Dubai's deputy ruler Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid dies at 75
Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the deputy ruler of Dubai and Finance Minister of the United Arab Emirates, has died, his brother said on Wednesday. He was 75. Sheikh Hamdan served as deputy leader of Dubai under his brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the hereditary ruler of the city-state who also serves as Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE.
Sheikh Hamdan had been in poor health for several months
Emirati officials announced Sheikh Hamdan's death without specifying the cause. He had been in poor health for several months. Last fall, he flew abroad for an unspecified surgery and in recent weeks his brother Sheikh Mohammed tweeted prayers for his recovery. Born on December 25, 1949, the second son of late ruler Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, he grew up in the Trucial States.
He had held the post of Finance Minister since 1971
When the UAE formed its first Cabinet in 1971, Sheikh Hamdan became Finance Minister and held the post until his death, attracting foreign investment, managing the country's oil wealth, and, overseeing the transformation of Dubai into a regional financial hub. He also led Emirati delegations to the International Monetary Fund and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for international development.
Sheikh Hamdan was also a big name in horse racing
Sheikh Hamdan controlled a wide array of conglomerates across Dubai's economy, such as the Dubai Ports Authority, Dubai World Trade Center, and Dubai Natural Gas Company Limited. Like his brother, he became a big name in horse racing out of the UAE, founding Shadwell Racing in 1981, an operation with a legacy of producing star thoroughbreds.
Funeral service will be restricted to family members
Sheikh Hamdan's funeral service will be restricted to the family because of COVID-19, according to the government-run media office, which ordered government offices closed for three days of mourning. "We lost one of the most loyal men of the UAE after a life full of giving and sincere patriotism," wrote the country's de facto ruler, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
