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Sweetpea · 02-22-2006, 02:20 PM

Dubai is a facinating place and one of the fastest rising tourist destinations in the world. All thanks to the vision of the crowned prince! It's amazing how the vision of one person can bring forth such success and turn a country that was known for oil into one that is synonymous with service/luxury. And it is pushing the evelope with things like the above attraction that make it so popular.

Quote:

" Ruler who has clear vision for Dubai
By Manal Alafrangi, Staff Reporter
Dubai: Many people say His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, inherited his father Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum's vision of dreaming large and achieving big.
Shaikh Mohammad was born in 1949. He is one amongst Shaikh Rashid's four sons. Early on, Shaikh Rashid began serious preparations for his sons' future in government. From 1958 onwards, Shaikh Rashid exposed his sons to the most talented individuals in the community. This included bankers, builders, merchants and intellectuals.
In 1988, Shaikh Mohammad took over the administration of Dubai International Airport (DIA), heading a committee to attract passenger and cargo transport to the emirate, similar to the approach that was adopted for the seaports. Dubai under the leadership of Shaikh Mohammad adopted an open-skies policy as a means to fast track development, aiming to make the emirate the region's aviation and tourism hub.
Tourism plans
In the 1990s Shaikh Mohammad was given responsibility for Dubai's oil sector. Realising the risks of relying too heavily on a single source of income, Dubai Rulers encouraged the diversification of their economy by investing in infrastructure and providing options for outside investors.
In January 1995, Shaikh Mohammad was appointed Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Minister of Defence, while his elder brother, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, became the Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the UAE Minister of Finance and Industry..
Later that year, Shaikh Mohammad announced the creation of the Dubai Shopping Festival under the tourism banner 'Destination Dubai'.
This annual event is intended to bring together all aspects of the emirate's economy and make it a part of a promotion that would reach all corners of the world. This was one of Shaikh Mohammad's first initiatives after becoming Crown Prince and has grown to be one of the biggest tourism events in Dubai's annual calendar. The festival incorporates a variety of tourism activities with entertainment events and funfairs, as well as sales at various shopping venues.
"Vision
In March 2000, Shaikh Mohammad told London's Sunday Telegraph newspaper: "I have a vision. I look to the future, 20, 30 years. I learnt that from my father, Shaikh Rashid. He is the true father of modern Dubai. I follow his example. He would rise early and go alone to watch what was happening on each of his projects. I do the same. I watch. I read faces. I take decisions and I move fast. Full throttle."
Within the same month, Shaikh Mohammad launched the Information Technology Education Project for secondary schools, emphasising the importance of education as well as IT skills in this day and age. "
Shaikh Maktoum
Nation|Government
Published: 01/05/2006 12:00 AM (UAE)

http://www.gulfnews.com/profile/shai.../10009479.html

sweetpea