Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid celebrates 76th birthday


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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, was celebrating his 76th birthday on Tuesday.

Sheikh Mohammed, who is also Prime Minister, has played a critical role in the rise of Dubai and the UAE on the international stage during a life dedicated to public service.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, paid homage to his father with a selection of photographs on his Instagram page.

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, also sent birthday wishes.

“To the one who turned dreams into reality and reality into a legend told for generations,” he wrote on X. “We celebrate your years filled with achievements, and the glory you embody. Happy birthday, you are the heart of the nation.”

Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed, chairwoman of Dubai Culture, shared her love, describing her father as the “best dad anyone could ever wish for” and adding that he is her “source of pride and inspiration”.

Impressive legacy

Sheikh Mohammed was born on July 15, 1949, and raised in Al Maktoum family home in Shindagha on the banks of Dubai Creek. He was tutored privately in Arabic and Islamic studies from the age of four and began formal education two years later.

He later trained at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot in the UK, which is now part of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. There, he emerged as the top Commonwealth student before going to Italy to train as a pilot.

In 1968, aged 19, he became the world’s youngest defence minister and was appointed the head of Dubai Police and Public Security force.

He became the nation’s first minister of defence in 1971 after the formation of the UAE, a crucial role now being carried out by his son, Sheikh Hamdan.

While a significant part of his development took place under the tutelage of academics and military officials overseas, the wisdom and inspiration provided by his father, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed, in the Emirates was vital.

Sheikh Rashid died in October 1990 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid, with Sheikh Mohammed appointed Crown Prince in 1995. Sheikh Mohammed became Ruler of Dubai in 2006 after the unexpected death of Sheikh Maktoum during a visit to Australia.

Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

Five famous companies founded by teens

There are numerous success stories of teen businesses that were created in college dorm rooms and other modest circumstances. Below are some of the most recognisable names in the industry:

  1. Facebook: Mark Zuckerberg and his friends started Facebook when he was a 19-year-old Harvard undergraduate. 
  2. Dell: When Michael Dell was an undergraduate student at Texas University in 1984, he started upgrading computers for profit. He starting working full-time on his business when he was 19. Eventually, his company became the Dell Computer Corporation and then Dell Inc. 
  3. Subway: Fred DeLuca opened the first Subway restaurant when he was 17. In 1965, Mr DeLuca needed extra money for college, so he decided to open his own business. Peter Buck, a family friend, lent him $1,000 and together, they opened Pete’s Super Submarines. A few years later, the company was rebranded and called Subway. 
  4. Mashable: In 2005, Pete Cashmore created Mashable in Scotland when he was a teenager. The site was then a technology blog. Over the next few decades, Mr Cashmore has turned Mashable into a global media company.
  5. Oculus VR: Palmer Luckey founded Oculus VR in June 2012, when he was 19. In August that year, Oculus launched its Kickstarter campaign and raised more than $1 million in three days. Facebook bought Oculus for $2 billion two years later.
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Updated: July 15, 2025, 12:08 PM`