Sheikh Mohammed pays tribute to his father

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Sheikh Mohammed pays tribute to his father

Dubai - "I learned from my father that each dirham has a great value."

By Hisham Salah

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Published: Thu 24 Jan 2019, 4:43 PM

Last updated: Fri 25 Jan 2019, 12:22 AM

In the 11th chapter from his latest book, Qissati, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, reveals the lessons he learned from his father, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed. He writes that he learned from his father how every dirham counts.
The lessons I learn from my father Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed never end. He was a whole school, a teacher, a wise man and a father figure to everyone. He always started his day with the dawn prayer. Even now, I wake up at the same time he did.
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He used to wake up before dawn for prayer and then he started his field tour to check and follow up on the progress of projects. He then came back to have breakfast my mother made. She insisted on making his breakfast despite having domestic helpers.

He used to meet officials and take them to his office at the creek to meet project supervisors. They were always surprised by his conversations because he knew every little detail about their projects. In fact, he had better understanding of the projects.
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There were three benefits to my father's morning tours: One, when the supervisors understood the ruler cared about their projects, they cared about even the smallest details. Two, they were motivated to work hard on the projects Sheikh Rashid launched. Third, no supplier would dare commit any financial irregularities.
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My father began his reign by focussing on the Dubai Creek. For him, the most important project was to expand the creek. He directed the authorities to increase the depth of the creek by drilling the rock and sand sediments, which were used later to regain the land covered by the sea. This land area was sold later and the money was used to finance the costs of expanding the creek.
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As a result, the Dubai Creek attracted increasing numbers of ships and vessels that improved trade movement. Under my father's rule, Dubai witnessed many projects such as the Dubai Creek, telephone company, electricity company, Dubai airport and many others.

Since early childhood, I learned from my father that a leader is the most active person and the most efficient to implement a project. I learned from my father that each dirham has a great value.

In what he is calling his "incomplete biography", His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has broken his latest book, Qissati (My Story), into 50 chapters, narrating 50 stories in his 50 years of serving the nation. Khaleej Times got a signed copy of the book from the Dubai Ruler and everyday, we will be featuring excerpts from each of the 50 chapters.


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