Sheikh Mohammed launches new book ‘The Letters’ after six decades of public service
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has launched a new book reflecting on nearly six decades of leadership, public service and the lessons he hopes to pass on to future generations.
Titled The Letters, the book is the second part of his Lessons from Life series and consists of 26 personal lettersaddressed to his family, colleagues, the people of the UAE and readers around the world.
The first letter is addressed to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed
The collection opens with a letter to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
In it, Sheikh Mohammed reflects on the milestones of Sheikh Mohamed’s journey and the qualities he has witnessed during decades of working alongside him.
The letter is both personal and closely connected to the wider story of the UAE, looking at leadership not simply through institutions or projects but through the values that hold a country together.
Sheikh Mohammed writes that cities can be built, structures can rise and new facilities can be created, but the most important element is the spirit of a nation — something that unites people, protects stability and inspires younger generations.
Addressing Sheikh Mohamed directly, he describes him as embodying that spirit.
26 letters drawn from a lifetime of experience
The Letters brings together reflections developed over almost 60 years of public service.
Sheikh Mohammed writes to his brothers, children, grandchildren, his team and the people of the UAE, as well as anyone who may find lessons in the country’s development.
Rather than presenting the book as a conventional memoir, the format allows him to speak directly to different people and generations.
The letters explore experiences, decisions, projects and lessons gathered over decades of leadership in Dubai and the wider UAE.
Ideas that remain after the years pass
One of the central ideas behind the book is that experiences become more valuable when they are shared.
Sheikh Mohammed explains that while years inevitably pass, ideas can continue to grow and influence those who come later.
For him, documenting lessons learned is therefore part of the responsibility of leadership.
The aim is to leave behind insights that might make the journey easier for the next generation of people entrusted with responsibility.
That philosophy gives the book a forward-looking character despite its focus on decades of past experience.
Lessons from Dubai and the UAE
The collection also draws heavily on the transformation of Dubai and the UAE.
Across the letters, Sheikh Mohammed reflects on decisions taken, projects completed and experiences gained during a period in which the country underwent extraordinary economic and social development.
But the book is not limited to major achievements.
Its focus is equally human, exploring relationships, leadership, responsibility and the values that influence how decisions are made.
The letters are intended to offer inspiration not only to officials and decision-makers, but also to young people thinking about their own role in shaping the future.
A personal approach to leadership
The letter format makes the new book noticeably different from a traditional account of political or government life.
Instead of organising the story entirely around dates and milestones, Sheikh Mohammed uses individual messages to communicate lessons directly.
Some are addressed to people closest to him, while others speak more broadly to his team, citizens and future generations.
Together, they create a portrait of leadership built not only around major projects, but around mentorship, family, partnership and the responsibility to pass knowledge forward.
Continuing the ‘Lessons from Life’ series
The Letters is the second part of Sheikh Mohammed’s wider Lessons from Life project.
Together, the two works are intended to document the leadership and personal philosophy he has developed across nearly six decades of public service.
The new volume expands that idea through the tradition of letter writing, combining personal reflection with lessons drawn from the development of Dubai and the UAE.
It also represents Sheikh Mohammed’s continued contribution to Arabic writing, using a literary form designed to speak directly to the reader.
A message for the next generation
At the heart of The Letters is the idea that leadership experience should not remain with one generation.
Sheikh Mohammed looks back at the people he has worked with, the decisions he has made and the transformation he has witnessed, but the ultimate audience is the future.
The book is designed as a record of lessons that can outlive the circumstances in which they were learned.
After nearly 60 years in public service, Sheikh Mohammed is turning those experiences into 26 direct messages — beginning with a letter to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and extending to family, colleagues, citizens and the generations that will eventually carry the UAE’s story forward.
