RAS AL KHAIMAH // He may be a Crown Prince, but to old classmates, Sheikh Mohammed is still the fun-loving wit who attended Ras al Khaimah English Speaking School (Rakess), the most humorous of his graduating class at the University of California.
Joelle Leboutte, 23, who attended school with Sheikh Mohammed from nursery until grade 12, said: "He was very playful and mischievous and he always knew how to make everyone laugh. He was shy but he was very friendly, he would talk with everyone."
He was popular with teachers too. John Mathai, a mathematics teacher at Rakess who also tutored Sheikh Mohammed during his university years, said: "He's one of the most sincere boys in his studies, he is really eager to learn."
Sheikh Mohammed finished his studies at Rakess in summer 2004 before taking undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.
He already holds the respect of his people. Brigadier Saeed Laha, who runs a private museum that Sheikh Mohammed was attending when he was announced as Crown Prince, said: "He knows the people here and he knows what the people think about.
"He learnt from two schools: from his grandfather and his father. And two schools are better than one."
