Al Shindagah

10 | Al Shindagah | Issue 138 OPEN TALK halaf Al Habtoor was joined by a panel of prominent Emirati businessmen who knew Sheikh Rashid. Al Habtoor recounted stories from the past along with HE Khalifa Al Naboodah, Founding Chairman of Khalifa Al Nabooda Group of Companies; HE Abdul Ghaffar Hussein, a well-known businessman, philanthropist and one of Dubai’s first published writers; and HE Hamad bin Sougat, a local poet, who would often go on trips out into the desert with Sheikh Rashid. The session, which was broadcast live from the Al Habtoor Group head office on Facebook, Periscope and YouTube , was moderated by Noura Badawi, Group Communications Officer, Al Habtoor Group, and Jassim Al Bastaki, an Emirati entrepreneur. Open Talk 5 also saw more than 80 of Al Habtoor’s social media followers in the audience, and a further 5,600 tune in online. Each of the panellists, who have witnessed the phenomenal transformation of Dubai from a desert to a world-class metropolis, reminisced stories from with past, remembering personal accounts with Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed. “Today we are remembering a legend. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Matkoum was a great man who will never be forgotten by our great nation. He built modern Dubai and put the city on the world map,” said Khalaf Al Habtoor. “He touched so many people’s lives. I was very fortunate; Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed was a mentor to me and I learned so much from him. He was full of life, was incredibly patient, and had time for everyone no matter what their background. These are rare attributes in a leader.” The panellists talked about Sheikh Rashid’s visions for Dubai before, during and after the Federation was formed. “When the British, left Sheikh Rashid made sure we could carve out K Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Founding Chairman, Al Habtoor Group hosted the fifth session of Open Talk on Wednesday 18 October 2017 in honour of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Founding Father of modern Dubai, Vice President and the first Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates who ruled for more than 30 years from 1958-1990. Joanna Andrews reports. Open Talk 5 Remembering the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the Founding Father of Modern Dubai