THE DEPARTURE OF RASHID
In this chapter, Sheikh Mohammed recalls how the world mourned when his father, Sheikh Rashid, died.
One of the hardest moments is having to say goodbye to someone you love. The last formal occasion when Sheikh Rashid appeared in public was during the reception he held in honour of the Indian Prime Minister at the time, Indira Gandhi.
That was in May of 1981. After that, the signs of fatigue began to appear. All those who knew Sheikh Rashid knew him to be a physically strong man, alert, never tired and never succumbing to exhaustion. His life revolved around his work and he was always on the move: Negotiating, discussing and following up on issues. He was well versed in politics, economics, finance and business. He was a wise man, a visionary architect.
In his majlis, he welcomed people from near and far, locals and visitors, rich and poor. He liked to listen more than he liked to talk, and he was extremely down to earth, to such an extent that it was hard for those who did not know him to believe he was the ruler.
In May of 1981, Sheikh Rashid became increasingly ill and visibly tired. I suggested he move to a resthouse in the mountains in Hatta in order to renew his energy and enjoy some respite for a while. He liked the idea, but he soon found he missed the bustle of Dubai, the constant movement that he had created through his endless projects. So he returned to the city. On the way back, his health suddenly took a turn for the worse and we moved him to his palace in Zabeel. Within days, Sheikh Rashid regained his strength and he began to receive calls from his brother, Sheikh Zayed, and the other rulers of the emirates, wishing him well.
I suggested he travel to London to undergo tests and receive treatment. Sheikh Rashid surprised his physicians with his speedy recovery.
My father’s recovery was to prove shortlived. The death of my mother, in 1983, dealt him an awful blow.
At 10am on Sunday, October 7, 1990, Sheikh Rashid’s soul returned to its maker and he left this world gently and peacefully. Hearts mourned his death, tears were shed. Many did not believe that Rashid was dead. The death of a father is perhaps the most difficult death to accept.
In New York, the United Nations General Assembly stood in silence for a minute of mourning. When I saw the tears in the eyes of the humble labourers, I realised that Sheikh Rashid had touched the hearts of everyone. In what he is calling his “incomplete biography”, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has broken his latest book, Qissati (My Story), into 50 chapters, narrating 50 stories in his 50 years of serving the nation. Khaleej Times got a signed copy of the book from the Dubai Ruler and every day, we will be featuring excerpts from each of the 50 chapters.