Mohammed bin Rashid unveils new book ‘The Messages’

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has unveiled his new book The Messages, a collection of personal letters and reflections drawn from nearly six decades of public service.

The book is the second part of Lessons from Life, Sheikh Mohammed’s 2025 work reflecting on leadership, governance, nation-building and the experiences that shaped his public life. The new volume brings together 26 letters addressed to his brothers, children, grandchildren, his team, the people of the UAE and readers who may find value in his experience.

Announcing the book on X, Sheikh Mohammed said the letters were written with the belief that individual lives form part of the wider story of nations and that each generation has a responsibility to leave knowledge and experience for those who follow.

“Life has taught me that our years are part of the story of our nations, and wisdom lies in adding a chapter worthy of being read by future generations,” he wrote.

Sheikh Mohammed said he had written the messages as he approached 60 years of public service, addressing them to his family, colleagues, citizens and others who might find lessons in the UAE’s development journey.

He described the collection as an effort to preserve ideas and experiences beyond an individual lifetime, writing that while people’s years pass, ideas can continue to grow and endure. The messages, he said, were intended to leave behind lessons that could help future generations carry forward the responsibilities entrusted to them.

A message to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed

The book opens with a personal letter to UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whom Sheikh Mohammed describes as his brother, friend and companion on the nation’s journey.

The letter reflects on their longstanding relationship, the legacy of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and Sheikh Mohamed’s leadership of the country.

In the message, Sheikh Mohammed highlights the President’s role in strengthening the UAE’s institutions, economy and international standing, while emphasising the responsibility of leadership towards future generations.

He describes the ability of young people to grow up with confidence, security and ambition as one of the most important measures of national success.

The letter also reflects on the broader meaning of nation-building. Sheikh Mohammed writes that cities, infrastructure and institutions can be built, but that the spirit of a nation — the values, confidence and sense of responsibility shared by its people — is ultimately what sustains its progress.

Responding to the publication, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed praised Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid as his brother, friend and lifelong companion, describing him as a key figure in the UAE’s achievements.

“Every Emirati achievement has you at its heart,” Sheikh Mohamed said, adding that Sheikh Mohammed’s words were “a medal of honour” for him. He also reaffirmed their shared commitment to the path established by the late Sheikh Zayed.

From personal experience to leadership lessons

The Messages extends the themes of Lessons from Life, which was published in English in October 2025. That book brought together Sheikh Mohammed’s reflections on more than half a century of leadership and public service, with a focus on governance, people, perseverance, vision and the development of Dubai and the UAE.

While Lessons from Life was structured around lessons drawn from Sheikh Mohammed’s experiences, The Messages adopts a more personal format, using letters to address individuals and groups directly. The new work therefore combines personal reflection with observations on leadership, responsibility, national development and the transfer of knowledge between generations.

The publication comes as Sheikh Mohammed approaches six decades of public service — a period that has coincided with the transformation of Dubai and the UAE into major global economic, cultural and political centres.

In presenting the book, Sheikh Mohammed framed this accumulated experience not simply as a personal record, but as a responsibility to pass knowledge to those who will continue the country’s journey.

The collection ultimately presents leadership as a form of responsibility that extends beyond an individual tenure: the value of experience lies in what it leaves behind for the next generation.