Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, on Friday dedicated the coming 19th anniversary of his accession to his wife, who he hailed as his "greatest supporter" and "foundation of his family".
He became Ruler of Dubai on January 4, 2006, following the death of his brother Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid. Dubai has grown into a global hub for tourism, finance, commerce and advanced technology in the years since.
Sheikh Mohammed thanked Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum for being at his side during a remarkable chapter in his life and career. He described his wife as the "spirit of Dubai" and "mother of Sheikhs" in an uplifting message on social media platform, X.
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Sheikh Mohammed, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, celebrates 50 years of government service during a Cabinet meeting in January 2019. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed is shown a scale model of the Dubai Air City project in January 2019. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed reviews a Sky Pod model being tested by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority, in February 2019. -
Sheikh Mohammed with Hadeel Anwar, winner of the 2018 Arab Reading Challenge. Photo: Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed at the launch of the UAE Cultural Development Fund and Creative Industries Contributions Index at Louvre Abu Dhabi in February 2018. Wam -
The UAE Vice President has taken a particular interest in developing the talent of young people. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, receive Chinese President Xi Jinping in Abu Dhabi in July 2018. Photo: Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Mohammed inspects progress at the Shindagha Heritage District project in March 2018. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed welcome Pope Francis at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi in February 2019. Reuters -
Sheikh Mohammed chairs an annual brainstorming session with his team at Emirates Towers, Dubai, in September 2018. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed award Saif Al Mansoori from Abu Dhabi with the UAE Pioneers Award for charitable work, in November 2017. Pawan Singh / The National -
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Sheikh Mohammed inaugurates the second phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in March 2017. Wam -
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Sheikh Mohammed arrives in Ajman to chair a meeting of the Council of Ministers, in December 2022. Photo: @HHShkMohd / Twitter -
President Sheikh Mohamed; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai; Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah; Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah; Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah; and Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, watch the 51st UAE National Day show at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohammed opens a Federal National Council session in November 2022. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Mohammed said the council represented the UAE's commitment to promoting 'consensus, consultation and co-operation'. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Mohammed arrives at his majlis at Zabeel Palace, accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Dubai Crown Prince; Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation and chief executive of Emirates airline and group, and other officials, in Dubai, in November 2022. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed with Sham Bakour, 7, a Syrian schoolgirl who was crowned Arab Reading Challenge champion in Dubai. Sham survived a deadly missile attack during the civil war in her country. Ruel Pableo for The National -
Sheikh Mohammed is greeted by Algerian Prime Minister Aimene Benabderrahmane after he arrived in Algeria to attend the Arab League Summit in November 2022. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Mohammed meets Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in Cairo, in October 2022. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Mohammed welcomes Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi at Zabeel Palace in October 2022. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at an event in August 2022. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Mohammed inaugurates a book-shaped library worth Dh1 billion in June 2022. Photo: HHShkMohd / Twitter -
Sheikh Mohammed leads Eid Al Adha prayers at the Sheikh Rashid Mosque in Dubai. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed welcomes President Sheikh Khalifa on his return to Al Ain in January 2013 after a private visit to Pakistan. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed at Qasr Al Hosn, in Abu Dhabi, in February 2014. Photo: Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Mohammed with US President George W Bush at Camp David, Maryland, in August 2008. AFP -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Britain's Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip arrive at a ceremony to unveil the design of the new Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi, in November 2010. They are accompanied by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. EPA -
Sheikh Mohammed with his racehorse Rewilding after the four-year-old thoroughbred won the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in June 2011. Photo: racingfotos.com -
The Vice President at the World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky, in September 2010. Reuters -
Sheikh Mohammed and former US president Bill Clinton pose for a picture with Nancie Atwell, a teacher from Southport, Maine, after she won the $1 million Global Teacher Prize in Dubai, in March 2015. AP -
Sheikh Mohammed looks at plans for Al Ittihad Bridge in Dubai. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid talks to children at the inauguration of Al Jalila Child Culture Centre in Dubai, in December 2014. Wam -
Sheikh Mohammed inaugurates the Dubai Metro Green Line in September 2011. AFP -
Sheikh Mohammed and Prince Salman bin Sultan, Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister of Defence, greet military personnel who took part in a joint UAE-Egypt military exercise in Al Gharbia in March 2014. Photo: Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
"I would like to dedicate the fourth of January this year to my wife, Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum, my companion, my support and my backer in this life," Sheikh Mohammed wrote.
"Sheikha Hind is one of the most compassionate, generous and charitable people. She is the pillar of my home, the foundation of my family and my greatest supporter throughout my career.
"I call on everyone to be loyal to those who deserve loyalty. Loyalty to our companion on the path and our support in this life."
Nineteen years of progress
Dubai's transformation into a global city happened under Sheikh Mohammed's watch. Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, opened in 2010. Other major projects such as Dubai Marina, Dubai Metro and shopping centres such as Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates elevated Dubai even more.
More recently, Sheikh Mohammed was pivotal to Dubai's recovery as the UAE as a whole bounced back from Covid-19 faster than most countries, and also oversaw the safe and successful staging of Expo 2020 Dubai, which attracted people from around the globe.
From the small town Sheikh Mohammed was born in, Dubai's population now stands at more than 3.8 million today, with a recent boom showing no signs of slowing down.
Sheikha Hind's leadership role
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Volunteers distribute iftar meals as part of the UAE Food Bank drive at Zabeel Park, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Food is distributed to workers under the 1,000 Meals campaign, part of the UAE Food Bank programme held at Zabeel Park. Pawan Singh / The National -
A chef prepares a giant vat of biryani to be served up. Pawan Singh / The National -
Iftar meals are served up and distributed to workers in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Workers gather to break their fast with free iftar meals. Pawan Singh / The National -
Fruit, bread and water are added each day to a fridge set up by the UAE Food Bank outside Lulu Village in Muhaisnah, Dubai. Victor Besa / The National -
The charitable drive aims to cut food waste while ensuring nobody goes hungry. Pawan Singh / The National -
Boxes with biryani, laban, fruit and dates are placed for iftar at Zabeel Park in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
The UAE Food Bank at Lulu Village, Muhaisnah 4 in Dubai. Victor Besa / The National -
Supplies at the UAE Food Bank at Lulu Village. Victor Besa / The National -
The UAE Food Bank helps to distribute thousands of iftar meals during Ramadan. Victor Besa / The National -
Maintenance workers pick up fruit from the food bank. Victor Besa / The National
Sheikha Hind has herself played a significant role in the rise of Dubai and has sought to champion humanitarian values over the years.
In October 2020, she was honoured by the UN for leading a charitable initiative that delivered millions of meals to people in need during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The UAE's "10 million meals' campaign" – which operated throughout Ramadan – exceeded its own lofty target by providing 15.3 million meals and food parcels to low-income families and those hardest hit by the outbreak.
Sheikha Hind was named Humanitarian of the Year 2020 at the Arab Woman Awards UAE for her efforts in leading the community-spirited project.
She has led the UAE Food Bank since it was established in 2017, a body that co-ordinates the distribution of surplus food from restaurants, the hospitality sector and other outlets to those less fortunate.
