SOVEREIGN HEIR TO THE THRONE COAT OF ARMS FLAG POSTAL ADDRESS Zabeel Palace

Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Dubai

uploaded: 23 March 2014 / last modified: 13 January 2019

The country

The emirate is known as Emirate of Dubai. The country is being reigned by the Al Maktoum dynasty.

Sovereign

The current sovereign is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Emir of Dubai. He was born in Shindagha, Dubai, on 15 July 1949.

He is the third son of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emir of Dubai (1912-1990) and Sheikha Latifa.

Sheikh Mohammed succeeded his brother Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum as Emir after his death on 4 January 2006. He was elected the vice-president of the United Arab Emirates on 5 January 2006. He had been the Crown Prince of Dubai since 3 January 1995.

The King is a Muslim.

Marriage and descendants

Sheikh Mohammed has at least two wives. His senior wife is Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum of Dubai (born 1962), whom he married in 1979. In 2004 he married Princess Haya bint Al Hussein of Jordan (born 1974).

By Sheikha Hind the Emir has five sons, Sheikh Rashid (1981-2015), Sheikh Hamdan (born 1982), Sheikh Maktoum (born 1983), Sheikh Ahmed (born 1987) and Sheikh Saeed (born 1988), and seven daughters Sheikha Hessa (born 1980), Sheikha Latifa (1989), Sheikha Maryam (born 1992), Sheikha Sheikha (born 1992), Sheikha Futaim (born 1994), Sheikha Salamah (born 1999) and Sheikha Shamma (born 2001).

Sheikha Hessa married in 2008 Sheikh Saeed bin Dalmouk bin Juma Al Maktoum and has issue.

Sheikha Latifa married in 2009 Crown Prince Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi of Fujairah and has issue.

Sheikha Maryam married in 2018 Sheikh Suhail bin Ahmed bin Juma Al Maktoum.

Sheikha Sheikha married in 2009 Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain and has issue.

By Princess Haya the Emir has one son, Sheikh Zayed (born 2012), and one daughter, Sheikha Al Jalila (born 2007).

Furthermore Sheikh Mohammed has by a Moroccan woman two sons, Sheikh Majid (born 1987) and Sheikh Mansour (born 1989), and four daughters, Sheikha Maitha (born 1980), Sheikha Shamsa (born 1981), Sheikha Latifa (born 1992/93) and Sheikha Maryam.

Sheikh Majid married Hessa Beljafla in 2014. The couple has twins Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikha Dubai (born 2015), and a daughter Sheikha Maitha (born 2017).

Sheikha Latifa is married since 2016 to Sheikh Faisal bin Saud bin Khalid Al Qasimi of Ras Al Khaimah. They have issue.

Sheikha Maryam in 2018 became engaged to Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Hamdan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi.

By a Lebanese woman Sheikh Mohammed has one daughter Sheikha Manal (born 1977). She is married since 2005 to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi and has issue.

By Zoe Grigorakos Sheikh Mohammed has one daughter, Sheikha Mahra (born 1994, previously called Christina).

By an unknown woman, possibly from Germany, Sheikh Mohammed has one son, Sheikh Marwan (born 1981). He is married to Dalal Al Marzougi and has issue.

Heir to the throne

The heir to the throne is Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, nicknamed "Fazza". He is Crown Prince of Dubai since 1 February 2008.

He is a son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Emir of Dubai and his senior wife Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum of Dubai.

The Crown Prince became engaged to Sheikha Sheikha bint Saeed bin Thani Al Maktoum of Dubai in December 2008. However the engagement is said to have been cancelled in 2010.

Succession

Dubai is a hereditary constitutional monarchy.

Titles

The emir is His Highness Sheikh .. (first name) bin .. (name of his father) Al Maktoum, Emir of Dubai. The heir to the throne is His Highness Sheikh .. (first name) bin .. (name of his father) Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

History

The area of what is now Dubai first knew human settlement around 3000 BC. The first inhabitants were nomadic cattle herders. In the 3rd century the Sassanid Empire took control over the area. In the 7th century the Umayyad Caliphate gained power and introduced the Islam. Only in 1833 Dubai became a separate Sheikhdom under the Al Maktoum dynasty. In 1971 the emirate became part of the United Arab Emirates.

The Emirs of Dubai