Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum

Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, born on November 14, 1982, in Dubai, is the Crown Prince of Dubai and a prominent Emirati royal and political figure. He is the second son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, and Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum.

Educated at the Rashid School for Boys and later at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, he also attended the London School of Economics, reflecting a strong educational foundation in governance and economics.

Appointed Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council in 2006, he played a vital role in Dubai's strategic development and governance. He became Crown Prince of Dubai in February 2008, succeeding his deceased elder brother Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed.

Known by the nickname "Fazza," which means "the one who helps," he is widely respected for his poetry, which he publishes under this name. He is also an accomplished equestrian and has won multiple world championships at the World Equestrian Games, including gold and bronze medals.

He founded the Hamdan International Photography Award in 2011 and has been actively involved in supporting young entrepreneurs through the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment. In 2022, he launched the “Dubai Global” initiative to establish commercial representative offices for Dubai worldwide, furthering the emirate’s business presence internationally.

On July 14, 2024, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the United Arab Emirates, succeeding his father in the defence ministry.