Dubai Mourns Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid, Declares Period of Mourning
Dubai (Agencies): Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, led the funeral prayer for the body of his brother, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who passed away on Monday. The Diwan of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid announced the death of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the son of the former Ruler of Dubai and the younger brother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. The Diwan declared an official mourning period and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast in Dubai for ten days.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, conveyed his condolences to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. Through the X platform, he said: “My sincere condolences and sympathies to my brother Mohammed bin Rashid and to all the respected Al Maktoum family in the passing of the late Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, may God have mercy on him. His achievements will remain present in our memories, and his national contributions stand as a testament to a career full of giving. We ask God for his mercy and forgiveness, and that He grant him a spacious place in Paradise, and inspire his family with patience and solace.”
The deceased was the fourth and youngest son of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who ruled Dubai from 1958 until his death in 1990. He was one of the founding fathers of the UAE and played a pivotal role in laying the foundations of Dubai’s modern economic and urban renaissance.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid mourned his late brother, saying: “May God have mercy on Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum... May God have mercy on you, my brother... You have gone to a Generous and Great Lord... You are absent from our eyes but not from our prayers and hearts, O Ahmed.” He added: “May God grant you a spacious place in His Paradise... and inspire us and your loved ones with patience and solace... Verily we belong to God, and verily to Him we shall return.”
Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid served as Deputy Chairman of the Dubai Police and General Security. His name was associated for decades with several sports fields, foremost among them football, horse racing, and water sports. He graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK before joining the military and taking command of the Dubai Central Military Zone base.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid’s presence in the UAE sports landscape was particularly notable through Al Wasl Club, which he was linked to since his early years and chaired for a long period. He was one of the most prominent supporters of the club’s progress and development, earning him the title of “the spiritual father” of Al Wasl among its fans.
He was also closely associated with equestrian sports and horse racing, playing a prominent role in developing the sport in Dubai, particularly through the Meydan Racecourse, which became one of the most prominent horse racing venues in the UAE. His relationship with horse racing spanned more than four decades; his horses competed in local and international races, achieving victories at global venues. His stables were famous for their yellow and black colors.
His sporting activities were not limited to football and equestrianism. He played a role in founding the Dubai International Water Sports Club, serving as its chairman upon its establishment in the late 1980s, during a period that saw the launch of Emirati water sports into international competitions.
