Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum explained

Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Sheikh
Succession:Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates
Termstart:14 July 2024
President:Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Predecessor:Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Succession1:Minister of Defence[1]
Termstart:14 July 2024
President:Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Predecessor:Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Succession2:Crown Prince of Dubai
Termstart:1 February 2008
Predecessor:Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Succession3:Deputy Ruler of Dubai
Termstart:4 January 2006
Termend:1 February 2008
Predecessor:Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Alongside:Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Successor:Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Birth Date:14 November 1982
Birth Place:Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Spouse:Sheikha Shaikha bint Saeed bin Thani Al Maktoum (m. 2019)
Issue:Rashid bin Hamdan Al Maktoum
Shaikha bint Hamdan Al Maktoum
Mohammed bin Hamdan Al Maktoum
Birth Name:Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
House:Al Maktoum
Father:Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Mother:Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum
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Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (; born 14 November 1982) is an Emirati royal and politician who has been the Crown Prince of Dubai since 2008. He is the Minister of Defence of the UAE since 14 July 2024. He served as deputy ruler of Dubai from 2006 to 2008. He is popularly known as Fazza (Arabic: فزاع), the name under which he publishes his poetry, which means "the one who helps" in Arabic.[2] As an equestrian, Maktoum is a multiple world champion at the World Equestrian Games.[3] [4]

Early life and education

Hamdan bin Mohammed is the son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, the senior wife of Mohammed. He is the second male child of their twelve children and he is the third son of his father. Hamdan's elder full brother was Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed.[5]

Hamdan bin Mohammed was educated in Dubai at the Rashid School For Boys and then at the Dubai School of Government.[6] He continued his studies in the United Kingdom, where he graduated from Sandhurst in 2001;[7] he later attended the London School of Economics.[8] [9] In his interview with Vision he described how Sandhurst taught him the importance of self-discipline, commitment, virtue, responsibility, endurance, understanding, teamwork, friendship and the benefits of hard work.[10]

Positions and Roles

Hamdan bin Mohammed was appointed as the Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council in September 2006.[9] On 1 February 2008, he was appointed Crown Prince of Dubai, while his brother Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum acceded to Deputy Ruler of Dubai.[11] [12] As the new hereditary prince, Maktoum appointed new key personnel and financial advisors such as economist John Calverly and hedge fund personality James T. Naeem, while Maktoum himself became head of HN Capital LLP.[13] He is the head of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for young entrepreneurs; he sits on the Dubai sports council and the Dubai autism centre.[8]

He was part of the Dubai World Expo 2020 delegation when the emirate was awarded the right to host the event.[14] He went to the top floor of the Burj Khalifa to wave the UAE flag a few days after the World Expo 2020 win.[15] He is the founder of the Hamdan International Photography Award, which was launched in 2011.[16]

In June 2022, Sheikh Hamdan launched the "Dubai Global" initiative, which was meant to establish 50 commercial representative offices for Dubai on five continents worldwide. The initiative supported Dubai-based firms and strengthened the city's position as a business hub.[17]

Sheikh Hamdan was appointed Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates on 14 July 2024, succeeding his father Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who held this designation since the formation of the UAE in 1971.[18]

Equestrian

He rides for Godolphin Stables and has attended the Royal Ascot.[19]

Sheikh Hamdan won a gold medal at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy (FRA), team gold in 2012, and a bronze medal in 2010. He led a team of five UAE riders at the Championships in Samorín on 17 September 2016.[20] [21]

In 2009, he was banned for 10 months from competition after it was found one of his horses was competing while on a steroid.[22] In 2013, evidence shared from The Daily Telegraph showed Sheikh Hamdan was riding a horse under a false name during the 2012 World Championships at Euston Park.[23]

Personal life and interests

The Crown Prince's Instagram account has more than 15 million followers, as of November 2022. He posts pictures that showcase his hobbies, which include animals, poetry, sports, photography, and adventures.[24]

Hamdan Al Maktoum is a licensed equestrian, skydiver, and scuba diver. He dives in Fujairah. He is known for his romantic and patriotic poems in Arabic. He publishes his poems under the pen name of Fazza (فزاع). On 15 May 2019, Hamdan married Sheikha Shaikha bint Saeed bin Thani Al Maktoum.[25] [26] [27] On the same day, his brothers, Maktoum and Ahmad, also got married.[28] On 6 June 2019, he and his brothers celebrated the royal weddings together at the Dubai World Trade Centre.[29]

On 21 May 2021, it was announced that Sheikh Hamdan had welcomed twins, a son named Rashid and a daughter named Shaikha.[30] [31] On 25 February 2023, Sheikh Hamdan and his wife Sheikha Shaikha welcomed a son, named Mohammed bin Hamdan Al Maktoum.[32]

Honours

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/hamdan-appointed-deputy-prime-minister-in-new-uae-cabinet-1.103499212
  2. Web site: 1 February 2021. 13 facts about Sheikh Hamdan to celebrate 13 years as Crown Prince of Dubai . 2 February 2021 . . en.
  3. News: Sheikh Hamdan takes father's Endurance World Championship crown . 29 August 2014 . . 30 April 2021 . en.
  4. News: Sheikh Hamdan crowned champion of FEI World Equestrian Games . 30 August 2014 . Buro247 . 30 April 2021 . en . 2 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210502180402/https://www.buro247.me/lifestyle/sport/hamdan-fei-world-equestrian.html . dead .
  5. News: Christopher M. Davidson . A tale of two desert dynasties . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/6678142/A-tale-of-two-desert-dynasties.html . 12 January 2022 . subscription . live . 16 April 2013 . . 29 November 2009.
  6. Web site: Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum . 19 September 2015 . royalista.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150923181712/http://royalista.com/person/crown-prince-hamdan-bin-mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum . 23 September 2015.
  7. Web site: HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum . . 4 May 2017 . registration.
  8. News: Profile: Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammad Al Maktoum . . 1 February 2008 . 9 January 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080209093910/http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/02/01/10186495.html . 9 February 2008.
  9. News: Shaikh Hamdan appointed Dubai's Crown Prince . . 1 February 2008 . 9 February 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080208151248/http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/02/01/10186492.html . 8 February 2008.
  10. Web site: A very modern prince . https://web.archive.org/web/20140731005246/http://vision.ae/en/special_report/a_very_modern_prince . dead . 31 July 2014 . 28 July 2016.
  11. News: Sheikh Mohammed: A timeline of achievements . 5 January 2019 . . 16 April 2021 . en.
  12. News: Maktoum Bin Mohammad: Following in his father's footsteps . 5 June 2019 . . 16 April 2021 . en.
  13. Web site: Fan Page information source . 29 April 2021.
  14. Web site: Expo 2020: Dubai celebrates in style . 28 July 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141223140241/http://vision.ae/en/articles/expo_2020_dubai_celebrates_in_style . 23 December 2014.
  15. News: Shaikh Hamdan waves UAE flag from top of Burj Khalifa . . 28 November 2013 . 28 July 2016.
  16. Web site: Hamdan International Photography Award . artdubai.ae . 19 September 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150925115747/http://artdubai.ae/hipa . 25 September 2015.
  17. News: Hamdan bin Mohammed launches ‘Dubai Global’ initiative . 2022-06-28 . . 2022-11-14. en.
  18. Web site: 2024-07-14 . Hamdan appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence in new UAE Cabinet . 2024-07-14 . Gulf News . En.
  19. Web site: Mohammed, Hamdan at the second day of Royal Ascot . . 18 June 2015 . 28 February 2017.
  20. Web site: Longines FEI World Endurance Championships 2016 - Slovakia Welcomes Record 46 Nations . . 15 September 2016 . 17 September 2016.
  21. News: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed gets ready to retain World Equestrian Games title . 2016-09-17 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20161011145658/http://www.thenational.ae/sport/horse-racing/sheikh-hamdan-bin-mohammed-gets-ready-to-retain-world-equestrian-games-title . 2016-10-11 . 2022-09-09 . en.
  22. News: Paley . Tony . 2009-08-13 . Crown prince of Dubai banned 10 months for riding doped horse . 2024-07-16 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  23. Web site: Investigation Re-Opens In Sheikh Hamdan Horse Switching - The Chronicle of the Horse . 2024-07-16 . en-US.
  24. Web site: Iyer . Anita . 3 January 2018 . Do you know who Sheikh Hamdan follows on Instagram? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200205135106/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/dubai/do-you-know-who-sheikh-hamdan-follows-on-instagram . 5 February 2020 . 26 October 2018 . Khaleej Times.
  25. News: 16 June 2019 . Everything that went down at the Dubai Royal Wedding this weekend . Emirates Woman . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20191024024340/https://emirateswoman.com/royal-wedding-dubai/ . 24 October 2019.
  26. News: Sheikh Hamdan married: Dubai Crown Prince and brothers celebrate their weddings . 2019-05-17 . . 2022-11-15. en.
  27. News: UAE celebrates Hamdan, Maktoum, Ahmad weddings . . 6 June 2019.
  28. News: The Sons of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum are Married! Here's Everything You Need to Know . 16 May 2019 . . 3 March 2021 . en.
  29. News: Blog: An inside look at Al Maktoum royal wedding . 6 June 2019 . . 3 March 2021 . en.
  30. News: Sheikh Hamdan welcomes twins Rashid and Sheikha into the world . 2021-05-22 . . 2021-08-09 . en.
  31. News: Photos: Dubai's Sheikh Hamdan becomes a father, welcomes twins . 2021-05-20 . . 2021-08-09 . en.
  32. Web site: Dubai: Sheikh Hamdan announces birth of third child. Khaleej Times. Nasreen. Abdulla. 25 February 2023. 25 February 2023.
  33. News: REAL DECRETO 893/2008 . 27 May 2008 . . 5 March 2021 . en.