DUBAI, Jan 4: Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashed al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and vice president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who died on Wednesday, was a low-profile ruler with a passion for horse racing.

The Maktoum family owns the prestigious Godolphin stables, with locations in both Dubai and Britain, and which runs the world’s richest horse race — the six million dollar Dubai World Cup.

Born in 1943 in Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum became the emirate’s ruler on Oct 7, 1990, on the death of his father, Sheikh Rashed al Maktoum.

The eldest of Sheikh Rashed’s four sons, he went to school in Dubai before completing his studies at Cambridge University in Britain.

He became the first UAE prime minister at the creation of the seven-member federation in 1971.

Sheikh Maktoum remained prime minister until 1979 when he gave up his position to his father.

After the deterioration of his father’s health, Sheikh Maktoum became deputy prime minister in 1982.

At his father’s death in 1990, Sheikh Maktoum became Dubai’s ruler as well as UAE vice president and prime minister.

Under his rule, the emirate of Dubai has emerged as a main regional tourism and business hub.—AFP