Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. ARCHIVE

In a landmark federal decree on Tuesday (July 29), UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has elevated Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, to the rank of Lieutenant General. Sheikh Hamdan’s rise to Lieutenant General comes just over a year after his appointment as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence on July 14, 2024, succeeding his father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who held the same post since the formation of the UAE in 1971. Sheikh Hamdan is a distinguished graduate of the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, recognized globally for producing elite military leaders. The rank of Lieutenant General is typically held by the Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, a position currently occupied by Lieutenant General Issa Saif bin Ablan Al Mazrouei, who has served in that role since 2023. Prior to that, Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, was promoted to this rank in March 2020. The promotion also underscores the continuity and evolution of military leadership across generations. President Sheikh Mohamed held the rank of Lieutenant General since 2005, when he was named Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, marking a pivotal phase in modernizing the UAE military. His predecessor, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, was the country’s first Minister of Defence—serving concurrently as Vice President and Ruler of Dubai—from the UAE’s founding in 1971 through several decades.

Broader significance

Sheikh Hamdan has been a visible face of UAE national defence, regularly attending military ceremonies and delivering addresses on unity and readiness. At the 49th anniversary of the UAE Armed Forces unification, he described the event as a “momentous national occasion” inspired by the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He has also chaired the first Defence Council meeting of 2025, stressing the urgency of boosting teamwork and aligning the Ministry of Defence with long-term strategic vision. ICA/Expat Media
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