Father of Dubai taught us to hold our heads high

It has been 30 years since the “Father of Dubai,” Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, bade us farewell. His passing on Oct. 7, 1990, hit me hard. That day was only the second time in my life that I cried; the first was when I lost my beloved father.

I was privileged to know Sheikh Rashid well and be counted among his inner circle. On the first day we met, he became my mentor and my inspiration. His capacity for hard work was phenomenal. He had no time for slackers or for people who slept late in the mornings — for him, “late” was anything beyond 5 a.m. Rarely have I met anyone with such a strong sense of self-discipline: A trait I have striven to emulate throughout my life. He was a family man who lived his life according to God’s laws.

In truth, without his encouragement and the example he set, which I have faithfully followed, I would not be the man I am today. I must also credit him for giving me the opportunity to build my very first hotel, the Metropolitan, on what was then the Abu Dhabi Road.

Sheikh Rashid was wise, generous and patient, all the qualities a true leader should possess. He loved Dubai in the days when there was only a single road, a hospital, a few basic schools and little else. He was a simple man who felt just as at home in the desert as he did in his palaces.

Most of all he loved his people and would often stroll around town after the Fajr prayers, greeting everyone in his path. Citizens and foreign residents were also welcomed at his majlis, held four times daily, where they were free to speak their mind. He was a man of the people in every sense and his mission was to serve their interests.

Upon his accession following the death of his father, Sheikh Saeed, in 1958, Sheikh Rashid was determined to fulfill his long-held vision. His dream was to see Dubai expand as an important trading hub, but this was being thwarted by silt in the waters of Dubai Creek, which stopped large vessels from entering.

Not to be dissuaded, he turned to the British company Sir William Halcrow and Partners to provide a feasibility study on dredging the creek. It could be done, but the cost was staggering. So Sheikh Rashid secured loans that were repaid from customs duties and taxes on wealthy merchants. This was the sheikh’s first major triumph as ruler — one that set the scene for a series of others that never failed to amaze and astonish.

I was always impressed by his self-confidence and belief in his own judgment, even when all those around him were opposed to new ideas. He knew what he had to do and, no matter how difficult the decisions he had to make, he went ahead, ignoring the naysayers — and his instincts were always proved to be correct.

There were those who shook their heads in disbelief when he decided to construct Port Rashid, a deep water harbor, which was inaugurated in 1972. They were just as negative when, in 1979, he inaugurated a mega-dry dock and the UAE’s first high-rise — the 38-story Dubai World Trade Centre. He proved his detractors wrong. His philosophy was “build it and they will come,” and come they did in their droves.

Having the courage to do the seemingly impossible is one of the legacies Sheikh Rashid handed to his sons. Under the leadership of his son, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Dubai became the first emirate in the Gulf to create a thriving tourism industry, fueled by an expanded airport and the birth of Dubai’s own airline, Emirates, not to mention advertising campaigns and international sports sponsorship deals.

One of Sheikh Rashid’s greatest achievements, in partnership with the then-ruler of Abu Dhabi, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, another giant among men, was the formation of the UAE, whose flag was first unfurled on Dec. 2, 1971. It was no mean feat to persuade the autonomous rulers of five other emirates to trust one another sufficiently to join a new federation. Negotiations took time and there were occasions when it looked like a lost cause. But, thanks to their level-headed approach and perseverance against all odds, the UAE was born and, with it, Dubai’s place on the global map.

It is a great pity that Sheikh Rashid never got to see his vision manifested in all its glory. Thanks to this exceptional human being, the foundations of Dubai are rock solid. He stood for enterprise, hard work, innovation and respect for the other without discrimination based on race, religion or class. He steered Dubai through the competing pulls of modernization and age-old traditions. And he taught us to hold our heads high and feel proud of our Emirati culture.

We owe him so much, but he did not seek our gratitude; all he wanted was our happiness. There is not a week that goes by when I do not think of him, remembering the good times and the occasional hard times Dubai passed through. Sheikh Rashid taught us that a positive attitude is our greatest weapon of all; for that is the power that can smash any glass ceiling.

• Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor is a prominent UAE businessman and public figure. He is renowned for his views on international political affairs, his philanthropic activity, and his efforts to promote peace. He has long acted as an unofficial ambassador for his country abroad.