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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid tours the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in 2017. Mohamed Al Hammadi/Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum watches his horses walk into the paddock at the Breeders' Cup in Belmont Park, New York in October 1995. Dan Farrell / New York Daily News Archive
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid is seen with Sheikh Rashid during a visit to the Northern Emirates in 1980. Courtesy Aletihad
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid welcomes home Sheikh Zayed, alongside Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, upon Sheikh Zayed's return to the UAE in 1995. Courtesy National Archives
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid speaks with Sheikh Zayed while watching the final race of the Annual Camel Festival at Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, in 1996. Courtesy National Archives
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid receives a trophy from King Abdullah of Jordan in Manama after the Bahrain Endurance Ride, an equestrian marathon, in 2000. AFP
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid and his son Sheikh Hamdan take part in the Horses Capacity and Endurance Championship in Kuwait City, in 2003. AFP
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid presents United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan with the Zayed International Prize for the Environment in Dubai , in 2006. AFP
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid shows a falcon to US President George W. Bush during a visit to Dubai in 2008. AFP
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid tips his glasses to view a race horse in the parade ring during the first day of Royal Ascot, in Berkshire, west of London, in 2009. AFP
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid meets with Queen Elizabeth II at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, in 2010. Getty Images
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid takes a ride on the Dubai metro in 2011. AFP
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid and actor Tom Cruise attend the "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" premiere in Dubai, in 2011. Getty Images
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid takes a tour of an Emirates A380 airliner, during the opening ceremony of the Dubai Airshow in 2013. AFP
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid waves to the crowd as he takes part in celebrations near Burj Khalifa marking the UAE national day and the victory for Dubai to host the 2020 Expo, in 2013. AFP
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid rejoices after winning the Dubai World Cup with his horse African Story ridden by Silvestre De Sousa in 2014. Getty Images
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid tours the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in 2017. Mohamed Al Hammadi/Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum watches his horses walk into the paddock at the Breeders' Cup in Belmont Park, New York in October 1995. Dan Farrell / New York Daily News Archive
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid is seen with Sheikh Rashid during a visit to the Northern Emirates in 1980. Courtesy Aletihad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CS23W4V3VZP7VV5F3RPQ5Q46GQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d913c1e41abf0c2e8e86d1b9359d915e5fb2ffc1f710163aa60285a03970f407&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid welcomes home Sheikh Zayed, alongside Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, upon Sheikh Zayed's return to the UAE in 1995. Courtesy National Archives
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid speaks with Sheikh Zayed while watching the final race of the Annual Camel Festival at Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, in 1996. Courtesy National Archives
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WHXNGRF4MR2FWW2A53RG6SUSHA.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb6e0fc8a9135df0298154f0f3230d3667b9399e7cf65ba0fff51c6318235d1c&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid receives a trophy from King Abdullah of Jordan in Manama after the Bahrain Endurance Ride, an equestrian marathon, in 2000. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SZJ5SE6KJONFOSIGB4XB7TUOIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=c1d28a9059a80587ed265cd5f2937a05f291e1753ccff89f8c3b31dd79222884&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid and his son Sheikh Hamdan take part in the Horses Capacity and Endurance Championship in Kuwait City, in 2003. AFP
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid presents United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan with the Zayed International Prize for the Environment in Dubai , in 2006. AFP
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid shows a falcon to US President George W. Bush during a visit to Dubai in 2008. AFP
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid tips his glasses to view a race horse in the parade ring during the first day of Royal Ascot, in Berkshire, west of London, in 2009. AFP
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid meets with Queen Elizabeth II at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, in 2010. Getty Images
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid takes a ride on the Dubai metro in 2011. AFP
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid and actor Tom Cruise attend the "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol" premiere in Dubai, in 2011. Getty Images
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid takes a tour of an Emirates A380 airliner, during the opening ceremony of the Dubai Airshow in 2013. AFP
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid waves to the crowd as he takes part in celebrations near Burj Khalifa marking the UAE national day and the victory for Dubai to host the 2020 Expo, in 2013. AFP
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid rejoices after winning the Dubai World Cup with his horse African Story ridden by Silvestre De Sousa in 2014. Getty Images
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Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid tours the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in 2017. Mohamed Al Hammadi/Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
A look back at Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid's 50 years of service to his country
From negotiating with hijackers to leading Cabinet meetings, the Ruler of Dubai has a long record of public service
![James Langton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F59aec61e-41b3-468c-8a69-57168338145b.png?smart=true&auth=20537dd68c837a65707d347b248e74bad34b378390f02a7be13b68d756185b99&width=70&height=70)
James Langton
31 December, 2018
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