(MENAFN- Arab Times) Ahmed Al-Jarallah Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
'50 stories in 50 years,' and in
there is a lesson to be learned in every story. These stories of Muhammad bin
Rashid highlight important aspects of leadership and development.
In this book, I read about a
royal ceremony which was organized by the Shah of Iran in 1971, and how the
current leader of Dubai compared his father's style of ruling with that of the
Shah based on fact proven over time.
This fact is that whenever a
leader is humble and closer to his people, a small sized country with small a
population transforms into an effective force in the world; contrary to when a
leader rules far from his people and with arrogance as such a country collapses
irrespective of its greatness in the eyes of such a leader.
On that understanding, Sheikh
Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum based his comparison with what he witnessed when
he was 11 years old in the 'Shahanshah' (king of kings) pompous ceremony to
mark 2,500 years since the establishment of the Persian Empire which was held
in 1971 in Iranian ancient city – Persepolis.
He compared that event with how
the early days of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum's reign in Dubai started.
He also compared where that major country is with where Dubai is, together with
the remaining United Arab Emirates of today.
In his book, 'Qissati,' which
translates to 'My Story,' he stated: 'Kings, presidents and royals were invited
to the pompous royal ceremony; where they were served food (peacock) on lavish
utensils. At the time, I could not even imagine my father wearing a restaurant
hat with precious gems, and then proclaim himself king of kings.'
The son of Dubai continues, 'My
father's office was humble, located at the corner of Dubai Port. He directly
supervised operations, and whenever a visitor comes, he would think he was one
of the employees. Project managers called him 'foreman,' because he visited
them daily to follow up their projects and meet the people.
'I witnessed a pompous and
extravagant ceremony. On my way to the ceremony, I passed by many poor Iranian
villages that did not even have access to electricity. Two opposing images, yet
they were from the same place. I had a glimpse of the king of kings, and how he
was far from his people; isolating himself in huge palaces.
'I learned a valuable lesson in
comparing the Shah's style of ruling and that of the UAE despite major
differences between the two countries. There is outright contradiction between
the two, even though the secret is, to be close to the people.
'I wish that Shah looked around
him and learned from others. Kingdoms fell within 20 years. The military in
Egypt ousted King Farouq, King Faisal of Iraq was assassinated, Imam Muhammad
Al-Badr in Yemen was ousted and also King Idris of Libya. Rapid changes
occurred within a very short period, but the king of kings did not notice them.
He depended on Britain and the US for protection, not his people's support. He
was busy with his palaces.'
There is a valuable lesson in
this comparison between the one who builds a stable, peaceful and prosperous
nation through humbleness; listen to the concerns and dreams of his people and
lead them towards glory; and the one who destroys a big country with isolation
and hiding behind high walls of palaces.
In this story, Muhammad bin
Rashid narrates how revolutionists became kings and quickly adopted the style
of their ousted predecessors. This time they hide behind revolutionary slogans
in a bid to further impoverish, starve and oppress their people and slowed down
progress in their countries.
Hence, the current situation in
Iran is not different from that of the Shah since the Mullahs have become the
Shahs; while poverty increased and the scope of isolation widened up to the
extent of getting global when the arrogance of the Mullahs made them assume
they can rule the world.
In Iraq, Yemen, Libya and other
countries which became victims of upheaval and revolution; the people
retrogressed because of restraints imposed on them by their regimes, similar to
the situation in Iran that is perceived globally to have contracted the
terrorism plague.
In this regard, Bin Rashid wrote:
'I told them in 2004, 'You came to power through revolution; hence, complete it
through the economy, construction and providing better life for your people.
Please, change or you will be changed.' Unfortunately, they did not pay
attention until their country plunged into uprisings, chaos and wars which
brought nothing but more destruction.'
The point is not to adopt
slogans; instead, work and let the slogans speak for themselves. This is
exactly what the leaders of the United Arab Emirates did, where the rule is
based on open door policy and continuous communication between the ruler and
the ruled. At the end of the day, the ruler is from this nation. Whenever he is
close to his people, he becomes stronger and more honored, and the more he
distances himself from the people, the more his rule faces risks.
When Muhammad bin Rashid was
asked at the end of the story about the status of the late Sheikh Zayed bin
Sultan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed in the hearts of their people, and the
status of the king of kings in history, he responded: The answer is in the
people and their way of life, and the level of satisfaction they feel.
However, the curse currently
endured by countries afflicted with regimes masquerading as revolutionists or
pageantry and grandeur, detached from the natural surroundings; is that their
story ends on the black pages of history.
On the other hand, the ones that
started small and struggled for livelihood are now the most firm, stable and
peaceful, and they are the epitome of advancement and development.
Muhammad bin Rashid, without
titles, has disseminated these stories on world kings and Arab leaders, in the
service of their people.
By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
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