A young Arab sheikh. The prince in Yemen died or died of a heart attack? How the Emirates got involved in the war. Fell in love with a refugee
On April 30, 2013, the Netherlands will have a king on the throne for the first time in 120 years - until now the kingdom has been ruled by women. 45-year-old Prince Willem-Alexander will inherit from his mother not only the throne and title, but also a considerable fortune. Currently, Queen Beatrix ranks seventh in the ranking of the richest monarchs on the planet, compiled at the end of 2012 by the British heraldic almanac Almanach de Gotha. The amount of her fortune, depending on the principles of calculation (with or without taking into account real estate belonging to royal dynasties, family collections of antiques, etc.), ranges between $300 million and £10 billion.
1. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain
Age: 85 years
Start of reign: 1952
Net worth: £60 billion ($94.8 billion)
Traditional wealth counting british queen does not take into account those unique objects that are perceived as state property, and gives a very modest amount of several hundred million dollars. Meanwhile, taking into account the cost Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, the palaces of St. James and Holyroodhouse, Windsor Castle and other properties owned by the royal family, as well as the royal collection of works of art, the British monarch ranks first in the list of the richest colleagues.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain visited the hospital. Queen Elizabeth in King's Lynn, Norfolk, February 5, 2013. The hospital installed a new magnetic resonance imaging scanner. © AFP PHOTO/POOL/PAUL ROGERS
2. King Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Age: 87 years old
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2005
Net worth: £40 billion ($63.2 billion)
The basis of the Saudi king's fortune is oil, the sale of which brings this state about $1 billion per day. In addition, Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud owns a huge stable, which contains the best Arabian horses (the monarch is known as a passionate rider and the founder of an equestrian club in Riyadh), and a good garage, most of the cars in which are exclusive or antique.
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud meets with French President Francois Hollande at the Royal Palace in Jeddah on November 4, 2012. © AFP PHOTO/BERTRAND LANGLOIS
3. Emir of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan
Age: 64 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2004
Net worth: £30 billion ($47.4 billion)
Sheikh of Abu Dhabi and current president The UAE is also rich thanks to the oil produced in its country. This is not surprising: 80% of the oil reserves of the United Arab Emirates are concentrated in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. In addition, Khalif receives a good income from investing own funds in various sectors of the world economy.
Emir of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the opening of a container terminal at Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, December 12, 2012. © REUTERS/WAM/Handout
4. King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand
Age: 84 years
Start of reign: 1946
Net worth: £28 billion ($44.24 billion)
The Thai monarch is not just one of the richest monarchs in the world, but also one of the most thrifty: he spent a considerable part of his fortune on the development and implementation of more than 3,000 projects for the development of agricultural land in the country. However, there is nothing surprising in this: the king “concurrently” heads the Royal Thai Real Estate Agency, which owns enormous tracts of land in the country. In addition, the royal collection is widely known throughout the world precious stones, which seriously affects the size of the monarch's fortune.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand leaves Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, December 5, 2012. © REUTERS/Kerek Wongsa
5. Emir of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum
Age: 62 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2006
Net worth: £25 billion ($39.5 billion)
The Emir of Dubai currently also holds the post of Prime Minister of the UAE and, like the Saudi king, is known for his horses: his stable is considered one of the largest and most expensive in the world. And of course, a considerable part of his fortune comes from the oil reserves that the emirate of Dubai boasts, as well as income from investments in various sectors of the world economy.
Emir of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 31, 2012. © REUTERS/Caren Firouz
6. Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah
Age: 65 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1967
Net worth: £24 billion ($37.92 billion)
The most famous property of the Brunei Sultan (besides the oil produced in his country) is his collection of cars, which numbers from 3,000 to 6,000 cars, many of which were produced in extremely limited quantities or even in a single copy. The Sultan's palace, Istana Nurul Iman (Palace of Light), with an area of over 200,000 square meters, is also famous. m, which contains 1,788 apartments and 257 bathrooms.
Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah (right) with his first wife Anak Saleh at the wedding of his daughter Princess Hafiza Sururul of Brunei, 32, who married civil servant Pengiran Haji Muhammad Ruzaini, 29, on September 19, 2012. © STR/AFP/GettyImages
7. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
Age: 74 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1980
Net worth: £10 billion ($15.8 billion)
Traditionally, the Queen of the Netherlands' fortune is estimated at $300 million - but this does not take into account the royal share of shares in the Royal Dutch Shell company (it is about 25%), as well as the value of the royal collections of art and jewelry. Taking into account all these riches, the total wealth of Beatrix, who recently announced her impending abdication, is 30 times larger and allows her to enter the top ten richest monarchs in the world.
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands arrived at the Theater. Beatrix in Utrecht, the Netherlands, February 1, 2013. © ROBIN UTRECHT/AFP/Getty Images
8. Emir of Kuwait Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah
Age: 82 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2006
Net worth: £9 billion ($14.22 billion)
Sheikh Sabah's annual "scholarship", consisting of his share of oil revenues, is $188 million, and it is these payments that form the basis of the Kuwaiti monarch's fortune. However, the emir understands well that oil resources are exhaustible, and therefore is already trying to prepare his country for life in the post-oil era by initiating economic reforms, which were based on simplifying the rules for land privatization and facilitating the conditions for attracting foreign investment.
Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani at Algerian airport. Houari Boumediena, January 7, 2013. © REUTERS/Louafi Larbi
9. Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani
Age: 60 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1995
Net worth: £7 billion ($11.06 billion)
The current emir of Qatar came to power by overthrowing his father, who imprudently went on vacation to Switzerland. Among his Middle Eastern colleagues, Hamad enjoys a reputation as a progressive leader: under him, Qatar was the first country in the region to grant women the right to vote. And the emir ensured the growth of his already considerable fortune by reforming the country’s oil and gas industry, creating ideal conditions to attract foreign investment from the world's largest mining companies.
10. Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said Albusaid
Age: 71 years old
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1970
Net worth: £6 billion ($9.48 billion)
The creator of the Sultanate of Oman, which arose after the unification of the Sultanate of Muscat and the Imamate of Oman, is the owner of another “oil” fortune. In addition, a significant portion of Qaboos's wealth comes from the building built in 1972. Royal Palace Qasr Al Alam overlooks Muscat's main harbour, and several yachts (including the 155-metre Al Said, named after the owner) are part of the Royal Yacht Division of the Omani Navy.
Sultan Qaboos bin Said Albusaid of Oman at the opening of a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Doha, December 3, 2007. © REUTERS/Fadi Al-Assaad/Files
11. King of Bahrain Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifa
Age: 62 years
Year of reign: 2002
Net worth: £3.5 billion ($5.53 billion)
Another passionate lover of Arabian horses in the ranking of the richest monarchs. Established by Hamad in 1977, the Amiri stable was included in the list a year later World Organization Arabian horses and today is one of the largest and most expensive in the world. The basis of the King of Bahrain's fortune is oil, like that of his other Middle Eastern colleagues, as well as income from international investments, which are managed by a special royal fund.
King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa at a meeting of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf. Sakhir Palace, south of Manama, December 24, 2012. © REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
12. Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Age: 67 years old
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1989
Net worth: £4 billion ($6.32 billion)
The main source of wealth for the current ruler of the small Alpine state is the family bank LGT. In addition to financial income, when calculating Hans-Adam's fortune, several 17th-century palaces in Vienna, a unique collection of works of art collected by the princely family over 400 years, as well as over 20,000 hectares of land were taken into account.
Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein at the Monaco Day celebrations at the Prince's Palace in Monaco, November 19, 2012. © Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
13. Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg
Age: 56 years old
Year of reign: 2000
Net worth: £3 billion ($4.74 billion)
Unlike Middle Eastern monarchs, who built their fortunes on oil, their European counterparts do not have a similarly lucrative source of savings. So the Duke of Luxembourg Henri, nephew of the reigning King of Belgium Albert II, controls his fortune, which consists of bank deposits, gold reserves and real estate, as well as shares of various industrial companies. It is noteworthy that Henri spends part of his income on protecting wildlife, primarily the unique Galapagos Islands.
Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri and Marie-Therese Mestre ( Grand Duchess Marie-Therese) enter the Notre-Dame de Luxembourg Cathedral before the wedding ceremony of Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and Belgian Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy. October 20, 2012, Luxembourg. © Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
14. Prince Albert II of Monaco
Age: 53 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2005
Net worth: £2.5 billion ($3.95 billion)
The collection of works of art collected by the princely family is the basis of the fortune of the ruling prince of Monaco. In addition to her, he owns an expensive collection of antique cars and a stamp collection and receives significant income from the casino in Monte Carlo.
Prince Albert II of Monaco at a party in West Hollywood in California, February 26, 2012. © Craig Barritt/Getty Images for TWC
15. Imam of the Ismaili-Nizaris Aga Khan IV
Age: 75 years old
Start of reign: 1957
Net worth: £2 billion ($3.16 billion)
Imam Aga Khan is the head of a huge community of Nizari Ismailis (an offshoot of the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam) living in India, Oman, Syria, Tajikistan and Zanzibar. Despite the fact that the Nizaris do not have their own state, their current head is equivalent to the monarch: since 1957, he has held the title “His Highness”, bestowed on him by Queen Elizabeth II. Aga Khan IV is the owner of a herd of purebred Arabian horses numbering 900 heads, which, coupled with a share in one of the British horse auction houses, provides him with an annual income of $300 million. To this must be added income from managing several hotels and airlines, as well as investments in the tourism business in Sardinia (it was through the efforts of the Aga Khan that the Emerald Coast of the island has turned into a fashionable recreation area since the 1960s) and shares of the largest industrial companies.
Nizari Ismaili Imam Aga Khan IV attends the Prix de Diane horse riding race, Chantilly, France, June 17, 2012. © THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/GettyImages
A famous Arab poet and athlete, he is also the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, he is also the Minister of Defense and the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai.
Start
Residents of the Emirate of Dubai are very proud of their leader and love him - as part of the celebration of the next anniversary of his reign, there was even an event called “Thank you, Sheikh Mohammed, for your kindness.” As a sign of gratitude, everyone brought bouquets of flowers to the Dubai Mall in the center of the capital. (Presumably, everything was littered with flowers). And to prepare treats for the sheikh’s guests on January 4, 2013. The largest team of chefs in the world was assembled, thanks to which the Emirate was once again included in the Guinness Book of Records. 2,847 chefs from hotels and restaurants in the emirate worked hard for their beloved sheikh, showing their skills and wanting to feed everyone deliciously and beautifully, so that both the sheikh and his guests were certainly satisfied. And it doesn’t hurt to become famous once again, especially since the emirate of Dubai with its attractions and amazing events hits all the time.
The sheikh's ancestors are also well-known - the ruling dynasty of Al Maktoum was founded by Sheikh Maktoum bin Butty, who in 1833. decided to create his own emirate, for which he moved from the emirate of Abu Dhabi to the area of Dubai Bay. You can’t say anything - he founded it, he founded it... And so it turned out that the UAE is a republic for seven monarchs, each of whom rules in his own emirate... not exactly as he wants, but not without it.
Power, as is known, in this country is inherited, and in 2006. Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum has become the tenth ruler of the Emirate of Dubai. Mohammed's father, the late Rashid bin Said Al Maktoum, helped the first president of the UAE, the legendary Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in every possible way in the creation and development of the UAE, and in general, all the other sheikhs also tried.
The golden childhood of Sheikh Mohammed took place in the family home in Shindag (Bar Dubai), and judging by the poems the adult son devotes to his mother - Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who belongs to the family of the rulers of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and is cousin of the legendary Sheikh Zayed, he was dearly loved by his mother.
Little Mohammed was passionate about falconry, horse riding, swimming, shooting, and also listened and mentally analyzed those wise sayings, practical advice and other wisdom at the meetings of his grandfather Sheikh Zayed with his fellow tribesmen. Could the famous grandfather, looking at the dark-eyed, inquisitive boy, his beloved grandson, hovering nearby, foresee what role he would play in the future for the whole country, and how he would be loved by his people?..
At school, Muhammad was a successful student, rather than lagging behind among the laggards, and today a small private school, where he received his primary education - Al Ahmadiyya in Deira became a museum.
In 1958 His father, Sheikh Rashid bin Said, became the ruler of Dubai. Sheikh Rashid understood that one of his sons would also take his place in the future, so he immediately began to seriously prepare his sons to understand politics, economics, psychology - in a word, they could solve any issues relating to the present and future of the Emirate of Dubai. And here Muhammad was also present at meetings of prominent figures - bankers, builders, traders, intellectuals...
Then the grown-up future ruler of Dubai studied at an elite language school in the UK, at Mons Military College. In Cambridge, Sheikh Mohammed spoke with young people from different countries, learning about the traditions and culture of many other nationalities. A great lover of horses (Arab men have it in their blood), he attended horse races in London, missing and nostalgic for his homeland. Abroad, as they say, it’s good, but at home it’s still better...
The future ruler of Dubai was not even twenty years old at that time, but, despite his green age, he already understood the importance of his hobbies - politics, military knowledge, sports and literature - in his future adult life.
Women, horses, yachts
Sheikh Mohammed, as curious media representatives have calculated, has 14 daughters and 9 sons, a rather large family - 23 children, many of the children are already quite old. However, there is no “yellow press” in the Emirates, so not much is known about the personal life of the sheikh. In particular, everyone knows the names of only two of his wives - this is the eldest wife Hind bint Maktoum bin Jumaa Al Maktoum, the mother of the Sheikh’s 12 children (one of the sons is the young handsome Sheikh Hamdan - the crown prince of the Emirate) and the former Jordanian princess Haya bint Al Hussein, in in whose veins flows the blood of the Prophet Muhammad (herald of Islam). In December 2007 Haya gave birth to a daughter, Al-Jalil, and a son, Zayed, in January 2012.
Princess Haya is a beauty, younger than her husband, and is a public person. The sheikh, apparently, loves and pampers her so much that he allows her a lot - she founded an Arab charitable organization Tikyet Um Ali, fighting to overcome poverty and hunger in her native Jordan. He is a member of the boards of many non-profit public organizations, heads the World Equestrian Federation, is a member of the International Olympic Committee, takes part in international equestrian competitions, which is surprising and uncharacteristic for women in this country. The princess, like her husband, loves horses very much, and is excellent in the saddle (at the age of 13 she successfully represented her country at international level).
She is also the Chairman of Dubai's International Humanitarian City, the world's largest humanitarian aid center. emergency situations.
In the UAE, at official events, Haya wears discreet outfits, and a light, beautiful, airy scarf covers her luxurious and well-groomed hair, and when traveling to other countries, her suits and dresses often surpass the insanely expensive dresses of other socialite ladies. Her husband allows her to give interviews and be photographed, which she willingly does. Judging by the photographs, Haya is happy with her husband (who takes her with him on “business trips” abroad), and does not regret at all that she married the sheikh, although she is not his only wife.
An excellent rider who can cope with any, even the most restive horse, the sheikh keeps several hundred thoroughbred horses in his stables in the UAE and abroad, many of which win prestigious international races. The Sheikh himself competes in horse racing as an athlete and is the captain of a team of horse endurance races in the desert - Arab riders led by Sheikh Mohammed always win these competitions. The sheikh's sons and even daughters also perform at equestrian competitions.
In 2001, the sheikh received a special Ex Libris award as a world-recognized owner of purebred Arabian horses.
In addition to the happy possession of a palace, Arabian and English purebred very expensive horses, cars, gold utensils in the palace, etc. etc., Sheikh of Dubai in 2012 became the owner of one of the largest and most luxurious yachts in the world, which aroused the envy of equally rich shipowners who were proud of the symbols of their prestige. The press announced the news that now his yacht “Dubai” began to be considered the largest in the world, and the sheikh in this status indicator of wealth, dashingly jumped ahead of Roman Abramovich, since his yacht turned out to be 15 cm longer. They say that Roman Arkadyevich, having learned this unpleasant and shocking news for himself, he was furious. If there were other times, maybe he would have cut off the head of the messenger with bad news, as they did in the old days, but... now he can only think about how to make his yacht the largest in the world again. It’s not in vain that 500 million dollars (the cost of “Eclipse”) were spent; now it is necessary to puzzle the engineers - what to hang so as to lengthen it by at least half a meter...
The yacht of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is also valued at several hundred million dollars and is famous for its own submarine, helipad, huge glass staircase and many dining salons and swimming pools.
Authoritative person
Sheikh Mohammed enjoys well-deserved authority in his country and in the world. From the beginning of his reign (in 1995 he was solemnly proclaimed the Crown Prince of the Emirate), Dubai began to take off economically and its appearance changed radically. In Dubai, with the assistance of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a luxurious ski resort was built 
Ski Dubai Snow Park - having the opportunity to visit other countries, Sheikh Mohammed saw real snow and, most likely, skied. Now Arab children can play snowballs and ride down the slides at any time during the year-round summer, and finally learn what skiing and skating are.
Also among the implemented grandiose projects of Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum:
Artificial palm islands- Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, Palm Deira.
The aquarium, considered the largest in the world (in mall Dubai Mall), filled with water, algae and various live fish.
Also considered the most expensive and luxurious in the world, the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel, with a helipad at the top for hotel guests arriving by private helicopter, is trimmed in gold inside.
An international golf club, famous far beyond the borders of Dubai, and horse racing tracks were built, and in 2004 the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) was founded.
And much, much more...
A courageous and independent politician, Sheikh Mohammed is an example for leaders of other states in the region. He is involved not only in politics, but also in charity work, investing in the development of culture, art, and science.
In addition, the sheikh has been interested in literature almost from infancy, which, of course, characterizes him as a versatile and educated person. The work of Sheikh Mohammed as a poet is known throughout the Arab region, and beyond its borders too. Collections of poems and poems by the Sheikh have been translated into many languages; Sheikh Mohammed dedicates the most tender poems to his mother. Based on the poetry of Sheikh Mohammed in Morocco in 2008. The television series “Battle on the Sand” was filmed.
Here is an approximate translation of one of the sheikh’s poems:
No matter how many nights it falls,
The memory still lives in my chest.
There will be no better moon to rise.
Your heart sings a song.
You are no dearer, mother,
Closer, dearer, dearer,
I don’t know better in my heart
Name than yours.
You are the cradle of warmth,
Caresses, peace, dreams.
No matter how cold time gets,
The feeling for you will not go away.
You brighten my day
You are my best shadow
I immediately hasten to your canopy,
As soon as the day comes.
You are alone in my heart
When waking up from sleep
And when you go to bed,
Forever, all my life in advance.
(translation by Victor Lebedev)
However, despite his kindness and subtle soul strings, as a boss, for example, Sheikh Mohammed is very tough and organized: “…. There were cases when at 8 o’clock in the morning I personally toured my departments. If one of the heads of departments of his government was not on site, he was fired within 15 minutes” (Vladimir Bekesh, expert on the Middle East).
In 2009, the sheikh arrived in Moscow and met with Dmitry Medvedev, who then served as President, as well as Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, after which the sheikh invited Vladimir Putin to visit the United Arab Emirates. Very far-sighted and smart eastern sheikh….
The beautiful actions and deeds of the Sheikh of Dubai - Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the beautiful way of thinking suggest that such people are born to be the rulers of a happy and rich country. The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed, is a man who, while prospering, does everything for his people and for his land on which he lives.
A jogging athlete, horse owner, poet, heir to the royal family, son of Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed al-Maktoum is shrouded in an enviable aura of power, fabulous wealth and romance. Chairman of the Dubai City Council, President of the Sports Committee of the Emirate of Dubai, Honorary Patron of the Dubai Autism Research Center and the Youth Business Support League, Sheikh Hamdan has long been eligible bachelor, which remains free for now. Will anyone get this handsome man or does he have a place in his heart for one single passion - horses?
Roots and branches
Sheikh Hamdan is one of the twenty-three (and counting!) children of Sheikh Mohammed, Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and head of the Emirate of Dubai from the Al Maktoum dynasty. Understanding the intricacies of the family tree of Arab rulers is quite simple. The Maktoum family traces its origins to the Bani Yas tribal group that inhabited the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The dynasty itself dates back 180 years, since its founder Sheikh Maktoum bin Butty founded his own emirate in the Dubai Creek area in 1833. Currently, the ruling dynasty is continued by Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, who in 2006 became the tenth ruler of Dubai. On this moment the sheikh has nine sons and fourteen daughters. Mohammed is married to Hind bint Maktoum, who is the mother of twelve children, including Sheikh Hamdan. The sheikh's second wife was the famous (primarily in the world of equestrian sports) Jordanian princess Haya bint al-Hussein, who in 2007 gave birth to Mohammed's girl Al-Jalil, and in January 2012 - a son, Zayed. Thus, Sheikh Hamdan is the Crown Prince of the Emirate of Dubai and the stepson of Princess Haya.
In the spirit of tradition
Hamdan al-Maktoum was born on November 13, 1982. Despite the fact that from the very birth the prince was surrounded by incredible luxury, he was brought up in the spirit traditional values. “My father, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is my mentor in life. I always continue to learn from him, and his experience helps me in solving many strategic issues. My mother, Sheikha Hind, is a true example of a loving and caring mother. She raised me in an atmosphere absolute love and affection and still supports me, despite the fact that I have already grown up. I will never forget my mother's deep devotion and kindness. “I have great respect for her and believe that any society that does not value mothers is dishonest and worthless,” says the prince. - I enjoyed a peaceful childhood surrounded by my family and was raised in an environment that allowed me to realize my purpose in life and reflect on the greatness of God. The beauty of the desert gave me a sense of harmony and helped me merge with nature - this is how I was able to develop my poetic gift, and with the help of my father I got the chance to make the impossible possible.”
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Hamdan bin Mohammed AL-MAKTOUM at YAMAMAHA
School years are wonderful...
Sheikh Hamdan began his studies at a Dubai private high school named after Sheikh Rashid, created by English model. By the way, it was founded in 1986 by Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al-Maktoum, so the boy seemed to never leave the family. The young man continued his studies at the faculty Government controlled at the Dubai Government School, and then went to the UK. There he became a student and then a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (which, by the way, Prince Harry also graduated from younger son British Prince Charles and Princess Diana). Later, Sheikh Hamdan attended specialized courses at the London School of Economics and finally, armed with knowledge, returned to his native Emirates. “My school days and college days were the most wonderful time of my life and I still remember my peers and friends. A military academy such as Sandhurst teaches not only the basic disciplines, but also virtue, responsibility and commitment to one's country. This is very important values, which people need both in everyday life and at the state level when they are entrusted with serious responsibilities.”
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From his father, Sheikh Mohammed, (left), Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed will inherit power over one
one of the richest and most influential regions in the Middle East
The sands of Time
Already from the prince’s statements one can notice that he is a romantic person - Hamdan is also known as a talented poet. He publishes his poetry under the pseudonym Fazza. “Fazza represents my poetic personality and personality. This word in the Emirati dialect means a person who selflessly rushes to the aid of all those who are in trouble. My poetry can fill people's hearts with happiness and help ease their suffering. I was greatly impressed by my father's passion for poetry, and I also had the chance to meet many poets who helped me discover and develop my own style. WITH early years my father listened to my poems and gently advised me in which direction to move forward.” Once at a press conference, the prince was asked why he chose such a pseudonym for himself. Hamdan replied that he once met an old man in the desert whose car was stuck in the sand. He helped pull out the car and was about to leave, without waiting for words of gratitude, but then the old man called out to him and said: “You are Fazza.” The prince liked this nickname so much that it became his middle name and poetic pseudonym. Hamdan's poems are mostly romantic and patriotic and, of course, many are dedicated to his main hobby - horses.
What is my horse to me...
What is my horse to me? My strength and courage
This is my essence, my blood flesh.
More than once or twice I wanted to soar into the sky
Or fall backwards, exploding your anger.
You held me, and the bridle is like rags,
It remained in your hand, as if your heart was in pieces!
I burned and dared, a hunter of the sultry prairies,
The horse flew like an arrow, his temples ached.
What is my horse to me? My prowess and dexterity,
The pride of my ancestors, their victories in battles.
My Arabian horse gave me a knack,
to the heart faithful passion, fearless sparkle in the eyes!
On the wings of the wind
“I come from a family that loves horses,” the prince admits. - There is a strong spiritual connection between me and the world of equestrian sports, which is a huge part of my life. I ride whenever the opportunity arises because it gives me a feeling of absolute freedom.” Like many members of the al-Maktoum family, Hamdan not only excels in the saddle, but is also a professional equestrian. He has his own stable, where he breeds thoroughbred saddle horses and Arabian horses, and takes part in distance racing competitions. The prince performs very, very successfully: he mainly has first and second places in tournaments with the highest distance of 160 km. His main horses are Ainhoa Aksom, Intisar and Yamamah.
The list of Hamdan's victories is endless - for example, he won four tournaments in a row (all in which he took part) at a distance of 120 km in 2014. The prince's main achievement is team gold at the Summer Asian Games in 2006 and Golden medal at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy (160 km), which he won in August this year on the purebred Arabian mare Yamamaha (which translates from Arabic as “little dove”). “The route was unusually difficult technically,” says the prince. “In addition, it was aggravated by the weather and high humidity. It was necessary to ensure that the horse was well protected from the weather at all times. It’s not surprising that the number of those who were able to simply finish was small for a championship of this level.” 165 athletes from 47 countries took part in the tournament. At first, the team from the UAE took the lead, but by the end of the third lap, only one representative of this team remained on the route - Sheikh Hamdan. Many of the tournament's competitors were injured along the course, and a Costa Rican rider's horse tragically died en route from a collision with a tree. So this victory was indeed not easy for the prince and once again confirmed his high level of sports.
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Prince Hamdan AL-MAKTOUM
with his potential bride Kalila Said
Adrenaline Rush
The prince is not afraid of danger - on the contrary, he chases adrenaline in every possible way. He engages in extreme sports - skydiving, flying on a JETLEV-FLYER jetpack (which rises into the air on giant jets of water) and an Xcitor paraglider, racing around the Persian Gulf on water scooters and skis and scuba diving. Hamdan also loves to travel: for example, he has been to Africa, where he met with aborigines and hunted lions with a photo gun, and to Russia, where he participated in falconry. “I swim regularly and just walk a lot at any time of the day,” says the prince. “I also sometimes play football, but things don’t allow me to get too involved in this sport.”
Marry a prince
The love question remains open for now: at just over thirty (he celebrates his 32nd birthday on November 14), the prince is not yet married. The personal life of the sheikh has been the subject of countless speculations for many years - not surprising, since the prince is a “tidbit” for thousands of girls. It was said that from birth he was engaged to a maternal relative, Sheikha al-Maktoum, but at the same time he had very close contact with another distant relative (whose name is unknown) from 2008 to 2013. The relationship ended in January 2013 (the arranged marriage was immediately called off for reasons that were not made public), when the prince met new love. Hamdan fell in love so much that he very soon announced his engagement. His chosen one was Kalila Said, a 23-year-old refugee from Palestine who grew up in the slums of an Arab metropolis. The young people met while working on a charity project in one of the disadvantaged areas of the capital. The girl cannot be called a gold digger: the prince had to seek her attention for more than three months before she agreed to go on a date, but soon the couple became inseparable. According to rumors circulating in the country, Sheikh Mohammed was not very happy with the choice of the prince and even threatened to disinherit his son, but to no avail. The young man chose love, as a result of which the father reconsidered his position, resigned himself and, it seems, even gave the couple his blessing. However, Hamdan’s fans should not despair: in the UAE, the sheikh has the right to have as many wives as he wants. So, Hamdan’s father, Sheikh Mohammed, is rumored to have about five wives (hence so many children), and the world knows about only two, and Hamdan’s brother, Prince Said Al-Maktoum, also married a girl of low origin, Azerbaijani Natalia Aliyeva. She worked as a waitress in Belarus (where they met), and in the UAE she became Princess Aisha Al-Maktoum.
People's Favorite
In September 2006, Hamdan Al Maktoum was appointed Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, where he was tasked with overseeing the emirate's government facilities. It was thanks to him that the “Dubai Strategic Plan until 2015” was put forward. As President, Sheikh Hamdan led the Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Autism Center, and the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Institute for Young Business Leaders. Despite his fame and billion-dollar fortune, the prince remains very modest - he is actively involved in charity work, personally overseeing several funds for helping children and animals. “The fact that I am the son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid does not give me an absolute right to refuse my duties,” says Hamdan. “On the contrary, I feel that my brothers and I have an obligation to be more responsible and should take every job as seriously as possible.” From my point of view, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed is an ideal head of family who always strives to give time to everyone despite the enormous worries. At the same time, he teaches us that we must always remain close to the people.”
Reminds me of a “real fairy tale”. It is generally accepted that they bask in luxury, denying themselves nothing. Comfortable planes, yachts, cars for the heirs to the throne in the UAE are a familiar and commonplace phenomenon. They can have fun as they please. However, the older generation royal dynasties instills in his offspring not only a love of pompous recreation, but also develops in them a talent for wise rule in the state, so that it prospers every year, and its inhabitants feel secure and happy.
It was in this spirit that 33-year-old Prince Hamdan was brought up. He prefers an active lifestyle, skillfully distributing time between state affairs and your hobbies. Perhaps this is the secret that today the Principality of Dubai is an economic miracle of the 21st century? Thanks to whom could it appear on the territory of the UAE? Naturally, thanks to the competent policies of the ruling elite. And, of course, Dubai made its contribution to this process. How does he manage to properly combine work and rest so that he has enough time for both? Let's consider this issue in more detail.
History of the dynasty
Not many people know that the mentioned Prince of Dubai is the son of the Arab Sheikh Mohamed Al Maktoum. The heir's father is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the Emirates. Historiographers claim that the sheikh’s ancestry originates from the ancient Bani Yas tribes, who lived in areas where the cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai are currently located.
The Arab principality of Dubai was founded by Sheikh Maktoun bin Butta in 1833. Since then, this ancient family has ruled it.
Curriculum Vitae
The thirty-three-year-old Prince of Dubai was born on November 14, 1982. It should be noted that he is not the only heir in the family. Sheikh Hamdan has 9 sisters and 6 brothers. In his homeland, the boy studied at one of the private colleges.
He spent his youth in Western Europe, namely in Great Britain, where he received an excellent education. First, the Prince of Dubai gnawed on the granite of science at a military school ground forces, located in Sanghdhurst, England. He then graduated from the College of Economics in London, and upon returning home, from the School of Administration in Dubai.
Government activities
The Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan, began ruling the principality on February 1, 2008, after his older brother “abdicated the throne.” In fairness, it should be noted that the parents assumed a similar outcome of the matter, so they prepared their son in advance for the fact that he would take the reins of government of the principality into his own hands.
And the Prince of Dubai Hamdan lived up to the expectations placed on him: he is actively involved in political life native country, trying not to miss a single congress and summit.
Back in 2006, he was offered the position of head of the Emirate's Executive Council. In charge young man included monitoring and oversight of government agencies. In this responsible position, Crown Prince of Dubai Hamdan developed and invited his colleagues to adopt a strategic plan for the development of the Emirate for the coming years, which was done. The young manager showed his business skills in another position - the head of the Sports Council of the Emirate of Dubai. He was also entrusted with leading the Institute of Young Entrepreneurs.
Social projects
Sheikh Hamdan devotes a lot of time to solving social problems. In particular, he funds several programs aimed at helping children and animals, often attending charity events. The Crown Prince even heads a specialized autism center in the Emirates.
Despite the high position and social status he occupies in society, Sheikh Hamdan in life is a modest person who does not boast of his regalia and merits. That is why he earned great authority among the people.
Hobby
Dubai Hamdan has a lot of hobbies. He loves to explore the expanses of the Persian Gulf on scooters and water skis. The young man is also interested in the underwater world, enjoying scuba diving.
Not everyone knows that the sheikh prefers to spend his time falconry. He likes skydiving. He usually deals with this matter artificial island The prince is no longer a novice in jumping - long months of training take their toll.
Extreme
In addition, the heir to the throne in Dubai once experienced an ultra-modern aircraft JETLEV-FLYER, which operates in the air thanks to the power of giant jets of water. The young man was able to rise up and “soar” against the backdrop of the famous seven-star hotel called Burj al Arab. Sheikh Hamdan loves to get a good dose of adrenaline from time to time.
The heir to the throne is, among other things, an experienced horse rider. He participated in horse racing many times and repeatedly won prizes at prestigious competitions. In particular, the sheikh took first place in the Asian Olympic Games.
He spends fabulous money on purchasing camels, honoring Bedouin traditions.
And, of course, the royal offspring cannot do without traveling. However, it is to a greater extent interested in extreme tourism. So, the Prince of Dubai has already gone to African continent, where I hunted lions with a photo gun. He also visited Russian Federation. In our country, he became more familiar with the traditions of falconry.
Romantic and altruist
Another unusual hobby of Sheikh Hamdan is poetry. The young man inherited it from his father. The prince composes on romantic and patriotic themes. He creates his poems under the pseudonym Fazza (“success in everything”). Moreover, his talent as a poet has already been noted by the public.
The heir to the throne of Dubai's hobbies also include doing good deeds, that is, helping people. He is one of the participants in the creation of the Society without Borders structure, the purpose of which is to provide support to people with disabilities.
Back in 2006, the prince initiated the “Integration” project, which was supposed to help members of society with disabilities simplify their integration into the social environment.
The Sheikh also took care of strengthening road safety, increasing penalties for those drivers who ignore the rules traffic. In this case, persistent violators will be deprived of their driver's license for up to 6 months.
Relationships with the opposite sex
Of course, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan, is every girl’s dream, and given that he is charming, handsome and smart, then a whole line of representatives of the fairer sex will line up in an attempt to win his heart. However oriental men wayward, temperamental, and the heir to the throne is no exception.
At the same time, the young man keeps the details of his personal life secret. Would girls give a lot to find out who the wife of the Prince of Dubai is? Previously, the press wrote that the heart of the “heir to the throne” is not occupied by anyone.
The media also mentioned that the sheikh imposes quite strict requirements on his potential chosen one, these are the traditions of the East. However, religion allows the sheikh to have as many wives as he wants, so it is quite difficult to talk about his love interests. Formally, women in the Emirates are not infringed on their rights, but they still dominate here, so the wife is obliged to unquestioningly obey her husband.
And yet, after some time, he revealed the secret of his personal life, saying that his engagement took place in infancy. This is the odious statement that the Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan, once made! The wife of the heir to the throne is his cousin on the maternal side. Her name is Sheikha bint Saeed bin Thani al-Maktoum. Newspapers several times published photographs in which the young man was captured with a stranger, whose face was hidden from prying eyes.
IN modern world Royal misalliances happen quite often, so we decided to remember the most influential, but still free royal offspring of the Middle East. After all, no one knows who you might accidentally bump into even in a crowd.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al MaktoumIn 2011, Kate Middleton's grand wedding took place, the broadcast of which was watched by 162 million viewers, mesmerized by the reality of the scenario of the fairy tale about Cinderella. And the Duchess of Cambridge, in turn, seemed to repeat the scenario of Mary Donaldson, now the Crown Princess of Denmark, whose typical, inconspicuous life changed dramatically after a chance acquaintance in Sydney with Prince Frederick. 3 years after that chance meeting she was destined to become his bride, and then his wife.
However, not only these two ladies proved that dreams of a royal wedding in the truest sense of the word have every right to exist. Even the most titled persons sometimes choose one of the common people as their life partner. And the Middle Eastern princes and princesses, as we remember, were no exception. Take, for example, the story of the beautiful Rania, Queen of Jordan. But today we are not talking about her. After we counted all the European eligible blue-blooded bachelors, the editorial team came up with the idea to talk about princesses and princes from the Middle East, who also have not yet found their halves.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai (34)
The beloved heir to the throne of the Emirate of Dubai has many talents. He was initially educated at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England, and subsequently attended classes at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
The 34-year-old enviable prince rides horses, scuba dives and is already an almost professional parachute jumper. In addition, he even publishes poems own composition, permeated with patriotic and romantic sentiments.
In general, his skills and achievements can be listed endlessly, and he immediately talks about them on his Instagram. There you can also find photo evidence of how much the Crown Prince loves sports and an active lifestyle in general, which cannot but please.
Hussein ibn Abdullah, Crown Prince of Jordan (22)
He is the eldest child of the couple King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, by the way, one of the most beautiful royalty of our time. The prince is a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, where he majored in international history.
Interestingly, last year Prince Hussein had the honor of chairing a meeting of the UN Security Council, thus becoming the youngest participant in the process in its entire history. Thus, Prince Hussein is following in his father’s footsteps, continuing his parent’s endeavors by actively participating in policies to empower youth.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar (28)
The 28-year-old heir to the throne is the 5th son of Sheikh Emir and his second wife Sheikha Moza, one of the most famous women East. In 2013 he received his master's degree in Harvard University. In addition to Arabic, the young man speaks fluent English and French.
In addition, Sheikh Mohammed Hamad is the former captain of the Qatar equestrian team. He also chaired the competition to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Sheikha Maita bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Princess of Dubai (36)
Maita is the half-sister of the Crown Prince, who heads our list of free royal offspring of the East. But her fiance will have to work hard to live up to her. And the point here is not at all about the social status of the bride. In addition to her important title, Sheikha is also the honorary president of the United Arab Emirates Taekwondo and Karate Federation and the president of the Women's Committee of the West Asian Karate Federation. She even led the UAE women's team in this sport, which took first place from 2003 to 2006. In addition, Sheikha Maita became the first Arab athlete to carry her country's flag at the Beijing Olympics. In 2008, Forbes magazine included the girl in the list of the 20 most famous representatives royal dynasties.