What makes a good leader? For Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, it is not simply the position someone holds or the authority that comes with it. What matters is how they treat people, whether they listen and ultimately, whether they earn their trust.
That idea runs through a personal message Sheikh Mohammed has written to his son, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as he marks 20 years as Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
Sheikh Mohammed, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, shares lessons shaped by decades of public service. His message, published in his newly launched book The Messages, touches on justice, responsibility, honest advice and the importance of staying close to people.
It is a father’s advice to his son, but the lessons reach well beyond their relationship.
Sheikh Hamdan marks 20 years as Chairman of Dubai Executive Council
He reflects on Sheikh Hamdan’s relationship with the public and the connection he has built with different generations, particularly young people. His energy, humility and presence in the community have helped shape that bond.
But pride comes with a reminder: every achievement brings greater responsibility.
Today, Sheikh Hamdan serves as Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, alongside his position as Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai.
His responsibilities now stretch beyond the emirate. At the federal level, they include duties towards the UAE, its youth and armed forces. In Dubai, his role covers areas including the economy, government performance, competitiveness and the city’s future ambitions.
Sheikh Mohammed tells Sheikh Hamdan why justice must come first
Justice is one of the strongest themes in Sheikh Mohammed’s advice.
Drawing on almost six decades in government, he stresses the importance of listening before reaching conclusions and showing compassion when dealing with people.
Authority, he makes clear, should never place anyone above accountability.
Sheikh Mohammed also warns about the damage injustice can cause. An unfair decision can go beyond the person directly affected, weakening trust and undermining achievements that may have taken years to build.
The UAE’s progress, he says, has been rooted in protecting rights, respecting the law and making justice central to government.
For a leader, fairness cannot simply be something spoken about. People need to see it in decisions and experience it in the way they are treated.
Sheikh Mohammed warns against advisers who only agree
Another piece of advice is particularly practical, do not surround yourself only with people who agree with you.
Sheikh Mohammed encourages Sheikh Hamdan to value advisers prepared to speak honestly, even when what they have to say is uncomfortable.
The higher someone rises, the easier it can become for those around them to say what they believe the leader wants to hear.
Problems may be hidden, mistakes left unchallenged and leaders can gradually lose touch with what is really happening.
Trust matters, but it cannot replace accountability.
Those closest to leadership should understand that their position does not protect them from scrutiny or place them above the law.
Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid shape Sheikh Mohammed’s leadership advice
Perhaps the most personal part of the message is Sheikh Mohammed’s reminder to remain close to the public.
He looks back to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his father, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
Their leadership was remembered not only through what they built, but through the way they dealt with people. They listened, remained accessible and understood the concerns of their communities.
That example shapes Sheikh Mohammed’s advice to his son.
He encourages Sheikh Hamdan to continue listening directly to people and paying particular attention to those who are vulnerable or need support.
What Sheikh Mohammed’s new book The Messages says about leadership
The message comes at an important moment for Sheikh Hamdan.
Two decades have passed since he became Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai. During that period, Dubai has continued to grow, strengthen its global position and pursue ambitious plans for its future.
Yet Sheikh Mohammed’s message does not dwell on rankings, economic figures or landmark projects.
Instead, the advice keeps returning to people.
Listen to them. Be fair. Keep honest voices close. Stay accessible. Remember that authority exists to serve.
But Sheikh Mohammed’s message suggests that what people remember about a leader is often much simpler.
Did they listen? Were they fair? Did they understand the people they served? Could someone tell them the truth?
Leadership may give someone the power to make decisions, but power alone cannot create loyalty or trust.
Those have to be earned.
And in Sheikh Mohammed’s message to his son, that may be the measure of leadership that matters most: not simply what a leader builds, but whether they win the hearts of the people along the way.