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04-01-06, 16:27
Dubai ruler Sheik Maktoum dead at 62
Emir's brother, a well-known businessman, succeeds him
Wednesday, January 4, 2006 Posted: 1158 GMT (1958 HKT)
Sheik Maktoum died while on a visit to Australia.RELATED
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Manage Alerts | What Is This? DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- The emir of Dubai, Sheik Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, died Wednesday and was immediately succeeded by his younger brother, the crown prince, a senior government official said.
The new emir is Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the defense minister of the United Arab Emirates and a high-flying businessman and breeder of race horses, said Deputy Information Minister Ibrahim Al Abed. He added that by the constitution, the succession was automatic.
Sheik Maktoum, 62, who was ruler of Dubai and vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, died early Wednesday while visiting Australia, the president's office in Abu Dhabi said in a statement.
Dubai declared 40 days of official mourning. The stock exchanges in Dubai and Abu Dhabi ceased trading and many shops and businesses closed. Dubai TV interrupted its programs to show a picture of the sheik smiling with the voice of a Muslim cleric reading verses of the Quran, Islam's holy book.
"The United Arab Emirates today lost a historical leader who devoted his life to establishing the United Arab Emirates and enhancing its structure and the welfare of its people," the government said in a statement.
In Australia, Queensland Police spokeswoman Chelsea Roffey said Sheik Maktoum died at the exclusive Palazzo Versace hotel on the Gold Coast, a resort in Queensland state. He arrived in Australia on December 28.
His body was expected to be flown back home later Wednesday. A spokesman for Brisbane airport, Jim Carden, said the shiekh's private Boeing 747-400 was ready for the trip.
Born in the family home in the Shindagha area of Dubai, Sheik Maktoum was educated at a British university and succeeded his father as ruler of the emirate in October 1990.
He tended to leave day-to-day government of Dubai to his younger brother, but took an active interest in the Emirates' foreign policy. He often represented the country abroad during the years when the former president, Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was ailing.
His foremost interest, however, was horse racing, and he and his younger brother worked to put Dubai on the world racing map. The annual Dubai World Cup is billed as the richest horse race in the world.
In its statement, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs said Sheik Maktoum "placed his country's interest over any other considerations. He was a model of good behavior."
The official WAM news agency said government offices will be closed for seven days, starting Wednesday.
The new emir is well known in business and horse racing circles, and is regarded as the intellectual architect of Dubai's building boom.
Emir's brother, a well-known businessman, succeeds him
Wednesday, January 4, 2006 Posted: 1158 GMT (1958 HKT)
Sheik Maktoum died while on a visit to Australia.RELATED
• CNNArabic
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS
United Arab Emirates
or Create Your Own
Manage Alerts | What Is This? DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- The emir of Dubai, Sheik Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, died Wednesday and was immediately succeeded by his younger brother, the crown prince, a senior government official said.
The new emir is Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the defense minister of the United Arab Emirates and a high-flying businessman and breeder of race horses, said Deputy Information Minister Ibrahim Al Abed. He added that by the constitution, the succession was automatic.
Sheik Maktoum, 62, who was ruler of Dubai and vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, died early Wednesday while visiting Australia, the president's office in Abu Dhabi said in a statement.
Dubai declared 40 days of official mourning. The stock exchanges in Dubai and Abu Dhabi ceased trading and many shops and businesses closed. Dubai TV interrupted its programs to show a picture of the sheik smiling with the voice of a Muslim cleric reading verses of the Quran, Islam's holy book.
"The United Arab Emirates today lost a historical leader who devoted his life to establishing the United Arab Emirates and enhancing its structure and the welfare of its people," the government said in a statement.
In Australia, Queensland Police spokeswoman Chelsea Roffey said Sheik Maktoum died at the exclusive Palazzo Versace hotel on the Gold Coast, a resort in Queensland state. He arrived in Australia on December 28.
His body was expected to be flown back home later Wednesday. A spokesman for Brisbane airport, Jim Carden, said the shiekh's private Boeing 747-400 was ready for the trip.
Born in the family home in the Shindagha area of Dubai, Sheik Maktoum was educated at a British university and succeeded his father as ruler of the emirate in October 1990.
He tended to leave day-to-day government of Dubai to his younger brother, but took an active interest in the Emirates' foreign policy. He often represented the country abroad during the years when the former president, Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was ailing.
His foremost interest, however, was horse racing, and he and his younger brother worked to put Dubai on the world racing map. The annual Dubai World Cup is billed as the richest horse race in the world.
In its statement, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs said Sheik Maktoum "placed his country's interest over any other considerations. He was a model of good behavior."
The official WAM news agency said government offices will be closed for seven days, starting Wednesday.
The new emir is well known in business and horse racing circles, and is regarded as the intellectual architect of Dubai's building boom.