohammed bin rashid al maktoum children

In the Middle East, he is renowned for overseeing the transformation of Dubai into a top business and tourism destination.

Maktoum bin mohammed al maktoum

Elsewhere, he is perhaps best known for his connection to horseracing, as the owner of the Godolphin stables. One of his daughters, Princess Latifa, has now made headlines after secret videos recorded by her in captivity have been obtained and released by the BBC's Panorama. Latifa made the videos while being held under her father's orders in Dubai in a barred villa.

Sheikh Mohammed was born in at his family home in Shindagha, near Dubai Creek. He was the third of the four sons of Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum, who ruled Dubai for 32 years from After finishing secondary school in , Sheikh Mohammed moved to the UK to study English at a language school in Cambridge. In , following his return to Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed accompanied his father to a meeting with the then ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan, at which they agreed to a union that would lead to the establishment of a federation of emirates.

Sheikh mohammed net worth

Sheikh Mohammed also became heavily involved in his father's plan to compensate for Dubai's dwindling oil reserves by diversifying its economy and becoming an international trade and financial centre, as well as a tourist destination. Dubai's population has also grown from about 40, in the s to 3. In , Sheikh Rashid died after a long illness resulting from a stroke.

He was succeeded by Mohammed's eldest brother, Maktoum. Five years later, Sheikh Maktoum named Mohammed crown prince of Dubai. He also handed over much of the day-to-day running of the emirate to him. Sheikh Mohammed became ruler of Dubai and vice-president and prime minister of the UAE in , after his brother died aged 62 during a visit to Australia.

In , the emirate unveiled the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa; Dubai Mall, then world's largest shopping centre by total land area; and the Dubai Metro. Such ambitious projects were, however, reliant on borrowing billions of dollars.