The Initiative Leader, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was born in 1949 in Dubai. He is the third of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum's sons. He received his military training at Mons Officer Cadet School in England and then went to Scotland to complete his studies before returning to Dubai to follow up his education. His Highness is the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the Ruler of Dubai. He is known for his wise leadership, sharp vision and open mind. These traits have helped shaping the new Dubai and gained him the love of the people. Sheikh Mohammed is an accomplished player of tennis and football, but equestrianism is his true sporting passion and he has won numerous horse races all over the world. He established Godolphin stables in 1994 and Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horse race in 1996.Poetry is very special for Sheikh Mohammed. He began composing poems while he was still at school and he is one of the distinguished Nabati poets whose poetry is read all over the Arab World. His Highness has summed up his vision in leadership and in life in general in his book My vision - Challenges in the Race for Excellence first published in 2006.The helping hands of His Highness do not recognize geographical boundaries and the examples are countless. Two of these examples are the “Dubai Cares” initiative which, since its launch in September 2007, helped more than 4 million people in different countries around the world, and “Noor Dubai” launched in September 2008 to help people who lost their sight or are threatened to lose their sight around the world.The establishment of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation is part of Sheikh Mohammed’s overall vision which includes empowering young leaders and future generations in the Arab World with the necessary knowledge and education to meet the challenges faced by their societies. The Foundation was launched with an endowment of AED 37 billion (US $10 billion), as a personal initiative by His Highness at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East 2007, held in Jordan.You can read more about the biography and achievements of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his vision by visiting his personal website.MISSION:Provide Arabs with opportunities to guide the region towards a knowledge economy through promoting entrepreneurship, research and innovation, enhancing access to quality education and professional development; and supporting the production, acquisition and dissemination of Arab knowledge sources. OBJECTIVES:Objectives of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum FoundationPromote entrepreneurship by supporting innovation and researchEnhance employability by providing access to quality education and professional development programmesSupport the production, acquisition and dissemination of Arabic knowledge sources
