Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi recalls Sheikh Ahmed’s final words and a bond that extended beyond business, as members of the royal family and football stars mourn his passing.
“Until we meet again, Bu Jassim.” Those were the last words Mohammad Saeed Al Shehhi, chief executive of ARM Holding, heard from Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, just days before his death.
In an emotional tribute on Instagram, Al Shehhi recalled a farewell he never realised would be their final goodbye.
“I did not know it would be goodbye, or that your voice would continue to echo in my heart for as long as I live,” he wrote.
For Al Shehhi, the loss was deeply personal. Sheikh Ahmed was more than a professional mentor or employer; he was a father figure whose trust, guidance and example played a defining role in shaping his life.
“Our relationship was not merely a working relationship. You were a father, a teacher and a source of support to me,” he wrote. “Being close to you was one of the greatest blessings God bestowed upon me.”
Sheikh Ahmed, brother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, died on September 21. Dubai declared 10 days of mourning, with flags flown at half-mast. He served as chairman of ARM Holding and president of Al Wasl Sports Club.
‘Love for the UAE and Dubai’
Al Shehhi’s tribute centred on the lessons Sheikh Ahmed taught him beyond the workplace — patience, humility, good character and a commitment to serving others.
“I learnt from you that love for the UAE and Dubai is not expressed through words, but through sincerity, work and serving people,” he wrote.
He recalled how Sheikh Ahmed took a genuine interest in those around him, regularly asking about their families and listening in a way that made people feel valued. His humility brought people closer, Al Shehhi said, while his wisdom provided reassurance.
“Your words were sincere, and we always saw their reflection in your actions,” he wrote.
Al Shehhi said the trust Sheikh Ahmed had placed in him would remain a responsibility he would carry throughout his life. He pledged to honour that trust through dedicated work in service of the UAE and its people.
“Your passing is not only the loss of a leader, but the loss of a father whose presence meant safety, whose closeness brought reassurance, and whose love was an unforgettable honour,” Al Shehhi wrote.
For Al Shehhi, the farewell ultimately returned to the bond at the heart of his tribute — that of a son mourning the loss of a father figure.
“Farewell, my father and my teacher,” he wrote. “Until, God willing, we meet in a place better than this one.”
Royal and football tributes
Tributes have also poured in from members of the UAE’s royal families and the football community, with many sharing photographs and personal memories of Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Sheikh Marwan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum shared a personal message on Instagram alongside a photograph of Sheikh Ahmed, remembering him as his uncle and “a man with a big heart”.
“He has departed from this world, but he will remain present in my heart and memory, through the love, kindness and beautiful, unforgettable impact he left behind,” Sheikh Marwan wrote.
From Al Wasl, Moroccan defender Soufiane Bouftini shared a photograph of himself greeting Sheikh Ahmed during a trophy presentation. “Our grief over the loss of this kind man is shared by us all,” Bouftini wrote.
