New Delhi: Dubai has announced a 10-day mourning period after Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a member of the emirate’s ruling family who held senior positions in security, sports and business, passed away at the age of 76. Flags across the emirate being flown at half-mast across Dubai, while the UAE deputy prime minister, Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, paid tribute to the late royal, saying Sheikh Ahmed would remain in the hearts, memories and prayers of the people.
UAE deputy prime minister, Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, referred to Sheikh Ahmed’s death in a post on X. “May God have mercy on Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,” Hamdan said, adding prayers for mercy, paradise and patience for the people of Dubai and the UAE.
Hamdan said Sheikh Ahmed would remain in the hearts, memories and prayers of the people. He also said he was being bid farewell with faith in God’s decree and destiny, and concluded his message with, “Indeed, to God we belong, and to Him shall we return.”
No family or official statement has disclosed the cause of Sheikh Ahmed’s death. He was the fourth and youngest son of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the former ruler of Dubai and a key figure in the emirate’s development.
He was also the youngest brother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. His career included positions in Dubai’s security and military establishment, along with roles in the sports and business sectors.
According to Khaleej Times, Sheikh Ahmed held senior positions across Dubai’s security, military, sports and business sectors. He served as deputy chairman of Dubai police and public security and, after graduating from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK, joined Dubai’s central military command, eventually becoming its commander-in-chief.
His association with Dubai’s sporting sector extended across several decades, particularly through Al Wasl Sports Club and horse racing. According to media reports, Sheikh Ahmed had been associated with Al Wasl since the early 1960s, when the club was known as Al Zamalek, and later chaired its board.
Sheikh Ahmed also contributed to the development of Jebel Ali Racecourse, working on its technical design with trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam. The racecourse was built in 1990 and hosted its first racing season in 1991, while Sheikh Ahmed owned the adjoining Jebel Ali Stables.
Figures cited by the Emirates Racing Authority, as reported by Khaleej Times, show that Sheikh Ahmed recorded 614 wins from 4,475 starts as a racehorse owner, giving him a strike rate of 13.7 per cent
In the business sector, Sheikh Ahmed chaired ARM Holding, a private investment firm with interests in real estate, hospitality and banking, along with sectors including health technology, sustainable food, mobility, fintech and cultural initiatives. According to ARM holding’s official website, its real estate portfolio includes Dubai real estate centre, Huna and Hive Coliv.