Death of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Dubai declares 10-day mourning period
The Diwan of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, announced on Monday the passing of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, son of Dubai’s former ruler Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the younger brother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. The Diwan declared an official period of mourning and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast in Dubai for ten days, starting Monday.
The late Sheikh Ahmed 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 United Arab Emirates and played a pivotal role in laying the foundations of Dubai’s modern economic and urban development.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid served as Deputy Chairman of the Dubai Police and General Security. Over several decades, his name became closely associated with various sports fields, notably football, horse racing, and marine sports. He graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom before joining the military and taking command of the Dubai Central Region Military Base.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid made a particularly prominent presence in the UAE sports scene through Al Wasl Club, with which he was affiliated from his early years and which he chaired for an extended period. He was among the club’s most prominent supporters, contributing significantly to its progress and development, earning him the title of Al Wasl’s “spiritual father” among its fans.
His name was also closely linked to equestrian sports and horse racing, where he played a key role in developing the discipline in Dubai, particularly through the Meydan Racecourse, which became one of the premier horse racing venues in the UAE. His involvement in horse racing spanned more than four decades; his horses competed in local and international races, achieving victories at global venues, and his stables were renowned for their distinctive yellow and black colors.
His sporting activities extended beyond football and equestrian sports. He played a role in founding the Dubai International Marine Sports Club and served as its chairman upon its establishment in the late 1980s, during a period when UAE marine sports were beginning to compete on the international stage.
