Royal Profile: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai was born 15 July 1949 as the third son of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan al-Nahyan.

He was educated in Dubai, and The United Kingdom. Beginning in 1953, he was tutored in Arabic and Islamic Studies. Two years later, at the age of six, he began his formal education at Al Ahmedia School. In 1959, he began attending Al Shaab School. Two years later, in 1961, he began attending the Bell Educational Trust's English Language School, where his cousin Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum also attended. After completing his education, he went to Italy to train as a pilot.

In January 1968, he was present when his father (Sheikh Rashid) and Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan first began the talks to form the UAE. Two years later, he was named as the UAE's first minister of defense {Source}.

After attending military training, his father appointed him as head of the Dubai police and Dubai Defense Force. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has also had a successful business career and owns two companies: Dubai World and Dubai Holding. He was also responsible for the launching of Emirates Airline, and development of Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central and the low cost carrier, FlyDubai.

He has  three known wives and 23 children, and several grandchildren:

1. Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum (1962, m. 1979)
1. Seikha Hessa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (1980)
1. Sheikh Saeed bin Dalmouk bin Juma Al Maktoum (m. 2008)
1. Seikha Hind bint Saeed Al Maktoum (2009)
2. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (2012)
2. Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (1981- 2015)
3. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai (1982)
4. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 24 November 1983), Deputy ruler of Dubai
5. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (1987)
6. Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (1988)
7. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum
1. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi (1986)
1. Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi (2009)
2. Sheikha Aisha bint Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi (2011)
3. Sheikha Fatima bint Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi (2014)
4. Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohamned Al Sharqi (2015)
8. Sheikha Maryam bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (born 11 January 1992)
9. Sheikha Shaikha bint Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum 1992) 
1. Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain (m. 2009)
1. Sheema bint Nasser Al Khalifa (2010)
2. Hamad bin Nasser Al Khalifa (2012)
3. Mohammad bin Nasser Al Khalifa ( 2012)
10. Sheikha Futaim bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (1994)
11. Sheikha Salamah bint Mohammed Al Maktoum ( 1999)
12. Sheikha Shamma bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (2001)
2. Unknown Lebanese Wife
1. Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (1977)
1. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi (m. 2005)
1. Sheikha Fatima bin Mansour of Abu Dhabi (2006)
2. Sheikh Mohammed  bin Mansour of Abu Dhabi(2007)
3. Sheikh Hamdan  bin Mansour of Abu Dhabi (2011)
4. Sheikha Latifa  bin Mansour of Abu Dhabi (2014)
3. Unknown Moroccan Wife
1. Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (1980)
2. Sheikha Shamsa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (1981)
3. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (1983)
4. Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum(1987)
5. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (1989)
4. Unkown German woman
1. Sheikh Marwan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum (1987)
1. Sheikha Mouza bint Marwan bin Mohahammed Al Maktoum
2. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed Al Maktoum(1989)
1. Sheikha Dalal Al Marzouqi
1. Sheikh Mohammed bin Marwan Al Maktoum
2. Sheikh Rashid bin Marwan Al Maktoum
5. Zoe Grigorakos
1. Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed Al Maktoum (1994)
6. Princess Haya bint Hussien,  Sheikha Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
1. Sheikha Al Jalila bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum (2007)
2. Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (2012)