Mohammed bin Rashid ... A leader par excellence Mohammed bin ...

Cover StoryOn January 4th, 2006, His Highness Sheikh Mohammedbin Rashid Al Maktoum became the Ruler of Dubaifollowing the death of Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid AlMaktoum.On January 5th, the members of the Supreme Councilelected HH Sheikh Mohammed as the UAE Vice President,and they sanctioned the proposal of the UAEPresident His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed AlNahyan tasking His Highness Sheikh Mohammed asthe UAE Prime Minister, and setting up a new cabinet.On 11 February 2006 HH Sheikh Mohammed and themembers of his Cabinet took their oaths in front of HHSheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Al Bateen Palacein Abu Dhabi.Since Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum hasbecome the Vice President and Prime Minister of theUAE and Ruler of Dubai, groundbreaking initiativeshave been rolled out at an astonishing pace with multipleinitiatives on the go.The year 2007 witnessed unique achievements for HHSheikh Mohammed both locally and regionally. OnFebruary 3rd, HH announced the Dubai Strategic Plan,which aims to bolster Dubai’s leading position in theregion and boost its role as an international economicand financial hub. The strategy is viewed as a roadmap for development in the coming years.On April 17th, 2007, HH Sheikh Mohammed unveiledthe UAE Government Strategy Plan with the aim ofachieving sustainable development throughout thecountry, investing federal resources more efficientlyand ensuring due diligence, accountability and transparencyacross various entities.Regionally, the most outstanding achievement wasthe launch of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al MaktoumFoundation, on May 19th, 2007, with an endowmentof $10 billion. The foundation’s aim is to promote humandevelopment by investing in education and thedevelopment of knowledge in the region by cultivatingfuture leaders in both the private and public sectors,promoting scientific research, spreading knowledge,encouraging business leadership, empowering youth,renewing the concept of culture, preserving heritageand promoting platforms of understanding amongvarious cultures.In keeping with the continuous endeavours of HH toensure a better future for humanity, HH Sheikh Mohammedlaunched on September 20th, 2007 the DubaiCares campaign. The campaign is considered one ofthe biggest international humanitarian movements tofocus on fighting poverty, spreading knowledge andproviding education for children in the world’s poorestcountries.On September 3rd, 2008, HH Sheikh Mohammed unveiledthe Noor Dubai initiative aiming in the initialphase to deliver preventative eye care to over onemillion people suffering blindness and optical disabilityaround the globe through providing them with themeans of prevention against diseases causing blindness.This initiative is considered a further addition tothe lofty reputation of the UAE; which lends a helpingIssue 31 - January 2011 - www.rta.ae4