“The Sheikh CEO” is a book written by Dr. Yasar Jarrar, Phd, that distils the lessons to be learned from observing Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, featuring interviews capturing insights from ministers and members of his team. The book is about Sheikh Mohammed, his leadership style, and the way he operates. Dr. Yasar Jarrar is considered one of the closest confidants of the Sheikh and has held the position of Executive Director of the Dubai School of Government. The book highlights various anecdotes from Sheikh Mohammed’s personal life as a leader and covers everything from his early days to his current position as Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. In his other latest book, which I also read, “My Story,” the Sheikh details four tenets that he calls the emirate’s “unwritten constitution”: the preservation of justice, the pursuit of knowledge, the importance of hard work, and the need to maintain a sense of balance.
In this book, the Sheikh CEO, Dr Yasar Jarrar, Phd, wrote about the Eight Governance and Leadership Principles of Sheikh Mohammed: the Union of the UAE is the foundation; no one is above the law; we are a business capital; economic diversification; a credible, resilient, and excellent government; our society has a unique personality; the emirate’s prominence; and the Sheikh’s last principle, which sums up his legacy: “We care about future generations.”
Sheikh Mohammed once said in an interview, “Opportunities aren’t just there waiting to be taken,” and he showed this when he came up with the idea that “what is good for business is good for Dubai.” And he chose to build the big three “T’s” of Dubai’s success story: transportation, trade, and tourism.
Sheikh Mohammed’s was to act fast at whatever he is doing because he believes that there is only now and tomorrow never comes. He believes in the power of acting now—becoming what you want to achieve!
As per the book, The CEO Sheikh, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s style of leadership is made up of many different traits and actions that have helped him turn Dubai into a global hub. Here are a few concrete examples of how he leads:
- Sheikh Mohammed is known for putting an emphasis on getting things done. He sets clear goals and works to reach them, which is what drives Dubai’s growth and progress.
- Sheikh Mohammed is a leader who thinks outside the box and isn’t afraid to question the status quo. He has put in place a number of programmes and projects that have helped Dubai become a successful global city.
- Transformational: People often say that Sheikh Mohammed’s way of leading is transformational. He has a clear idea of what the future will look like and motivates his team and the people of Dubai to work towards that future.
- Sheikh Mohammed is very generous and dedicated to charity work. He has started many projects and groups that aim to make people’s lives better in Dubai and elsewhere.
- Vision with clear goals: Sheikh Mohammed’s leadership is marked by a clear vision with clear goals. He makes plans for the growth and progress of Dubai and tries to reach those plans.
- Self-confidence: Sheikh Mohammed is a leader who has faith in his own skills and those of his team. This faith in himself has helped him get through hard times and be successful.
- Attachment to followers: Sheikh Mohammed cares about his followers and stays close to them through the Majlis philosophy. He hears what they have to say, talks to them, and tries to meet their wants.
- Effective communication: Sheikh Mohammed is a good speaker who can tell his team and the people of Dubai what he wants to do and why. Dubai has done very well because of how well he can talk to people.
- Learning all the time: Sheikh Mohammed thinks it’s important to keep learning. He is always looking for new information and ideas to help him be a better boss and help Dubai grow.
For the last 15 years, I have read many books written about the leaders of the Middle East. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s leadership style differs from other leaders in the Middle East in several ways:
- Sheikh Mohammed is known for having a leadership style that is both innovative and transformative, which sets him apart from other leaders in the area. He has been in charge of building a technology park and a free economic zone in Dubai, among other things.
- Collaborative approach: Sheikh Mohammed puts a lot of stress on working as a team and working with others to make the best choices. This way of making decisions isn’t used as much by other leaders in the Middle East, who may make more decisions from the top down.
- Sheikh Mohammed’s style of leadership is marked by his humility and ability to get things done. He thinks things through to find answers, which has won him the trust of people in the UAE and world leaders alike. It’s possible that other Middle Eastern leaders don’t lead with as much respect and common sense.
- Sheikh Mohammed’s drive to helping people and the way he solves their problems have made him a very well-known person. Even though other Middle Eastern leaders may also do charitable work, Sheikh Mohammed stands out because he cares about people’s well-being and is able to bring resources together for economic success.
- Sheikh Mohammed is easy to talk to, even though he is the leader of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Other Middle Eastern leaders may not be as easy to get in touch with because they may have more official and distant relationships with their people.
In a nutshell, these are the FIVE principles underlying Sheikh Mohammed’s decision-making: inspire, compete, have vision, be agile, and work with love.
Abdirashid Ibrahim, 03 July, 2023, Dubai
