His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Chairman

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has served as the Crown Prince of Dubai since 1 February 2008, and as the Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai since 8 September 2006. In these roles, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan leads efforts to realise the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,  by directly overseeing the formulation and execution of Dubai's comprehensive strategic development plans, guiding public policies to enhance quality of life, solidifying Dubai's position as a premier global economic and investment hub and elevating government efficiency and administrative systems to meet future demands.

On 14 July 2024, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE. In his Cabinet role, he plays a strategic part in shaping federal public policies, overseeing comprehensive national development and fostering government integration between federal and local sectors to serve the nation's vital interests, reinforce its regional and international leadership and strengthen the UAE's defence and security systems.

Throughout his journey, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed has spearheaded major strategies and launched numerous economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and sports initiatives that have driven significant transformations across various sectors. Under his leadership, The Executive Council has issued landmark resolutions and approved policies that have accelerated Dubai's growth momentum, elevated living standards and positioned the emirate among the world's top cities.

In the investment and business sectors, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan leads Dubai’s economic transformation strategies, shaping future-oriented industries rooted in a knowledge-based economy, innovation and entrepreneurship, with strong emphasis on establishing Dubai as a global capital of the digital economy and a premier destination for foreign direct investment and global talent in areas of emerging technologies and advanced sciences.

Committed to talent development and building future leaders, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed places exceptional emphasis on empowering young Emirati professionals by actively supporting leadership development programmes and advanced knowledge platforms, while launching initiatives to integrate advanced technologies and Artificial Intelligence applications across administrative and economic frameworks, thereby enhancing the UAE's global resilience and competitiveness.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chairs the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), championing a proactive, strategic vision that has successfully introduced transformative initiatives, establishing Dubai as a pioneering model of future readiness. Under his leadership, DFF has launched multiple platforms to institutionalise future foresight, foster a culture of innovative thinking and empower talent with future-ready skills across all key sectors.

The UAE views the space sector as a cornerstone of its future knowledge-based economy. To drive this vision, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed chairs the Supreme Space Council, which reports to the UAE Cabinet. Through the Council, His Highness leads a new era of Emirati space leadership focused on developing patents, localising advanced technologies and training specialised national professionals. Under his guidance, the Council has launched key initiatives, including the International Space Cooperation Programme, which allocates AED 1 billion to support global collaboration in space research and development.

As Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed oversees efforts to expand the positive impact of humanitarian, developmental and social programmes. He champions strategic partnerships with international and UN organisations to execute major initiatives aimed at aiding disadvantaged communities, providing digital education, supporting innovation and empowering youth with knowledge regionally and globally.

MBRGI has significantly improved lives worldwide, solidifying the UAE’s standing as a global capital of humanitarian work. MBRGI's total expenditure since 2015 has exceeded AED 16.1 billion across its five main pillars: Humanitarian Aid & Relief, Healthcare & Disease Control, Spreading Education & Knowledge, Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Empowering Communities. These efforts positively impacted more than 953 million lives across 122 countries.

On the global stage, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed has driven strategic alliances and partnerships with international organisations to achieve vital humanitarian goals, facilitate government knowledge exchange and deploy technological solutions that foster community development, economic growth, the digital economy and AI.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum graduated from the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom in 2001. He also completed specialised economic studies and training programmes at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).