DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 4 -- The Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid bin Saeed al-Maktoum late Wednesday appointed his two brothers, Mohammed and Hamdan respectively as crown prince and deputy ruler of the Gulf emirate. Dubai is the second most powerful of the seven emirates which make up the United Arab Emirates, or UAE.
Dubai is also the UAE's second largest oil producer after Abu Dhabi and the largest trade and financial center in the Middle East. The ruler's move caught political observers in the UAE by surprise, because it broke the local rules of succession, under which the eldest son of the ruler is traditionally appointed heir apparent. Sheikh Maktoum, who is also the UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, has two minor sons from his only marriage, Rashid and Saeed. The surprise was even greater because Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al- Maktoum, who is the UAE Defence Minister is not the next eldest of Sheikh Maktoum's brothers. The eldest brother is Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the UAE Minister for Financial and Industrial Affairs. The appointments, although they came as a suprise, were acutally little more than a confirmation of the status quo in Dubai. The ruler is known to have little liking for his high profile positions and had already delegated most of his powers to his two brothers.
