A Dubai conference was given a glimpse into the work ethic of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth, told the World Government Summit on Wednesday how she saw a first-hand example of the efforts Sheikh Mohammed made to keep Dubai running smoothly.
Ms Al Mazrui said she set out to get to Emirates Towers, where the cabinet office and prime minister's office are located, ahead of her colleagues - only to find Sheikh Mohammed was the first one there.
“Just a few weeks ago I was going to work early and was very happy to reach the towers before everyone else,” said Ms Al Mazrui.
“Then I saw the car of His Highness who had arrived before me.
“It was a lesson in leadership - some people might think you could work less as a leader but he showed you have a responsibility to work harder.”
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Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, listen to 'ethical hacker' David Colombo speak at a session at the World Government Summit 2022. Pawan Singh / The National -
Colombo, founder and chief executive of the Colombo Technology cyber security company, at the summit. Pawan Singh / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, attends the World Government Summit in Dubai. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Deputy Ruler of Dubai, at the summit. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
George Friedman, founder and chairman of Geopolitical Futures, at the summit. Pawan Singh / The National -
The summit will conclude on Wednesday. Pawan Singh / The National -
A visitor steps on to a self-driving vehicle at the summit. Pawan Singh / The National -
Thousands of delegates and hundreds of speakers are attending the summit. Pawan Singh / The National -
CNBC anchor Hadley Gamble, left, moderates a panel discussion featuring the UAE's Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Suhail Al Mazrouei, Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and Iraqi Kurdistan's Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. AFP -
People arrive at the World Government Summit, being held on Tuesday and Wednesday. Pawan Singh / The National -
People arrive at the World Government Summit, being held on Tuesday and Wednesday. Pawan Singh / The National -
A poster shows Elon Musk, a speaker at a previous year's event. Pawan Singh / The National -
Delegates at the World Government Summit 2022. Pawan Singh / The National -
The conference centre at Expo 2020 Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
The auditorium is one of the major buildings that will remain in place after the world's fair ends. Pawan Singh / The National
Sheikh Mohammed has long been known for his work ethic, often stopping by government offices unannounced to make sure people are at their desks.
In 2016, he arrived at the Land Department and Department of Economic Development for a spot check at the start of the working day — to find that no one had turned up for work.
It sent a message to chiefs across the emirate that they had to work hard.
Ms Al Mazrui, meanwhile, also talked about how the UAE government had excelled during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We were agile and resilient," she said. "We built strong systems to weather storms such as the pandemic.
"The capability of the government team and our unity created a stronger team and a better response.
“We hosted Expo 2020 Dubai, we sent an unmanned spacecraft to Mars, we launched a nuclear reactor, and we opened the Museum of the Future.
She made her comments in a discussion onstage bridging generations of female Emirati leadership with Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the UAE’s first female minister.
“One of the most important values in a person is respect and appreciation for others,” said Sheikha Lubna.
Everyone who played a role in the success of the UAE’s first 50 years deserves to be applauded, she said.
“There must be respect for everyone who played a part in building this country, regardless of race and religion.”
