UAE

From ‘No finish line’ to ‘Dubai-it’: How Sheikh Mohammed’s words are key to Dubai’s success story

For years, Sheikh Mohammed’s words have inspired people to dream bigger, act faster and embrace a mindset with no finish line

By Huda Tabrez Published: 2026-06-17T17:50:00+04:00 2 min read
"We launched ‘Dubai-it’ to pass on Dubai's philosophy in action to generations, instill it as a work culture in our institutions and companies and build the next leaps forward with it. Our motto has always been, we say what we do, and we do what we say." - His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
"We launched ‘Dubai-it’ to pass on Dubai's philosophy in action to generations, instill it as a work culture in our institutions and companies and build the next leaps forward with it. Our motto has always been, we say what we do, and we do what we say." - His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Dubai: For decades, the words of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, have inspired millions in the UAE and across the world to think bigger, move faster and aim higher.

Today, Sheikh Mohammed announced a new initiative that embodies the philosophy that has made Dubai a model for excellence and ambition globally – ‘Dubai-it’.

Defining it as a verb, Sheikh Mohammed shared the definition of what ‘Dubai-it’ means: “To Dubai-it is to achieve something extraordinary with excellence in record time. It’s about turning big ideas into reality, just like Dubai’s incredible transformation from desert to global city in a short span.”

The race to excellence

As a leader, a writer and a poet, Sheikh Mohammed’s words and actions have for years been an inpsiration to anyone looking to turn their ambitions into reality.

One of Sheikh Mohammed's most popular quotes is “The race for excellence has no finish line”, a phrase that has become synonymous with Dubai’s growth into a global hub for innovation, tourism, and technology.

While announcing the ‘Dubai-it’ initiative, Sheikh Mohammed also shared a video from Dubai’s formative days, to its progress today, showing how those words have driven the growth of the city.

The lion and the gazelle

Another quote that continues to resonate with residents is Sheikh Mohammed's famous lion-and-gazelle analogy.

“Every morning, when the gazelle wakes up in Africa, he makes sure he outruns the fastest lion or he’ll be killed. When the lion wakes up, he makes sure that he outruns the slowest gazelle or he will starve. I say, in the UAE, in Dubai, I don’t care if you are a gazelle or a lion - when you wake up, you better start running.”

The quote was recently shared through an illustrated video by His Excellency Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, describing it as a powerful lesson and metaphor for the constant drive required to succeed.

Minister of Cabinet Affairs

More than a gesture

Sheikh Mohammed introduced the three-finger salute in 2013, with the three fingers representing Win, Victory and Love – and the salute quickly became one of his most recognisable symbols. A sculpture of the salute, showing a W for Win, a V for Victory, and an L for Love, can also be seen in front of Dubai’s Museum of the Future.

The launch of ‘Dubai-it’ is only the latest representation of the message that has remained consistent over the years – in the race for excellence, there is no finish line.