Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid was at the centre of efforts to build the country up following unification in 1971.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid was at the centre of efforts to build the country up following unification in 1971.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid was at the centre of efforts to build the country up following unification in 1971.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid was at the centre of efforts to build the country up following unification in 1971.

How Sheikh Mohammed set up a military force and confronted the first crisis of the Union


James Langton
  • English
  • Arabic

Latest: Sheikh Mohammed offered Saddam Hussein asylum in 2003, new autobiography reveals

As a witness to history, there can be few better placed to tell the UAE's story than Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

In his new autobiography, My Story, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai sheds light on some crucial events of the past 50 years and gives his own interpretation of their significance.

The creation of the UAE in 1971 ended treaties that had bound the seven emirates to Britain and its empire for 150 years.

It was a relationship Sheikh Mohammed felt had yielded very little of benefit.

Soon to be put in charge of military defence, he went as far as to describe the British presence as “a burden because they did not attend to the development needs of the people".

As the last of Britain's forces left from their Royal Air Force base in neighbouring Sharjah, Sheikh Mohammed recalled: “I felt ultimate freedom when the last military jet departed. Troops beamed and shouted in excitement. My military and force defence mission had started.”

Yet Sheikh Mohammed also reveals an understanding of some of the complexities and apparent contradictions involved.

In the late 1960s he received training at one of Britain’s leading military academies, Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, which later merged with Sandhurst.

How, he wonders, was Britain “able to control a quarter of the Earth’s area and be an empire that always sees the light", referring to the UK's idea that the territory under its control was so vast, the sun never set on all of it.

It was clear, the young Sheikh Mohammed thought, that British officer training must be the best in the world.

“I pledged not to return to Dubai unless I was physically, mentally and militarily able to withstand everything.”

Returning to his emirate in 1968, his qualities would soon be tested. As a young commander, he faced challenges that now seem like distant memories.

He was 19 when he had to "establish an army in a country with no army, prepare a defence plan to a nation that wasn’t born yet, work on unifying forces for seven emirates that were not yet bonded by trust.

“My duty was to create an army that would fill the British gap in only three years and secure protection for a small nation in an unstable region that is stricken with conflict, greed and conspiracy.”

Those conflicts were external and sometimes internal. He was at the forefront of dealing with a string of aircraft hijackers who landed their hostages in Dubai.

The creation of the UAE saw the new country at first relying on the Trucial Oman Scouts for its defence. This was a force of 2,500 men created by the British with its own officers and troops gathered largely from Jordan, as well as a few local soldiers.

It was these men that Sheikh Mohammed relied upon to deal with the UAE's first crisis. Sharjah's former ruler – Sheikh Saqr bin Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi –attempted a coup in early 1972.

UAE leaders were concerned about Sheikh Saqr’s support for Arab nationalism and the Egyptian leader, Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Sheikh Saqr, who had fallen out of favour and was exiled in the 1960s, returned from Egypt with mercenaries. Sharjah's Ruler, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, was killed in the fighting.

“It was inconceivable to threaten the security of the emirate, change its policy and throw a coup at their legitimate leaders at all costs,” Sheikh Mohammed writes in his new book.

“Our main fear was that the coup’s dimension would be deeper than an internal dispute over governance and involve foreign factions, supporters and followers.”

_______________

Read more:

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Seven key moments from the Ruler of Dubai's new autobiography

Sheikh Mohammed offered Saddam Hussein asylum in 2003, new book reveals

Sheikh Zayed and Europe: A trip that inspired his vision of the UAE – including the Louvre

_______________

Instructed by the new UAE president, Sheikh Zayed, to “get it over quickly", as Sheikh Mohammed recalls, he negotiated with Sheikh Saqr by phone while waiting for reinforcements to arrive from Abu Dhabi.

“I warned him that I had a great army that will break into the palace any time and that there was no way for them to escape.”

After six days, Sheikh Saqr surrendered to make way for the current Ruler of Sharjah, Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi.

Sheikh Saqr died in the early 1990s.

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg

Rating: 4/5

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

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Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

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%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
CREW
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Australia squads

ODI: Tim Paine (capt), Aaron Finch (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye.

T20: Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth.

MATCH INFO

Scotland 59 (Tries: Hastings (2), G Horne (3), Turner, Seymour, Barclay, Kinghorn, McInally; Cons: Hastings 8)

Russia 0

$1,000 award for 1,000 days on madrasa portal

Daily cash awards of $1,000 dollars will sweeten the Madrasa e-learning project by tempting more pupils to an education portal to deepen their understanding of math and sciences.

School children are required to watch an educational video each day and answer a question related to it. They then enter into a raffle draw for the $1,000 prize.

“We are targeting everyone who wants to learn. This will be $1,000 for 1,000 days so there will be a winner every day for 1,000 days,” said Sara Al Nuaimi, project manager of the Madrasa e-learning platform that was launched on Tuesday by the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to reach Arab pupils from kindergarten to grade 12 with educational videos.  

“The objective of the Madrasa is to become the number one reference for all Arab students in the world. The 5,000 videos we have online is just the beginning, we have big ambitions. Today in the Arab world there are 50 million students. We want to reach everyone who is willing to learn.”

Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

Cry Macho

Director: Clint Eastwood

Stars: Clint Eastwood, Dwight Yoakam

Rating:**

The specs

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Various artists, Sony Music Turkey 

THE BIO

Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren

Favourite travel destination: Switzerland

Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers

Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum

Brief scores:

Toss: Nepal, chose to field

UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23

Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17

Result: UAE won by 21 runs

Series: UAE lead 1-0

Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

The biog

Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.

It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.

They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Armies of Sand

By Kenneth Pollack (Oxford University Press)
 

Company Profile 

Founder: Omar Onsi

Launched: 2018

Employees: 35

Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)

Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners

Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

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Arrogate's winning run

1. Maiden Special Weight, Santa Anita Park, June 5, 2016

2. Allowance Optional Claiming, Santa Anita Park, June 24, 2016

3. Allowance Optional Claiming, Del Mar, August 4, 2016

4. Travers Stakes, Saratoga, August 27, 2016

5. Breeders' Cup Classic, Santa Anita Park, November 5, 2016

6. Pegasus World Cup, Gulfstream Park, January 28, 2017

7. Dubai World Cup, Meydan Racecourse, March 25, 2017

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How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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The Buckingham Murders

Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu

Director: Hansal Mehta

Rating: 4 / 5