The word “sheikh” brings to mind oriental fairy tales, and the life of real sheikhs, in fact, is that same fairy tale in which untold wealth is combined with beauty, family ties, ancient traditions and advanced technologies. ELLE chose the richest sheikhs in the world.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
It's hard to imagine, but 18 billion is nothing compared to other capital that Al Nahyan is involved with. For example, general condition his family is estimated at 150 billion, and the capitalization of the investment fund, whose curator is the sheikh, exceeds 875 billion.
Al Nahyan - in every sense big man, he is the Emir of Abu Dhabi and the President of the United Arab Emirates. He became head of state 13 years ago, but has ruled the UAE since 1990, since his father retired. Sheikh in home country valued very highly, literally: the very, very skyscraper in the world, Burj Khalifa, is named in his honor.
Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum
The 34-year-old heir to the throne of the Emirate of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan, is a socialite no worse than Prince Harry. He is rich, travels a lot, and runs Instagram. And he also knows how to do good. Patronage of the autism center, large donations to charity - this is also Hamdan.
The third important aspect of the life of the heir to the throne is extreme entertainment. The sheikh's Instagram is continually updated with reports of jumps from heights and demonstrations of himself in the pilot's seat jet plane or a Formula 1 car. But Hamdan’s talent manifested itself most clearly in equestrian sports: the prince won gold at the Asian Olympic Games.
He is a sheikh not by birthright, but by merit - he received the title for his achievements and wealth. As the second richest man in Saudi Arabia, Ali al-Moudi splits his time between Arabia and Ethiopia, where he was born and raised. He made money from oil by building oil refineries in West Africa, as well as growing everything from vegetables and fruits to coffee. The sheikh's businesses supply, among other things, coffee for Starbucks and tea for Lipton. Ali al-Moudi also owns a chain of hotels and a hospital. It is seriously tied not only to African, eastern countries: Sheikh invests in the economy Western countries, in particular to Sweden. They also wrote that the arrival of the Swedish brand H&M in Ethiopia, where labor is very cheap, took place thanks to Ali al-Amoudi. The personal life of a billionaire is simple - married, no children.
46-year-old smiling Sheikh Mansour is a member ruling family Emirati, he is the half-brother of the President, Sheikh Khalifa. It is not surprising that he found a job in government - Mansur holds the post of prime minister of the country. In addition to government affairs, the sheikh is involved in the oil industry - he manages the International Petroleum Investment Company of Abu Dhabi. He also loves sports very much and does not spare money on it: the company, the head of which is Mansur, contains local teams for handball, football, volleyball and so on. But this is all a small thing compared to Manchester City, yes, that very legendary British football team. Mansur is her owner. Some say that this is a toy for the sheikh, others say that he is extremely serious. One thing is clear: Mansur does not skimp on expenses. After all, why worry about money for a man who becomes half a billion richer every time oil prices rise one dollar?
On April 30, 2013, the Netherlands will have a king on the throne for the first time in 120 years - until now the kingdom has been ruled by women. 45-year-old Prince Willem-Alexander will inherit from his mother not only the throne and title, but also a considerable fortune. Currently, Queen Beatrix ranks seventh in the ranking of the richest monarchs on the planet, compiled at the end of 2012 by the British heraldic almanac Almanach de Gotha. The amount of her fortune, depending on the principles of calculation (including or excluding real estate owned royal dynasties, family collections of antiques, etc.), ranges between $300 million and £10 billion.
1. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain
Age: 85 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1952
Net worth: £60 billion ($94.8 billion)
The traditional calculation of the British Queen's wealth does not take into account those unique objects that are perceived as state property, and gives a very modest amount of several hundred million dollars. Meanwhile, taking into account the cost of Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, St. James and Holyrood Palaces, Windsor Castle and other real estate owned royal family, as well as the royal art collection, the British monarch ranks first in the list of the richest colleagues.
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain visited the hospital. Queen Elizabeth in King's Lynn, Norfolk, February 5, 2013. The hospital installed a new magnetic resonance imaging scanner. © AFP PHOTO/POOL/PAUL ROGERS
2. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia
Age: 87 years old
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2005
Net worth: £40 billion ($63.2 billion)
The basis of the Saudi king's fortune is oil, the sale of which brings this state about $1 billion a day. In addition, Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud owns a huge stable, which contains the best Arabian horses (the monarch is known as a passionate rider and the founder of an equestrian club in Riyadh), and a good garage, most of the cars in which are exclusive or antique.
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud meets with French President Francois Hollande at the Royal Palace in Jeddah on November 4, 2012. © AFP PHOTO/BERTRAND LANGLOIS
3. Emir of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan
Age: 64 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2004
Net worth: £30 billion ($47.4 billion)
The Sheikh of Abu Dhabi and the current President of the UAE is also rich thanks to the oil produced in his country. This is not surprising: 80% of the oil reserves of the United Arab Emirates are concentrated in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. In addition, Khalif receives a good income from investing his own funds in various industries world economy.
Emir of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the opening of a container terminal at Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, December 12, 2012. © REUTERS/WAM/Handout
4. King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand
Age: 84 years
Start of reign: 1946
Net worth: £28 billion ($44.24 billion)
The Thai monarch is not just one of the richest monarchs in the world, but also one of the most thrifty: he spent a considerable part of his fortune on the development and implementation of more than 3,000 projects for the development of agricultural land in the country. However, there is nothing surprising in this: the king “concurrently” heads the Royal Thai Real Estate Agency, which owns enormous tracts of land in the country. In addition, the royal collection is widely known throughout the world precious stones, which seriously affects the size of the monarch's fortune.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand leaves Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, December 5, 2012. © REUTERS/Kerek Wongsa
5. Emir of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum
Age: 62 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2006
Net worth: £25 billion ($39.5 billion)
The Emir of Dubai currently also holds the post of Prime Minister of the UAE and, like the Saudi king, is known for his horses: his stable is considered one of the largest and most expensive in the world. And of course, a considerable part of his fortune comes from the oil reserves that the emirate of Dubai boasts, as well as income from investments in different industries world economy.
Emir of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 31, 2012. © REUTERS/Caren Firouz
6. Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah
Age: 65 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1967
Net worth: £24 billion ($37.92 billion)
The most famous property of the Brunei Sultan (besides the oil produced in his country) is his collection of cars, which numbers from 3,000 to 6,000 cars, many of which were produced in extremely limited quantities or even in a single copy. The Sultan’s palace, Istana Nurul Iman (Palace of Light), with an area of over 200,000 square meters, is also famous. m, which contains 1,788 apartments and 257 bathrooms.
Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah (right) with his first wife Anak Saleh at the wedding of his daughter Princess Hafiza Sururul of Brunei, 32, who married civil servant Pengiran Haji Muhammad Ruzaini, 29, on September 19, 2012. © STR/AFP/GettyImages
7. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
Age: 74 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1980
Net worth: £10 billion ($15.8 billion)
Traditionally, the Queen of the Netherlands' fortune is estimated at $300 million - but this does not take into account the royal share of the Royal Dutch Shell company (it is about 25%), as well as the value of the royal collections of art and jewelry. Taking into account all these riches, the total fortune of Beatrix, who recently announced her impending abdication, is 30 times larger and allows her to enter the top ten richest monarchs in the world.
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands arrived at the Theater. Beatrix in Utrecht, the Netherlands, February 1, 2013. © ROBIN UTRECHT/AFP/Getty Images
8. Emir of Kuwait Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah
Age: 82 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2006
Net worth: £9 billion ($14.22 billion)
Sheikh Sabah's annual "scholarship", consisting of his share of oil revenues, is $188 million, and it is these payments that form the basis of the Kuwaiti monarch's fortune. However, the emir understands well that oil resources are exhaustible, and therefore is already trying to prepare his country for life in the post-oil era by initiating economic reforms, which were based on simplifying the rules for land privatization and facilitating conditions for attracting foreign investment.
Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani at Algerian airport. Houari Boumediena, January 7, 2013. © REUTERS/Louafi Larbi
9. Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani
Age: 60 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1995
Net worth: £7 billion ($11.06 billion)
The current emir of Qatar came to power by overthrowing his father, who imprudently went on vacation to Switzerland. Among his Middle Eastern colleagues, Hamad enjoys a reputation as a progressive leader: under him, Qatar was the first country in the region to provide suffrage women. And the emir ensured the growth of his already considerable fortune by reforming the country’s oil and gas industry, creating ideal conditions to attract foreign investment from the world's largest mining companies.
10. Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said Albusaid
Age: 71 years old
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1970
Net worth: £6 billion ($9.48 billion)
The creator of the Sultanate of Oman, which arose after the unification of the Sultanate of Muscat and the Imamate of Oman, is the owner of another “oil” fortune. In addition, a significant share of Qaboos's wealth is the royal palace of Qasr al-Alam, built in 1972, overlooking the main harbor of Muscat, and several yachts (including the 155-meter Al Said, named after the owner), consolidated into a division Royal yachts of the Oman Navy.
Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said Albusaid at the opening of a meeting of the Cooperation Council Arab states Persian Gulf in Doha, December 3, 2007. © REUTERS/Fadi Al-Assaad/Files
11. King of Bahrain Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifa
Age: 62 years
Year of reign: 2002
Net worth: £3.5 billion ($5.53 billion)
Another passionate lover of Arabian horses in the ranking of the richest monarchs. Created by Hamad in 1977, the Amiri stable was included in the list of the World Arabian Horse Organization a year later and is today one of the largest and most expensive in the world. The basis of the King of Bahrain's fortune is oil, like that of his other Middle Eastern colleagues, as well as income from international investments, which are managed by a special royal fund.
King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa at a meeting of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf. Sakhir Palace, south of Manama, December 24, 2012. © REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
12. Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Age: 67 years old
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1989
Net worth: £4 billion ($6.32 billion)
The main source of wealth for the current ruler of the small Alpine state is the family bank LGT. Except financial income, when calculating Hans-Adam's fortune, several 17th-century palaces in Vienna, a unique collection of works of art collected by the princely family over 400 years, as well as over 20,000 hectares of land were taken into account.
Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein at the Monaco Day celebrations at the Prince's Palace in Monaco, November 19, 2012. © Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
13. Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg
Age: 56 years old
Year of reign: 2000
Net worth: £3 billion ($4.74 billion)
Unlike Middle Eastern monarchs, who built their fortunes on oil, their European counterparts do not boast an equally highly profitable source of savings. Here is the Duke of Luxembourg Henri, nephew reigning king Belgium, Albert II, manages his fortune, which consists of bank deposits, gold reserves and real estate, as well as shares of various industrial companies. It is noteworthy that Henri spends part of his income on defense wildlife, first of all - the unique Galapagos Islands.
Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri and Marie-Therese Mestre ( Grand Duchess Marie-Therese) enter the Notre-Dame de Luxembourg Cathedral before the wedding ceremony of Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and Belgian Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy. October 20, 2012, Luxembourg. © Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
14. Prince Albert II of Monaco
Age: 53 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2005
Net worth: £2.5 billion ($3.95 billion)
The collection of works of art collected by the princely family is the basis of the fortune ruling prince Monaco. In addition to her, he owns an expensive collection of antique cars and a stamp collection and receives significant income from the casino in Monte Carlo.
Prince Albert II of Monaco at a party in West Hollywood in California, February 26, 2012. © Craig Barritt/Getty Images for TWC
15. Imam of the Ismaili Nizari Aga Khan IV
Age: 75 years old
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1957
Net worth: £2 billion ($3.16 billion)
Imam Aga Khan is the head of a huge community of Nizari Ismailis (an offshoot of the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam) living in India, Oman, Syria, Tajikistan and Zanzibar. Despite the fact that the Nizaris do not have own state, their current head is equivalent to a monarch: since 1957, he has held the title “His Highness”, bestowed on him by Queen Elizabeth II. Aga Khan IV is the owner of a herd of purebred Arabian horses numbering 900 heads, which, coupled with a share in one of the British horse auction houses, provides him with an annual income of $300 million. To this must be added income from managing several hotels and airlines, as well as investments in the tourism business in Sardinia (it was through the efforts of the Aga Khan that the Emerald Coast of the island has turned into a fashionable recreation area since the 1960s) and shares of the largest industrial companies.
Nizari Ismaili Imam Aga Khan IV attends the Prix de Diane horse riding race, Chantilly, France, June 17, 2012. © THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/GettyImages
The word “sheikh” brings to mind oriental fairy tales, and the life of real sheikhs, in fact, is that same fairy tale in which untold wealth is combined with beauty, family ties, ancient traditions and advanced technologies.
In this issue you will find the richest sheikhs in the world.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
$18 billion
It’s hard to imagine, but 18 billion is nothing compared to other capital that Al Nahyan is involved with. For example, the total fortune of his family is estimated at 150 billion dollars, and the capitalization of the investment fund, whose curator is the sheikh, exceeds 875 billion.
Al Nahyan is a great man in every sense, he is the Emir of Abu Dhabi and the President of the United Arab Emirates. He became head of state 13 years ago, but has ruled the UAE since 1990, since his father retired. The sheikh is valued very highly in his native country, literally: the world's most skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa, is named in his honor.
David Cameron and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Elizabeth II, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prince Philip.
Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum
$18 billion
The 34-year-old heir to the throne of the Emirate of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan, is a socialite no worse than Prince Harry. He is rich, travels a lot, and runs Instagram. And he also knows how to do good. Patronage of the autism center, large donations to charity - this is also Hamdan.
The third important aspect of the life of the heir to the throne is extreme entertainment. The sheikh's Instagram is constantly updated with reports of jumps from heights, demonstrations of himself in the pilot's seat of a jet plane or a Formula 1 car. But Hamdan’s talent manifested itself most clearly in equestrian sports: the prince won gold at the Asian Olympic Games.
Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ali al-Amoudi
$4.1 billion
He is a sheikh not by birthright, but by merit - he received the title for his achievements and wealth. As the second richest man in Saudi Arabia, Ali al-Amoudi splits his time between Arabia and Ethiopia, where he was born and raised. He made money in oil, building oil refineries in West Africa, and also in growing everything from vegetables and fruits to coffee. The sheikh's businesses supply coffee to Starbucks and tea to Lipton, among other things.
Ali al-Amoudi also owns a chain of hotels and a hospital. He is seriously involved not only in African and eastern countries: the sheikh invests in the economies of Western countries, in particular in Sweden. They also wrote that the arrival of the Swedish brand H&M in Ethiopia, where labor is very cheap, took place thanks to Ali al-Amoudi. The personal life of a billionaire is simple - married, no children.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
$4.9 billion
The smiling Sheikh Mansour, 46, is a member of the Emirates' ruling family and the half-brother of the president, Sheikh Khalifa. It is not surprising that he found a job in government - Mansur holds the post of prime minister of the country. In addition to government affairs, the sheikh is involved in the oil industry - he manages the International Petroleum Investment Company of Abu Dhabi. He also loves sports very much and does not spare money on it: the company, the head of which is Mansur, contains local teams for handball, football, volleyball and so on.
But this is all a small thing compared to Manchester City, yes, that very legendary British football team. Mansur is her owner. Some say that this is a toy for the sheikh, others say that he is extremely serious. One thing is clear: Mansur does not skimp on expenses. After all, why worry about money for a man who becomes half a billion richer every time oil prices rise one dollar?
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
$4.5 billion
A person who has set the goal of turning the Emirates into an investment, social, cultural paradise can be satisfied with what he has already done for this. The Emirates airline, the Jumeirah Group tourism holding, and many transnational projects are the work of Sheikh Mohammed. And, in fact, the Burj Khalifa hotel is also the sheikh’s idea.
In addition to work, he knows a lot about entertainment - he is fond of horse racing, makes huge bets, and owns an incredible size yacht "Dubai". Apparently, the ability to take everything from life was inherited by his son, Sheikh Hamdan, whom we talked about at the very beginning. Well, the fact that Hamdan is four times richer than his father is not important. One family after all.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum and Elizabeth II.
This title is accompanied by age, learning and nobility (although the latter is not necessary). And the sheikhs also have very long and complex names(it's a joke). But still, when they talk about sheikhs, they first of all mean serious wealth. Therefore, there is a TOP of the richest sheikhs - and it is in front of you.
1 Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan – $18 billion.
The President and Emir of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa, has 18 billion US dollars at his own disposal. In fact, his family wealth is 10 times greater.
2 Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Ali al-Amoudi – $14.3 billion.
Mohammed Hussein Ali al-Amoudi is the second richest person in Saudi Arabia and the 78th richest person in the world. A businessman of Ethiopian origin, al-Amoudi is also the wealthiest black man in the world. That's how many titles there are.
3 Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Ghurar – $7.5 billion.
Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Ghurar is in 4th place as the wealthiest sheikh in the world. Sheikh Abdul received his wealth from his father, the founder of Mashreq Bank, the third largest bank in the UAE by assets. Through the Arab Business Angels Network corporation, al-Ghurar also owns Libya's largest oil refinery.
4 Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan – $4.9 billion.
Sheikh Mansour is primarily known as the owner football club Manchester City. But in fact, in his country he performs very important duties, heads the Presidential Administration and serves as deputy prime minister. He is also the chairman of Al Jazeera Sports, which owns four sports clubs Abu Dhabi.
The pioneer of the construction of palm islands in the Persian Gulf, Sheikh Mohammed, gave one of the islands to Michael Schumacher in 2006. Why not give it if you are a royal person, you almost single-handedly own Dubai Holding and can afford to spend 100 million dollars on your wedding.
6 Sultan Mohammed Bin Saud al-Kabir – $3.9 billion.
Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed Bin Saud al-Kabir, the 12th son of King Abdulaziz, comfortably ranked 6th in our TOP of the richest sheikhs, was once accused of smuggling rare breeds of falcons from Russia. That's it, the rich too...
7 Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa al-Thani – $2.4 billion.
Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar for just under 20 years. During his years in power, the country became one of the richest territories on earth. Interestingly, al-Thani came to rule as a result of a small revolution, overthrowing his father.
8 Sheikh Faisal ibn Qassim al-Thani – $2.2 billion.
The term self-made man is quite applicable to Sheikh Faisal. He is a distant relative ruling family Qatar, but his family was wisely removed from governing the country, like many other al-Thani branches, to avoid further coups. Therefore, he owes his fortune only to himself and his successes in the construction and hotel business.
9 Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad al-Thani – $2 billion.
The son and current ruling monarch of Qatar is in 9th place in our top ten richest sheikhs in the world. He took over from his father at the age of 33, becoming the youngest king in the world. The young sheikh received his education in Great Britain, from where he brought his serious passion for sports to his country. Since his reign, Qatar has also made huge investments in British companies.
10 Sheikh Sabah IV al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah – $0.4 billion.
The ruling emir of Kuwait and the fourth son of Sheikh Ahmed al-Sabah is in 10th place in our TOP. But everything is still ahead, because after his accession to the throne, maintenance costs royal family were legally increased by 6 times. So, maybe he or his heir will still push aside their higher comrades.
Who are they, these richest and wisest rulers, mega-successful entrepreneurs of the Middle East, happy owners of fortunes amounting to billions of dollars, the world's largest investors? They are no more and no less Arab sheikhs. Who are these people? How do Arab sheikhs live? These are the ones that will be discussed in the article.
Captivating East
When thinking about the East, wealthy rulers and their life in grand style, one of the most popular Disney cartoons comes to mind - “Aladdin”. I remember this expensive decoration of the ruler’s palace, countless rooms with varied designs, undisguised wealth, and most importantly, limitless possibilities.
There is nothing in the world that they could not get, because the most main tool- constantly growing capital, they have everything in their hands material goods belonging to them and their families and having the ability to multiply at incredible speed and on a huge scale. But all this is not magic story, invented by Disney scriptwriters, but the realities of life of the sheikhs of the United Arab Emirates.
Who are the sheikhs
The word “sheikh” itself means “elder”, “head of the clan” or “servant of the highest Muslim clergy”. Arab sheikh is the title of the ruler of the emirate and his family members. It is inherited or assigned to especially worthy Muslims. Sheikhs are required to be able to interpret the Koran and lead a highly moral lifestyle in accordance with its laws.
Sheikhs of the Middle East
Titled persons in the East are a very wealthy noble elite. It so happened that the largest oil fields, bringing in billions of dollars in income, are concentrated in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, etc. How can one not make a billion-dollar fortune here? But one should not think that the income of Arab sheikhs depends entirely on the sale of oil. A significant share of profits comes from investments in the country's economy and international investments.
So, Arab sheikhs are richest people with a remarkable mind and gigantic ability to work; wise rulers of states who improve the standard of living of their people, but at the same time do not forget to increase their own wealth.
The very fact that the President of the UAE forgave some of his citizens’ loan debts by simply paying them off himself speaks volumes about the highest level well-being and care for the population of their country.
Entertainment
How do sheikhs have fun? Managing the state leaves little free time, but unlimited financial opportunities allow you to have your own quirks and hobbies, which often develop into business. Participation in Formula 1 racing led Sheikh Maktoum to create his own motorcycle racing project, “A-1”. One of the favorite hobbies is horse racing and, of course, thoroughbreds purchased for fabulous sums and living in luxurious stables. Traditional entertainment in the form of collecting exclusive cars, yachts, palaces, antiques and gold jewelry is being replaced by more exotic ones: creating artificial rain in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. And if an Arab sheikh is passionate about football, then he immediately buys a club, and a European one at that.
Family life
ABOUT personal life It is not customary for sheikhs to spread in eastern countries. But they can have a harem, that is, several wives. And becoming the wife of a sheikh is anyone’s dream, because the husband gifts them from head to toe, giving each a palace and providing for them throughout their entire married life. But how the wives live: or in complete isolation - depends entirely on the character of the rich spouse.
The Arab sheikh pays great attention to the education of his sons, because the title and position are inherited by seniority, and the next generation will have to rule the state. It is on this principle that the famous Sheikh Zayed left the title of Emir of Abu Dhabi and fortune to the current President of the United Arab Emirates.
First President - Emir Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Zayd - the heir of Sheikh Sultan, successfully led Al Ain, the oldest city Emirates, then headed the largest emirate of Abu Dhabi, which later became the capital. In 1971, of all existing emirates in single state, called the UAE, six emirates united (later one more was added to them), and Zayed, the ruler of the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi, was elected president. His wise leadership allowed him to remain in this post for almost 33 years.
The development of oil and gas on the territory of the Emirates was carried out by the British, for which they paid the emirs mere pennies. The wealthy Arab Sheikh Zayed, after his election, redistributed income, of course, in favor of his country. The well-being of citizens began to grow sharply. Under Sheikh Zayed's presidency, the desert land of Bedouin nomads has become a green paradise for billionaires. Huge sums were invested in educational system, agriculture, construction. The sheikh was also involved in charity work: the construction of mosques, the opening large quantity medical institutions and other things. In 2004, the Arab Sheikh Zayed died at the age of a venerable old man, leaving his successor an inheritance of over twenty billion dollars and a prosperous country.
UAE Golden Youth
They are preparing their offspring for the coming rule of the state noble family since childhood, they study in the best famous foreign universities, and then they are involved in political and economic activities.
A prominent representative of the UAE's golden youth is Sheikh Hamdan, the son of Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE.
Noble origins, a fortune of more than $18 billion, bachelor status and a charming smile make him one of the eligible bachelors all over the world.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum received his deep knowledge in Great Britain, and upon his return he began to take part in state politics. His connections with the female sex are shrouded in mystery; we must not forget that he is a sheikh and crown prince and is obliged to lead a moral life. But his hobbies are not hidden, and they are all truly royal: his favorite equestrian competitions, where the prince received gold medal World Equestrian Games; falconry; Formula 1 motorcycle racing. He is also no stranger to fashionable entertainment that increases adrenaline levels: diving, mountaineering, parachute jumping. Another Arab sheikh is engaged in photography on professional level. And of course, poetry. This is the hobby of many sheikhs. The young billionaire holds key positions in political sphere Dubai, is involved in charity work, in particular, as a patron of the Dubai Autism Research Center and head of the Sports Committee.
Conclusion
Sheikhs Arab Emirates- wise businessmen. Their wealth is not only the merit of their ancestors. This is the result of thoughtful and correct business strategies, colossal investments that were crowned with success and brought multimillion-dollar profits. Realizing that oil resources are not unlimited, they are diligently moving the country’s economy away from dependence on black gold, relying on real estate, tourism and sports - everything that Arab sheikhs love so much and in which they are happy to invest fabulous sums.
