Dubai is mourning the passing of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the fourth and youngest son of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, former Vice-President and Ruler of Dubai and the emirate’s founder.
Sheikh Ahmed is also the younger brother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the current ruler of Dubai. The Royal Court announced official mourning and the lowering of flags in Dubai for ten days starting Monday.
Born in the 1950s, Sheikh Ahmed graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK and then joined the Central Region Command in Dubai, later becoming its commander. He also held positions in the security, economic, and sports sectors, including Deputy Chief of Dubai Police and Public Security. He also chaired A.R.M Holding, a private investment firm whose portfolio spans real estate, hospitality and banking, alongside newer sectors including healthtech, sustainable food, mobility, fintech, and cultural initiatives, and Al Wasl Sports Club.
The deceased was also associated with equestrian sports and horse racing, and had a prominent role in the sport in Dubai, especially through the Jebel Ali racecourse, which has become one of the most prominent horse racing venues in the Emirates.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid is inextricably linked to the history of Al Wasl Club, founded in 1960 as "Al Zamalek" in a small house in the Zaabeel area. The club later moved to the home of Sheikha Madiya bint Sultan, under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Butti bin Maktoum Al Maktoum.
He took over the presidency of the club, which later became "Al Wasl," and played a key role in its development and in supporting various sports in the UAE. Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid’s interest was not limited to football, as he was one of the most prominent contributors to the establishment and launch of the Dubai International Marine Club, and assumed its presidency when it was founded in 1988. The club later became the first of its kind in the Middle East and Africa to join the International Water Sports Federation.
