Rashid was a strong personality with great ambition: Gergawi

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs, has mourned the death of Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who passed away on Saturday.

He extended heartfelt sympathy and condolences to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and prayed to Allah Almighty to bestow patience and solace upon the bereaved compassionate father. He prayed to Allah Almighty to bless the soul of the deceased with mercy in Paradise and bestow patience and solace on all members of the Al Maktoum family.

In a tribute, Al Gergawi recalled that the late Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed was very enthusiastic about the launch of Dubai Cares in 2007. He said that the late sheikh urged his brothers and sisters to travel abroad to support the philanthropic organisation's efforts to improve children's access to quality primary education in developing countries.

Al Gergawi said the late Sheikh Rashid, had a very strong personality and, like all the other members of Al Maktoum family, he was humble, and inherited high ambitions from his grandfather, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed, and a passion for sports and horses from his father.

Al Gergawi wrote, “I ask Allah Almighty to fill the heart of Sheikh Mohammed with comfort and patience. Sheikh Mohammed has compassion not only for his own children, but also for the people of UAE and the entire world. He reaches out to those in distress worldwide. It’s with our heart overflowing with grief and sympathy that we console you and call upon Allah to accept late Sheikh Rashid in Paradise.”

Al Gergawi added, “Oh Dear! the great poet, kind father, noble knight, we pray to Allah to support you and console you.”

He said that everyone sees events in their life that break their hearts. “The most unbearable scene was the sight of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid, Crown Prince of Dubai, and his brother Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, when putting their brother Sheikh Rashid in his final resting place.

“It was the most difficult of sights in my life. I have known the three brothers and know how close they were to each other. All three of them were brought up by Sheikh Mohammed, who instilled in them the spirit of true friendship.”

“Standing at the cemetery with the brothers, I remembered the first time Sheikh Mohammed asked me to accompany them to British University,” he said. “So many memories of me accompanying them on tours and meetings rushed to my mind,” he added.

“And from those trips I discovered the spirit of friendship between the three brothers, which Sheikh Mohammed had instilled in them in their childhood. And that can never change.”

Al Gergawi said, “Standing at the cemetery among the crowd that turned up to pray for the departed soul, I remembered how passionate Sheikh Rashid was about launching ‘Dubai Cares’ and his relentless support in making the initiative such a huge success.”

“I remember vividly his enthusiasm for the project, which reflected the ambitions of his great father. Late Rashid bin Mohammed had asked his brothers and sisters to support the project, not to mention his tremendous personal contribution.”

“Prayers of millions of children who benefited from Dubai Cares will be with late Rashid,” he added.

Al Gergawi said, “I remember accompanying Sheikh Rashid to Switzerland to the Fifa headquarters to follow up on some work, and attend meetings. That’s when I discovered his strong personality and sharp intelligence. He had great ambition just as the ambition of his grandfather. Late Sheikh Rashid, adored equestrian sport and loved to win.”

“It was those trips that made me get close to late Sheikh Rashid. I learnt how humble a person he was, which is a trait of the Al Maktoum family.”

“Standing at the cemetery that day, I thought of the pain of the great mother Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum. No words can console her – a mother who lost her son. We pray to Allah to accept Sheikh Rashid in Paradise. Amwwn!” Al Gergawi wrote in his tribute, reported by 'Emarat Al Youm'.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.