Dubai's deputy ruler Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid dies at 75
Dubai, Mar 24: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, deputy ruler of Dubai and the finance minister of the United Arab Emirates, has died, his brother said on Wednesday. He was 75.
Sheikh Hamdan served as deputy leader of Dubai under his brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the hereditary ruler of the city-state who also serves as prime minister and vice president of the UAE.
Emirati officials announced his death without specifying the cause. Sheikh Hamdan had been in poor health for several months. Last fall, he flew abroad for an unspecified surgery and in recent weeks his brother Sheikh Mohammed tweeted prayers for his recovery.
Born December 25, 1949, the second son of late ruler Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, he grew up in what was known as the Trucial States, a collection of Arab sheikhdoms along the southern shore of the Persian Gulf that were part of a British protectorate since 1820.
When the UAE formed its first Cabinet in 1971, Sheikh Hamdan became finance minister and held the post until his death, attracting foreign investment, managing the country's oil wealth and, along with his brother, overseeing the transformation of Dubai into a regional financial hub. The country separately has a minister of state for financial affairs.
He led Emirati delegations to the International Monetary Fund and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for international development. Sheikh Hamdan controlled a wide array of conglomerates reaching across Dubai's economy, such as the Dubai Ports Authority, Dubai World Trade Center and Dubai Natural Gas Company Limited.
Like his brother, he became a big name in horse racing out of the UAE, founding Shadwell Racing in 1981, an operation with a legacy of producing star thoroughbreds.
His funeral service will be restricted to family because of COVID-19, according to Dubai's government-run media office, which ordered government offices closed for three days of mourning.
Today we lost one of the most loyal men of the UAE after a life full of giving and sincere patriotism, wrote the country's de facto ruler, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون ... رحمك الله يا أخي وسندي ورفيق دربي.. وأحسن مثواك .. وضعت رحالك عند رب كريم رحيم عظيم .. pic.twitter.com/xAw3rXIwoj
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) March 24, 2021
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Shinde’s Shiv Sena surges ahead, does this secure his claim as 'Real' Sena? will he retain CM post?
Mumbai: As trends from the Maharashtra assembly elections are coming out, Eknath Shinde's faction of the Shiv Sena appears to be solidifying its claim to the party's legacy, surpassing Uddhav Thackeray’s faction in a fierce political battle.
By 10:53 am, the Shinde-led Sena was leading in 55 of the 81 seats it contested, while Thackeray’s group was ahead in just 17 out of 95. These early numbers indicate a strong start for Shinde within the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, which is dominating with leads in 220 seats overall. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), led by the Thackeray faction alongside the Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), is trailing with 55 leads.
Meanwhile, these polls can be termed as a battle for Shiv Sena’s identity, which split in 2022 following Shinde’s rebellion. That revolt toppled the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government, propelling Shinde to the Chief Minister’s post in an alliance with the BJP. While the Thackeray camp claimed moral victory after performing better in the INDIA bloc’s strong performance in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, however these assembly trends suggest a resurgence for Shinde’s leadership.
Among the high-stakes contests is the Worli seat in Mumbai, where Aaditya Thackeray, Uddhav’s son and a former minister, faces a tough fight against Milind Deora, a Congress deserter and ex-Union Minister. Aaditya is currently leading in the battle.
In the meantime, Shinde’s faction’s strong performance could enhance his influence in government formation, there is also a chatter that the BJP, which is contesting 149 seats, may push to reclaim the Chief Minister’s position if the Mahayuti achieves a commanding victory.
