To Be The First: A new Sheikh Mohammed biography has been released

And it’s a real page turner… 

Ever wondered what H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister, was like as a child? What ran through his mind as he witnessed his father, the late Sheikh Rashid, and the late Sheikh Zayed seal the act of union? Or, what does he think of now as he drives across Dubai?

You’ll find answers to these questions, and much more in To Be The First, an authorised biography of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum written by British historian Graeme Wilson.

There are numerous books available on the Dubai Ruler, but this is the first autobiography that will show you a different side of Sheikh Mohammed. The book is an in-depth look at the Dubai ruler’s personal side, laced with stories from his childhood, his school and university days, his thoughts about Dubai’s rapid growth, life with his family and so much more.

You will hear stories from family members, dignitaries, personal friends and entrepreneurs, all sharing never-before-heard tales, so it’s a true treasure. And some of the stories are truly heartwarming.

Allow us to share with you one of our favourites. One afternoon, when Sheikh Mohammed was walking through Souk Madinat Jumeirah, an Indian lady greeted him and wanted a selfie. But when she realised that she didn’t have a camera, Sheikh Mohammed dispatched his security man to the shop to buy one. When he returned with the camera, Sheikh Mohammed posed with her for some photos.

Dubai’s extraordinary leader had but one goal: to transform Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed was once the world’s youngest Minister of Defence who went to on to become the Crown Prince of Dubai and then Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Dubai Airport (1965)

During that time, he oversaw the extraordinary transformation of a small trading town into a global city, bringing millions of people from over 195 nationalities together.

Looking at the transformation of Dubai from a desert to the metropolis it is now, we all can easily say, ‘mission accomplished’. But it is not the end of the Dubai Ruler’s dream. As Sheikh Mohammed once said, ‘They say the sky is the limit for ambition. We say: the sky is only the beginning.’

Photo credit: Dubai Media Office

The book also features photos from snaps of young Sheikh Mohammed, old photos of Dubai and historical moments to more current photos of Sheikh Mohammed at the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai, at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, COP28 and more.

Speaking on the launch of To Be The First, Ian Fairservice, Managing Partner, and Group Editor-in-Chief of Motivate Media Group, commented, ‘We are truly honoured to be publishing this authorised biography of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. To Be the First gives a unique insight into the making of an extraordinary leader and the building of a remarkable nation.’

Graeme Wilson is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society who has lived in the UAE for 34 years. His first biography was Father of Dubai, on the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. He has also written authorised biographies of Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, along with a host of other world leaders across the Middle East and Asia.

You can even hear from Wilson at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature on January 31, 2025 from 3pm to 4pm at Dubai Festival City. The session is free to attend but get your ticket here.

You can order your book before the session via booksarabia.com for Dhs125. It is available in English and Arabic.