This Friday 15, 2016 saw His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE, and ruler of Dubai, celebrate his 67th birthday. In honour of the royal we share 10 of his best quotes, which prove just why he is so popular. 

On Life

“Life doesn’t change. You have a day, and a night, and a month, and a year. We people change – we can be miserable or we can be happy. It’s what you make of your life.”

On Never Giving Up

“We in the UAE. have no such word as ‘impossible’; it does not exist in our lexicon. Such a word is used by the lazy and the weak, who fear challenges and progress.”

grandfathers, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed, holding their newborn grandson

Family man. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on the right holding his newborn grandson

On Leadership

“Time is on your side to produce and prosper, so don’t stop until you seize the opportunity.”

On The Power Of Good Parenting

My mother, may her soul rest in peace, shaped my personality; thanks to her i have acquired many values, good traits and skills.”

Princess Haya and Sheikh Mohammed

Happy couple. Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

On Being Arab

“I am an Arab, born of Arab parents, nurtured from childhood by the love of Arabism; I have become a branch of its great tree.”

On The Financial Crisis

“Today’s Arab crisis is not one of money, men, morale, land or resources … The real crisis is rather one of leadership, management and perennial egotism.”

Read: Sheikh Mohammed Creates 27,000 Job In Dubai

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Read: Dubai’s Greatest Achievements In The Past Decade

Princess Haya and Sheikh Mohammed

A happy man. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Princess Haya bint Al Hussein attend Ladies Day at the Investec Derby Festival at Epsom Downs.

On His Role As A Leader

“A great leader creates more leaders and does not reduce the institution to a single person.”

On Dubai

“Dubai will never settle for anything less than first place.”

Sheikh Mohammed

Main of the people. Sheikh Mohammed interacts with the public.

On Achieving Goals

“The race for excellence has no finish line.”

On Dealing With What Life Throws At You

“An easy life does not make men, nor does it build nations. Challenges make men, and it is these men who build nations.”

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