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36-700: Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum ( Arabic : رَاشِد بن سَعِيْد آل مَكتُوم , romanized :  Râşid bin Saîd Âl Mektûm ; 11 June 1912 – 7 October 1990) was an Emirati royal, politician and a founder of the United Arab Emirates . Al Maktoum was the first vice president and second prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, and was the ruler of Dubai . He ruled Dubai for 32 years from 1958 until his death in 1990. He

72-512: A Bedouin tribal leader in recent centuries. Due to the cultural impact of Arab civilization, and especially through the spread of Islam, the word has gained currency as a religious term or general honorific in many other parts of the world as well, notably in Muslim cultures in Africa and Asia . In Sufism ( tasawwuf ), the word shaikh is used to represent a spiritual guide who initiates

108-642: A noble instead of royal connotation, since it was bestowed by a higher authority; in this case the Ottoman appointed Emir , who was nothing more than a mültezim or tax collector for the empire . Some very influential Maronite families, who had the title bestowed upon them, are (in chronological order): the El Hachem of Akoura (descendants of the Hashemite family, since 1523), the El-Khazen (since 1545),

144-466: A camel", He therefore worked to develop the economy of Dubai so that it could survive after the end of oil production, and was a driving force behind a number of major infrastructure projects to promote Dubai as a regional hub for trade, such as: There had been an armed border dispute between the Emirate of Dubai and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in 1946, and when Sheikh Rashid became ruler of Dubai, there

180-508: A daughter named Latifa and a son named Hamdan who was born after his death. He was also married to Shamsa bint Ahmed Al Suwaidi, with whom he had a daughter, named Maryam. Latifa was taken to Dubai with her mother when her father was killed. Latifa, later married Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum . She is the mother of the rulers of Dubai, Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum . Hamdan's other daughter, Maryam

216-472: A future ruler of Dubai and become the mother of the present ruler). Two other brothers of Hamdan and Sultan began a campaign against Sultan. Intrigue and strife were rife as factions emerged in the confusion following the murder. There were other difficulties also: Sultan inherited the unstable interior that Hamdan had barely pacified, pitching him into a series of wars and outbreaks of peace which dogged his rule. In 1926, four years after he seized power, Sultan

252-571: A mission to Ibn Saud in Riyadh, possibly in a bid to bolster his rule by gaining external allies. He is also said to have disrupted Abu Dhabi's long-standing trade relations. Hamdan's reign witnessed the breakdown of authority which had been entrenched during his powerful father's long reign. In Liwa and Buraimi, fighting broke out between the Bedouin tribes, with the Manasir and Bani Yas fighting

288-657: A particular order ( tariqa ) which leads to Muhammad , although many saints have this title added before their names out of respect from their followers. A couple of prominent examples are Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani , who initiated the Qadiriyya order, and Sheikh Ahmad al-Tijani , who initiated the Tijaniyyah Sufi order. In the Arabian Peninsula , the title is used for chiefs of tribes . This also includes royalty in most of Eastern Arabia , where

324-486: A southern confederation of Awamir , Duru and Al Bu Shamis . Himself becoming an ally of the Wahhabis, Hamdan managed to broker an uneasy truce. In August 1922, after ruling for ten years, Hamdan was killed by his younger brother, Sultan , who seized the throne. This murder only added to disorder within the family and the town. Several family members, including Hamdan's daughters, fled to Dubai (one of them would marry

360-600: A warm relationship was established. Thus, when India devalued the Gulf Rupee in 1966, both Qatar and Dubai adopted the Qatar-Dubai Riyal as a common currency, whereas Abu Dhabi adopted the Bahraini dinar . Sheikh Rashid also established close relations with Kuwait and other royal families in the region. The Emir of Kuwait assisted in the financing of the dredging of Dubai creek. Dubai also raised funds for

396-806: Is commonly used for women of ruling families in the Arab states of the Arabian Peninsula. Hamdan bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan was the ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1912 to 1922. Hamdan was the fifth son of Zayed I , Ruler of Abu Dhabi. Zayed I had many sons (at least seven) by several wives. His eldest son, Khalifa, declined the succession. Since Khalifa declined to accept leadership, his next brother, Tahnoun ,

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432-480: The Dubai Creek to a modern port city and commercial hub. A quote commonly attributed to Sheikh Rashid reflected his concern that Dubai's oil, which was discovered in 1966 and which began production in 1969, would run out within a few generations. "My grandfather rode a camel , my father rode a camel , I drive a Mercedes , my son drives a Land Rover , his son will drive a Land Rover, but his son will ride

468-723: The Hashemite family) who were Ehdenian rulers of Jebbeh since 1471 CE until 1759 CE. The descendants of this sovereign family now live in Miziara , Mexico and Nigeria. Even the Abu Harmoush family heads, which ruled the Chouf region until the Battle of Ain Dara in 1711 CE, were "sui iuris" sheikhs. After the Ottoman rule and the implementation of the Iltizam system, the title gained

504-628: The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca who influenced many of the prominent Islamic scholars of today. In the cosmopolitan hub of the South Asian sub-continent, it is not just an ethnic title but also often an occupational title attributed to Muslim trading families. After the advent of Islam in South Asia , many Hindu-Buddhists clans from different castes converted to Islam and adopted the title. In

540-637: The Punjab region , Ismaili Pirs gave some converts, as well as Muslims who emigrated from Central Asia , especially after the barbaric Mongol conquests , the hereditary title of Ismaili Shaikhs . In Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia , sheikhs are respected by local Muslims. In Indonesia , the term is usually spelled "syech", and this is usually attributed to elderly ulama . Higher knowledgeable people of Islamic studies in Indonesia are usually referred to as " ustad " or " kyai ". From

576-672: The UAE , Bahrain , Qatar , and Kuwait . The title is not used by members of Al Saud of Saudi Arabia , where the title "Prince" ( Arabic : أمير , romanized :  ʾAmīr ) is used instead. The title is also used to refer to religious leaders for both Sunni and Shia Muslims. For example, the Saudi Arabian family Al ash-Sheikh (literally House of the Sheikh ) is named after the religious leader and eponymous founder of Wahhabism , Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab . In Mount Lebanon,

612-525: The United Arab Emirates and some other Arab countries, also has this title, since the ruler of each emirate is also the sheikh of their tribe. The word in Arabic stems from a triliteral root connected with aging: ش-ي-خ , shīn-yā'-khā' . The title carries the meaning leader, elder , or noble , especially in the Arabian Peninsula within the Tribes of Arabia , where Shaikh became a traditional title of

648-413: The 10th-century Shaykhah Fakhr-un-Nisa Shuhdah and 18th-century scholar Al-Shaykha Fatima al-Fudayliyya . In 1957, Indonesian education activist Rahmah el Yunusiyah was awarded the title of syeikah by the faculty of Al-Azhar University , the first time the university had granted the title to a woman. A daughter, wife or mother of a sheikh is also called a shaykhah . Currently, the term shaykhah

684-801: The Hubaysh of Kisrawan and the Douaihy of Zgharta . Other families who are nowadays addressed or known as "sheikhs" were not traditionally rulers of provinces, but instead they were high-ranking officials at the service of the Emir at that time. In the Maghreb , during the Almohad dynasty, the caliph was also counseled by a body of sheikhs. They represented all the different tribes under their rules, including Arabs , ( Bedouins ), Andalusians and Berbers and were also responsible for mobilizing their kinsmen in

720-516: The dredging by issuing bonds, known as the 'creek bonds,' which proved popular with investors. Revenue derived from land reclamation made possible by the dredging proved crucial for funding Dubai's future growth. The dredging and land reclamation project, regarded at first as a folly, resulted in Dubai's rising prominence as an entrepôt , a position cemented by the visionary construction of a 15-berth deep-water port, Port Rashid, starting in 1969. Despite

756-702: The event of war. In the Muslim parts of the Horn of Africa , "shaikh" is often used as a noble title. In Somali society, it is reserved as an honorific for senior Muslim leaders and clerics ( wadaad ), and is often abbreviated to "Sh". Famous local sheikhs include Ishaaq bin Ahmed , an early Muslim scholar and Islamic preacher, Abdirahman bin Isma'il al-Jabarti , an early Muslim leader in Somaliland ; Abadir Umar Ar-Rida ,

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792-612: The late 1990s, JAFZ developed into a commercial free zone. Sheikh Rashid's father was Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, while his mother was Sheikha Hessa bint Al Mur bin Hureiz Al Falasi. Sheikh Rashid Al Maktoum married only once. His wife, Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, is the daughter of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan , who had ruled Abu Dhabi for 10 years (1912–22). After her father

828-805: The patron saint of Harar ; Abd al-Rahman al-Jabarti , Sheikh of the riwaq in Cairo who recorded the Napoleonic invasion of Egypt ; Abd Al-Rahman bin Ahmad al-Zayla'i , scholar who played a crucial role in the spread of the Qadiriyyah movement in Somalia and East Africa; Sheikh Sufi , 19th century scholar, poet, reformist and astrologist; Abdallah al-Qutbi , polemicist, theologian and philosopher best known for his five-part Al-Majmu'at al-mubaraka ("The Blessed Collection"); and Muhammad Al-Sumaalee, teacher in

864-638: The perspective of Iran, the word or title of sheikh possesses diverse meanings, among individuals who are aged and wise, it has been an honorific title used for elders and learned scholars, such as: Sheikh al-Rayees Abu Ali Sina , Sheikh Mufid , Sheikh Morteza Ansari . In the past, Islamic scholars who were the Muhammad's descendants, were called Sayyid / Seyyed instead of sheikh. Historically, female scholars in Islam were referred to as shaykhah (Arabic: شيخة ) (alt. shaykhat ). Notable shaykha include

900-459: The rather fraught relationship between the two emirates, Sheikh Rashid brought Dubai to join Abu Dhabi and other northern emirates to create the United Arab Emirates in 1971. In 1973, Dubai joined the other emirates to adopt a uniform currency, the UAE dirham . Jebel Ali port was established in 1979, and the customs free zone Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) was built around the port in 1985. By

936-580: The royal families were traditionally considered tribal chiefs. For example, it is used by the UAE Al-Nahyan dynasty and Al Maktoum dynasty , who are considered the chiefs of the Bani Yas tribe, and by Kuwait 's Al Sabah dynasty and Bahrain 's Al Khalifa dynasty of the Bani Utbah tribal confederation. The term is used by almost every male and female (Sheikha) member of the royal houses of

972-529: The throne. The actual murder was carried out by members of the Manasir tribe . It was Shakhbut , eldest son of Hamdan's assassin Sultan, who finally became ruler in 1928. Shakhbut (born in 1905) would rule Abu Dhabi from 1928 to 1966 and would be succeeded by his full brother, Zayed , who would rule from 1966 to 2004. Hamdan married twice. One of his spouses was Shamsa bint Mijren Al Falasi from Dubai. They had

1008-677: The title had the same princely and royal connotation as in the Arabian peninsula until the Ottoman invasion in 1516, since it represented an indigenous autonomous " sui iuris " ruler or tribal chief. Examples of some ancient families that hold the title of "sui iuris" sheikh is the Al-Chemor family, ruling since 1211 CE in Koura and Zgharta until 1747 CE and the Boudib family (descendants of

1044-403: The two families arranged for Sheikh Rashid to marry Latifah. Given this history, there was little love lost between the cousins and relations between the two emirates did not improve until much later. Instead, Sheikh Rashid established a close relationship with Qatar , who was a rival of Abu Dhabi on the other (western) border. Sheikh Rashid's daughter married the new emir of Qatar in 1961 and

1080-541: Was half-brother—46 years older—to Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum , presently the Chairman of Emirates Airline. Sheikh In some countries, it is given as a surname to those of great knowledge in religious affairs, by a prestigious religious leader from a chain of Sufi scholars. The word is mentioned in the Qur'an in three places: verse 72 of Hud , 78 of Yusuf , and 23 of al-Qasas . A royal family member of

1116-420: Was killed by an older half-brother, Saqr , who then seized the throne. Saqr was the fourth son of Zayed and one of the brothers who Hamdan had superseded. Nor did it end here. Saqr himself was killed in 1928, within two years of usurping power. Many members of the family may have been involved in the plot to kill Saqr, including the eldest brother, Khalifa, who nevertheless held fast to his promise not to sit on

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1152-555: Was murdered by family members, Sheikha Latifa (along with other family members) fled Abu Dhabi and was taken in at her mother's home in Dubai. Many years later, Sheikha Latifa was married to Rashid in a match arranged by their families. Rashid and Latifa had nine children, being four sons and five daughters: Both his predecessor and successor as Prime Minister of the UAE was his son, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid

1188-412: Was selected. Tahnoun ruled for three years (1909–12) and died peacefully at age 55. Tahnoun had no sons. When he died, his brother Hamdan (Zayed's fifth son) seized the rulership, superseding two older brothers, apart from Khalifa. Hamdan's rule was unpopular. While Abu Dhabi's population was violently anti-Wahhabi (a number of incursions into Buraimi had helped to cement Wahhabi unpopularity), Hamdan sent

1224-463: Was still a state of stand-off between the two emirates. Sheikh Rashid's accession did not serve to improve the situation because of a delicate family relationship. The ruling emir of Abu Dhabi, Shakhbut , was a first cousin of Sheikh Rashid's only wife, Latifah. Their fathers had been brothers. However, Shakhbut's father had killed Latifah's father and seized the throne of Abu Dhabi in 1922, causing Latifah's family to flee to Dubai where, many years later,

1260-404: Was the prime minister of United Arab Emirates from 1971 to 1979, and acceded as ruler of Dubai on his father's death on 7 October 1990, until his death on 4 January 2006. Following Maktoum's death in 2006, another of Sheikh Rashid's sons, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, acceded to these positions and is the current vice president and prime minister of the UAE and the ruler of Dubai. Sheikh Rashid

1296-417: Was the vice president from the founding of the UAE until his death. Al Maktoum was the first vice president to serve as prime minister concurrently, when he became prime minister on 30 April 1979. After him the office of prime minister was de facto tied to the office of vice president (but not vice versa). Sheikh Rashid was responsible for the transformation of Dubai from a small cluster of settlements near

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