UAE Press: Lessons From Mohammed’s Journey Of Life

A UAE newspaper commented editorially today on the book telling the life experiences of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Qissati (My Story)

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 15th Jan, 2019) A UAE newspaper commented editorially today on the book telling the life experiences of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Qissati (My Story).

The Dubai-based newspaper Gulf news said of the publication, "He terms it an 'incomplete biography', but it offers a rich panoply of his insights into life, leadership and family values. Sheikh Mohammed's experiences are rich and varied: from life in the desert to the age of air-conditioning; from seafaring days to the time of long-haul flights; from the pearl-diving past to the era of oil; from hamlets to a city filled with skyscrapers. The journey has helped Sheikh Mohammed gain valuable knowledge, and he shares them with readers of this book."

The paper continued, "It is unusual for leaders to relate anecdotes from their personal lives. Most prefer to keep them a closely-guarded secret. Sheikh Mohammed refuses to cover the turning points in his life with the veil of secrecy. Instead, he offers them as a guide to people who can use them to chart their own success. Dubai’s transformation from a fishing village to an ultra-modern city is ample proof of the success of the methods employed by Sheikh Mohammed and his predecessors."

"In the book, Sheikh Mohammed says that Dubai is not a mere coincidence. It was a journey begun by Sheikh Maktoum bin Butti and nurtured by Sheikh Hasher bin Maktoum and Sheikh Rashid bin Maktoum.

As trade and commerce took roots, security, stability and economic development followed, Sheikh Mohammed explains referring to Dubai’s unceasing quest for diversification."

The editorial went on to describe the book's essence in which the Dubai Ruler reflects on the successes and failures, crises and its solutions, personal loss and grief, with all serving as lessons to surmount future setbacks.

"Sheikh Mohammed touches an emotional chord when he talks about his mother Sheikha Latifa, and the pain and void at her loss. Recalling other disasters and tragedies like the huge fire in Deira and the outbreak of measles, Sheikh Mohammed says, every setback spurred Dubai to rebuild and regain strength. Like how the measles outbreak prompted his grandfather Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum to build a hospital, the Rashid Hospital which to this day provides care for the ill and the infirm."

Sheikh Mohammed also discusses his outlook in the book, saying, "The worst things to affect a human being are vanity, megalomania, the belief in one’s own power and his dependence on his limited mortal strength."

"There are many more nuggets like these in his book. Nuggets that offer lessons that could be useful to one and all people and leaders, citizens and expatriates," concluded the paper.