His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, announced the release of the first volume of his new book titled What Life Has Taught Me. The book includes 35 chapters that document key milestones from His Highness’s leadership and intellectual journey—covering governance, public service, and life philosophy—serving as a knowledge-rich reference for both current and future generations.
His Highness emphasized:
“The greatest legacy we can leave behind is not money, nor construction and buildings, but true wisdom, useful knowledge, and kind words that transcend time and borders, and benefit both near and far.”
In the introduction of the book, which will be available in bookstores starting September 25, His Highness wrote:
“In a few years, I will complete 60 years in public service… 60 years of engaging with people, governance, and life. Sixty years that passed quickly—with their challenges and achievements, joys and sorrows, crises and surprises. In those 60 years, I gained friends… and with success came envy. I lost loved ones—my father, my mother, my brothers, and others… and I gained much: a beautiful family, righteous children, kind citizens, and a nation that has become a global point of reference.”
He added:
“I wanted this book to be simple in its language, honest in its words, and real in its meaning—so it may reach from the heart to the heart.”
Continuing in the book’s introduction, His Highness reflected:
“I have learned many lessons in life, but the greatest of them is that I am not perfect—I am a human being who learns, develops, grows, loves and dislikes, strengthens and weakens, and constantly changes. But the one constant over more than seven decades has been my love for my country, my people, and my family.”
He wrote:
“God is my witness that I have always wished good for people. God is my witness that I gave much so they may live a dignified life. I never knowingly wronged anyone, never took anyone’s right, never imprisoned an innocent, and never acted harshly toward the weak. I never hesitated for a moment on any decision or project that would serve the people or improve their lives.”
His Highness concluded:
“Today, I write these words first for myself, then for my children and my people, and for anyone who wishes to learn—be it a word, a phrase, or a line from my life, which I consider to have been, by God’s grace, far from ordinary.”
The launch of What Life Has Taught Me reflects His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s commitment to sharing his vast experience across diverse fields. It is a valuable addition to the Arabic library and a source of inspiration for leaders, decision-makers, and aspiring youth shaping the future.
This new volume extends His Highness’s journey of contributing to thought, culture, and creativity with distinguished works that have left a profound impact on intellectual and cultural discourse both locally and across the Arab world. The book touches on comprehensive themes of life and human and developmental values.
A Glimpse Into the Chapters:
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Vision and Movement
His Highness opens the book with this chapter, affirming that achievement is not born from waiting or studies alone, but from movement and action. It outlines the leadership principle he has followed for six decades: movement creates achievement. -
May God Have Mercy on My Father
A touching chapter where His Highness reflects on the values he inherited from his late father, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, may God rest his soul. “I learned from him the simplicity of living, self-restraint, how not to be distracted by trivialities, and how to listen, when to be firm, when to soften, and how to carry dignity without pretense.” -
Economic Freedom
His Highness presents a clear vision: that a nation’s prosperity begins with the government’s trust in its people and granting them economic freedom. He considers economic freedom not a luxury, but a necessity—more valuable than natural resources—as it fuels human potential. -
Have You Tried Living?
His Highness explains that life is not measured in years but in days of true experience. “One hasn’t lived if they haven’t tasted life, the thrill of competition, the challenge before a race, or walking new paths.” -
Do Nothing, Be Nothing
He notes that building something new or thinking differently often invites criticism. “If you seek everyone’s approval, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.” -
Stinginess and the Stingy
His Highness emphasizes that the noblest human trait is to offer goodness to others. “Generosity is not tied to wealth. Many are rich in money but poor in spirit.” -
Wake Before Others
A habit that defined many of his successes. “One who owns their morning, owns their day. And one who owns their day, owns their life and destiny.” -
The Silent Killer
His Highness warns of corruption, calling it the “silent killer of nations,” especially when society fails to recognize its danger. Left unchecked, it becomes cultural, leading to project failures, weak governance, and societal unrest. -
Harmony
In this chapter, His Highness reflects on why the UAE never feels foreign to people of different backgrounds. Citing Gandhi’s words—“Peace in society reflects peace within its people”—he affirms that the UAE embodies harmony before it embodied union. -
Why the Future Is Brighter
His Highness expresses optimism: “The future is better… because hope is strength… and despair is disbelief in destiny. Optimism opens the skies and reveals opportunity in difficulty.” -
A Message to My Grandchildren
In a heartfelt letter, His Highness advises: “Whatever your future role may be, let your actions be full of integrity, your dealings dignified and respectful, your life filled with simplicity and pride, and your hearts content and at peace.” He adds: “Be like the rain—wherever it falls, it benefits. It doesn’t distinguish between rich and poor, old and young, human or animal or tree.”
The book also includes many other chapters touching on His Highness’s experiences, leadership values, and humanity. These cover themes such as creativity, tolerance, loyalty, love, happiness, team-building, managing challenges, time management, and fostering a culture of hope and giving—making What Life Has Taught Me a true source of inspiration for all those working to build a brighter, sustainable future.
