The ruler of Dubai has received the Order of the Mother of the Nation.
Whether he’s organising millions of dirhams of aid for refugees or donating his private plane to send relief supplies to cyclone-stricken islands, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum can always be found reaching out to those in need.
And now the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has been recognised for his philanthropic work with an esteemed honour.
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The Order of the Mother of the Nation was bestowed on the royal in a ceremony on Wednesday, to mark Sheikh Mohammed’s humanitarian initiatives in less developed countries.
The order was conferred by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who described Dubai’s ruler as an “exceptional leader” that helps spread peace and harmony with his work.
The programmes created through the royal’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives foundation include the Dhs1 million Arab Hope Maker awards and the UAE Food Bank scheme.
Indeed, a humanitarian spirit is shared by many leaders of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed said on the night, adding that the Mother of the Nation—HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak—will always be a symbol of compassion and generosity.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid also paid tribute to the UAE’s Founding Father at the awards, held at the Emirates Palace Auditorium, saying the Order “reflects the values established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan”.
“I am honoured to receive this Order,” he said, adding that a successful leader constantly engages with people and develops initiatives to enhance the happiness and welfare of citizens.
The royal also praised Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, calling her a female role model committed to the welfare of the UAE’s people.
The Emirates has demonstrated it is committed to helping the less fortunate internationally too, and was even ranked as the biggest foreign aid donor in the world in 2014.
The UAE was also been declared a top foreign aid donor of 2016, with an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report stating the UAE gave Dh15.23 billion in official development assistance last year.
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“The UAE does not provide conditional assistance and does not wait for any returns. We only want the good and stability of all people,” said Sheikh Mohammed when the report was released.
A huge congratulations to Sheikh Mohammed—we can’t wait to see what humanitarian missions he has in store for 2018.
Images: Dubai Media Office
