Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum passes away

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, has passed away.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, took to Twitter to mourn the passing of his brother.

"We belong to God and to Him we shall return... May God have mercy on you, my brother, my support and my companion," His Highness wrote.

إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون ... رحمك الله يا أخي وسندي ورفيق دربي.. وأحسن مثواك .. وضعت رحالك عند رب كريم رحيم عظيم .. pic.twitter.com/xAw3rXIwoj

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) March 24, 2021

Starting today, Dubai has announced 10 days of mourning, during which flags will be at half-mast. Offices and government departments will suspend work for three days starting Thursday.

Work in the private sector will continue as normal, while schools and other educational institutions will remain open.

The Ruler's Court announces a 10-day mourning period during which flags will be flown at half-mast. Dubai Government departments and entities will suspend operations for 3 days, starting Thursday 25 March.

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 24, 2021

Funeral prayers were offered by close family members at the Zabeel Mosque, Dubai Media Office tweeted.

.@HHShkMohd, @HamdanMohammed and @MaktoumMohammed, perform funeral prayers for the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, joined by several Sheikhs of the Al Maktoum family at Zabeel Mosque.

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 24, 2021

.@HamdanMohammed and @MaktoumMohammed carry the body of the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum to his final resting place in Umm Hurair cemetery in Dubai.

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 24, 2021

Sheikh Hamdan was born on December 25, 1945. He was the second of four sons of His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

He was holding the position of ‎Minister of Finance since the first formation of the Cabinet on December 9, 1971, ‎where he played an indispensable role in developing financial policies and government ‎spending. He was also Deputy Dubai Ruler.‎

Sheikh Hamdan had presided over several high-level government entities that play a ‎vital role in supporting the economy and labour market in the UAE such as Dubai ‎Municipality, Al Maktoum foundation, Dubai Aluminum (DUBAL) and Dubai Natural Gas ‎Company Limited, Dubai World Trade Centre and others.‎

He had also earned the distinction of supporting young Emirati talents through the Hamdan bin Rashid Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance.

In 2006, Sheikh Hamdan had received three certificates from ‎the Royal British College, making him the first personality to attain such a distinction from ‎the College. He was granted the Honorary fellowship for Internal Medicine from the Royal ‎British College-London, the Honorary fellowship for Internal Medicine from the Royal British ‎College-Edinburgh, and the Honorary fellowship for Internal Medicine and Surgery from the ‎Royal British College-Glasgow.