His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has dedicated a beautiful poem to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense. The poem, set to music, was shared in a video on the platform “X,” accompanied by a message from Sheikh Mohammed stating: “To Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum… I gift you the best meanings and wishes.”
The poem titled “O My Winning Arrow,” authored by Sheikh Mohammed for Sheikh Hamdan, is a moment of honor and celebration, showcasing the good fortune associated with Sheikh Hamdan. This moment enhances all ambitions and hopes, highlighting a profound leadership pride that combines the warmth of fatherhood and the leader’s trust in his heir and the future of his nation.
The bond of fatherhood and leadership has not separated Sheikh Mohammed from his emotions as a father and responsibilities as a ruler; rather, it showcases his pride in his son as an affirmation of his competence to carry on the legacy.
The poem serves as a paternal leadership portrait filled with emotional hues and wise visions, portraying Sheikh Hamdan as a guarantee of the continuity of the civilizational project. The gifting of the poem acts as a “moral mandate” for leading the future.
Sheikh Hamdan’s noble lineage, being a descendant of greatness, combined with his leadership capabilities, signifies a deep connection with the legacies of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. This legacy is underscored by determination, action, dedication, and generosity.
This enduring influence extends to his son Hamdan. Additionally, similes likening Sheikh Hamdan to a Yemeni sword, as referenced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, symbolize bravery and strength, indicating that Sheikh Hamdan embodies heritage, majesty, power, and humility inherited over generations.
The poem is a declaration that Sheikh Hamdan represents the honor within Al Maktoum and embodies the living values of Zayed and Rashid, as well as the Yemeni sword guided by the wisdom and directives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, safeguarding the UAE’s legacy, glory, and prosperity.
Sheikh Mohammed recognizes Sheikh Hamdan’s accomplishments and excellence in building and developing Dubai, seeing him as a manifestation of a “unique talent” in innovation and aspiration.
He views him as a “creator of hopes,” transforming ordinary days into remarkable occasions, which is the essence of successful leadership—reflecting Sheikh Hamdan’s exceptional personality and unique leadership capabilities.
Realizing Visions
Sheikh Mohammed’s visions and aspirations for building a world-class emirate are embodied in Sheikh Hamdan, the “practical achiever” of those dreams.
O My Winning Arrow
The phrase “winning arrow” serves as a precise metaphor for a dart that never misses its target, and its success is inevitable. The dedication to “good fortune” reiterates a symbol of optimism, identifying the honored as a source of blessings that open doors.
With the brush of a poetic artist, Sheikh Mohammed describes Sheikh Hamdan by stating, “I have depicted you with meanings of my own taste,” affirming that taste goes beyond mere admiration to encompass harmony in vision and action.
The phrase “I have depicted you with meanings” shines brightly, suggesting that he envisioned him as a leader “before he became one,” as if he created him in thought before solidifying into reality.
The high symbolic portrayal of genuine leadership is highlighted in the phrase:
Not every hand strives to grasp the reins
Nor does every knight ride the horse well
This underscores that true leaders can’t be feigned, and not every knight can adeptly manage the horse; thus, Sheikh Mohammed identifies a truth for those who consider leadership mere appearances, while the genuine knight utilizes his steed (energies) through will rather than dreams.
Understanding the nature of the earth is essential for leadership
And knowing when to hasten or delay action
The phrase “nature of the earth” translates to a profound comprehension of people’s behaviors and the passage of time—qualities that identify an “expert” leader.
Simultaneously, the phrase “hasten or delay” signifies effective management that balances decisiveness with patience, akin to a knight who expertly reins in his horse.
Your essence embodies the determination of Rashid
And the generosity of Zayed, a torrential and plentiful source
The determination of Rashid points to the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the founder of Dubai, while the “torrential and plentiful” refers to the generosity of Sheikh Zayed, which was like a ceaseless rain of bounty.
The term “dedication” signifies the blend of tireless effort (Rashid) and boundless giving (Zayed) within a single person.
The comparison to a Yemeni sword represents the pinnacle of symbolism with the phrase “You are a Yemeni sword for Khalid,” indicating that Sheikh Hamdan is both support to the President and a protector against enemies of the nation.
To the covenant, I assign you, and I surely was not remiss
For if it were a game, you would not achieve it
The line “I assign you” serves as an explicit mandate for leadership based on competence rather than favoritism while emphasizing the gravity of the choice, as the sovereignty of the crown bears ultimate responsibility.
I bet on you, Hamdan, and my conviction has triumphed
“I bet on you” conveys a brave confidence, reflecting a leader who recognizes his men’s worth and acknowledges Mahdan’s destined success; for his assessment of people empowers him to perceive that his wager is a winning one, knowing where Hamdan has trained under the mentorship of a wise leader.
“My conviction has triumphed” reaffirms that Hamdan’s success crowns the wisdom of his father, a wisdom imparted through the years.
Undoubtedly, this poem is a “leadership statement” that asserts Sheikh Hamdan’s capability with a unique fusion of wisdom, strength, generosity, and resilience, solidifying Sheikh Mohammed’s enduring assertion: “Hamdan is not just my son… he is the spirit of Dubai and its new generation.”
The hope remains placed on Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who ascended to the paramount role that Sheikh Mohammed would accept no substitute for, conquering the impossible as he undertakes his extensive responsibilities both federally and locally with determination, will, and strength.