Living beautifully is not forbidden: the fabulous life of the Crown Prince of Dubai. The most expensive and extreme Instagram of an Arab prince Children of the sheikhs of the Arab Emirates

A jogging athlete, horse owner, poet, heir to the royal family, son of Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed al-Maktoum is shrouded in an enviable aura of power, fabulous wealth and romance. Chairman of the Dubai City Council, President of the Sports Committee of the Emirate of Dubai, honorary patron of the Dubai Center for Autism Research and the Youth Business Support League, Sheikh Hamdan has long been an eligible bachelor who remains single. Will anyone get this handsome man or is there a place in his heart for one single passion - horses?

Roots and branches

Sheikh Hamdan is one of the twenty-three (and counting!) children of Sheikh Mohammed, Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and head of the Emirate of Dubai from the Al Maktoum dynasty. Understanding the intricacies of the family tree of Arab rulers is quite simple. The Maktoum family traces its origins to the Bani Yas tribal group that inhabited the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The dynasty itself dates back 180 years, since its founder, Sheikh Maktoum bin Butty, founded his own emirate in the Dubai Creek area in 1833. Currently ruling dynasty continues Sheikh Mohammed al-Maktoum, who in 2006 became the tenth ruler of Dubai. On at the moment the sheikh has nine sons and fourteen daughters. Mohammed is married to Hind bint Maktoum, who is the mother of twelve children, including Sheikh Hamdan. The sheikh's second wife was the famous (primarily in the world of equestrian sports) Jordanian princess Haya bint al-Hussein, who in 2007 gave birth to Mohammed's girl Al-Jalil, and in January 2012 - a son, Zayed. Thus, Sheikh Hamdan is the Crown Prince of the Emirate of Dubai and the stepson of Princess Haya.

In the spirit of tradition

Hamdan al-Maktoum was born on November 13, 1982. Despite the fact that from the very birth the prince was surrounded by incredible luxury, he was brought up in the spirit of traditional values. “My father, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is my mentor in life. I always continue to learn from him, and his experience helps me in solving many strategic issues. My mother, Sheikha Hind, is a true example of a loving and caring mother. She raised me in an atmosphere of absolute love and affection and still supports me even though I have grown up. I will never forget my mother's deep devotion and kindness. “I have great respect for her and believe that any society that does not value mothers is dishonest and worthless,” says the prince. - I enjoyed a peaceful childhood surrounded by my family and was raised in an environment that allowed me to realize my purpose in life and reflect on the greatness of God. The beauty of the desert gave me a sense of harmony and helped me merge with nature - this is how I was able to develop my poetic gift, and with the help of my father I got the chance to make the impossible possible.”

Hamdan bin Mohammed AL-MAKTOUM at YAMAMAHA

School years are wonderful...

Sheikh Hamdan began his education at the Sheikh Rashid Private Secondary School in Dubai, established by English model. By the way, it was founded in 1986 by Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid al-Maktoum, so the boy seemed to never leave the family. The young man continued his studies at the faculty Public Administration at the Dubai Government School, and then went to the UK. There he became a student and then a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (which, by the way, Prince Harry also graduated from youngest son British prince Charles and Princess Diana). Later, Sheikh Hamdan attended specialized courses at the London School of Economics and finally, armed with knowledge, returned to his native Emirates. “My school days and college days were the most wonderful time of my life and I still remember my peers and friends. A military academy such as Sandhurst teaches not only the basic disciplines, but also virtue, responsibility and commitment to one's country. These are very important values ​​that people need both in everyday life, and at the state level, when they are entrusted with serious responsibilities.”

From his father, Sheikh Mohammed, (left), Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed will inherit power over one

one of the richest and most influential regions in the Middle East

Sands of time

Already from the prince’s statements one can notice that he is a romantic person - Hamdan is also known as a talented poet. He publishes his poetry under the pseudonym Fazza. “Fazza represents my poetic personality and personality. This word in the Emirati dialect means a person who selflessly rushes to the aid of all those who are in trouble. My poetry can fill people's hearts with happiness and help ease their suffering. I was greatly impressed by my father's passion for poetry, and I also had the chance to meet many poets who helped me discover and develop my own style. From an early age, my father listened to my poems and gently advised me in what direction to move forward.” Once at a press conference, the prince was asked why he chose such a pseudonym for himself. Hamdan replied that he once met an old man in the desert whose car was stuck in the sand. He helped pull out the car and was about to leave, without waiting for words of gratitude, but then the old man called out to him and said: “You are Fazza.” The prince liked this nickname so much that it became his middle name and poetic pseudonym. Hamdan's poems are mostly romantic and patriotic and, of course, many are dedicated to his main hobby - horses.

What is my horse to me...

What is my horse to me? My strength and courage

This is my essence, my blood flesh.

More than once or twice I wanted to soar into the sky

Or fall backwards, exploding your anger.

You held me, and the bridle is like rags,

It remained in your hand, as if your heart was in pieces!

I burned and dared, a hunter of the sultry prairies,

The horse flew like an arrow, his temples ached.

What is my horse to me? My prowess and dexterity,

The pride of my ancestors, their victories in battles.

My Arabian horse gave me skill,

to the heart faithful passion, fearless sparkle in the eyes!

On the wings of the wind

“I come from a family that loves horses,” the prince admits. - There is a strong spiritual connection between me and the world of equestrian sports, which is a huge part of my life. I ride whenever the opportunity arises because it gives me a feeling of absolute freedom.” Like many members of the al-Maktoum family, Hamdan not only excels in the saddle, but is also a professional equestrian. He has his own stable, where he breeds thoroughbred riding horses and Arabian horses, and takes part in distance racing competitions. The prince performs very, very successfully: he mainly has first and second places in tournaments with the highest distance of 160 km. His main horses are Ainhoa ​​Aksom, Intisar and Yamamah.

The list of Hamdan's victories is endless - for example, he won four tournaments in a row (all in which he took part) at a distance of 120 km in 2014. The prince's main achievements are team gold at the 2006 Summer Asian Games and a gold medal at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy (160 km), which he won in August this year on the purebred Arabian mare Yamamaha (which translates from Arabic as “little dove"). “The route was unusually difficult technically,” says the prince. “In addition, it was aggravated by the weather and high humidity. It was necessary to ensure that the horse was well protected from the weather at all times. It’s not surprising that the number of those who were able to simply finish was small for a championship of this level.” 165 athletes from 47 countries took part in the tournament. At first, the team from the UAE took the lead, but by the end of the third lap, only one representative of this team remained on the route - Sheikh Hamdan. Many of the tournament's competitors were injured along the course, and a Costa Rican rider's horse tragically died on the route after colliding with a tree. So this victory was indeed not easy for the prince and once again confirmed his high level of sports.

Prince Hamdan AL-MAKTOUM

with his potential bride Kalila Said

Adrenaline Rush

The prince is not afraid of danger - on the contrary, he is chasing adrenaline with everyone possible ways. He engages in extreme sports - skydiving, flying on a JETLEV-FLYER jetpack (which rises into the air on giant jets of water) and an Xcitor paraglider, racing around the Persian Gulf on water scooters and skis and scuba diving. Hamdan also loves to travel: for example, he has been to Africa, where he met with aborigines and hunted lions with a photo gun, and to Russia, where he participated in falconry. “I swim regularly and just walk a lot at any time of the day,” says the prince. “I also sometimes play football, but things don’t allow me to get too involved in this sport.”

Marry a prince

The love question remains open for now: at thirty-something (he celebrates his 32nd birthday on November 14), the prince is not yet married. The personal life of the sheikh has been the subject of countless speculations for many years - not surprising, since the prince is a “tidbit” for thousands of girls. It was said that from birth he was engaged to a maternal relative, Sheikha al-Maktoum, but at the same time he had very close contact with another distant relative (whose name is unknown) from 2008 to 2013. The relationship ended in January 2013 (the arranged marriage was immediately called off for reasons that were not made public), when the prince met new love. Hamdan fell in love so much that he very soon announced his engagement. His chosen one was Kalila Said, a 23-year-old refugee from Palestine who grew up in the slums of an Arab metropolis. The young people met while working at charity project in one of the disadvantaged areas of the capital. The girl cannot be called a gold digger: the prince had to seek her attention for more than three months before she agreed to go on a date, but soon the couple became inseparable. According to rumors circulating in the country, Sheikh Mohammed was not very happy with the choice of the prince and even threatened to disinherit his son, but to no avail. The young man chose love, as a result of which the father reconsidered his position, resigned himself and, it seems, even gave the couple his blessing. However, Hamdan’s fans should not despair: in the UAE, the sheikh has the right to have as many wives as he wants. So, Hamdan’s father, Sheikh Mohammed, is rumored to have about five wives (hence so many children), and the world knows about only two, and Hamdan’s brother, Prince Said Al-Maktoum, also married a girl of low origin, Azerbaijani Natalia Aliyeva. She worked as a waitress in Belarus (where they met), and in the UAE she became Princess Aisha Al-Maktoum.

People's Favorite

In September 2006, Hamdan Al Maktoum was appointed Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, where he was tasked with overseeing the emirate's government facilities. It was thanks to him that the “Dubai Strategic Plan until 2015” was put forward. As President, Sheikh Hamdan led the Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Autism Center, and the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Institute for Young Business Leaders. Despite his fame and billion-dollar fortune, the prince remains very modest - he is actively involved in charity work, personally overseeing several funds for helping children and animals. “The fact that I am the son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid does not give me an absolute right to refuse my duties,” says Hamdan. “On the contrary, I feel that my brothers and I have an obligation to be more responsible and should take every job as seriously as possible.” From my point of view, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed is an ideal head of family who always strives to give time to everyone despite the enormous worries. At the same time, he teaches us that we must always remain close to the people.”

He has been compared to Aladdin, but Hamdan ibn Mohammed al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, is far from poor, unlike his fairy-tale “prototype.” He is modest, smart, kind, well-mannered, writes poetry, does charity work and loves extreme sports, on top of that he is also incredibly rich. Image makers royal family work tirelessly to create perfect image eastern prince. But is it really so ideal remains a mystery...

Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, was born on November 13, 1982. Hamdan is the second son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum and his first wife Hind bint Maktoum bin Youma al Maktoum.

Hamdan belongs to the Al Maktoum family. This dynasty of sheikhs has been in power since 1833 and has ruled Dubai from 1971 to the present. Al Maktoum is also the “supplier” of the Crown Prime Ministers and Vice Presidents of the UAE.

The Al Maktoum clan comes from the Arab al-Abu Falah clan, part of the Beni Yas tribal federation, which has dominated the UAE since the mid-18th century. In 1833, the al Abu Falah clan, led by the al Maktoum family, moved to Dubai and founded an independent sheikhdom here. Distinctive feature The reign of the Sheikhs al Maktoum is a peaceful transfer of power from the previous Sheikh to the heir, unlike others Arab dynasties Persian Gulf.

Hamdan's father, Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, also known as Sheikh Mohammed, is the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler (Emir) of Dubai. In addition, since 1971 he has served as the UAE Minister of Defense. By according to Forbes in 2013, his fortune, most of which depends on the price of oil and investments in various sectors of the world economy, is estimated at $39.5 billion.

Sheikh Mohammed is also known for his generosity and love of racing. On October 25, 2006, he gave Michael Schumacher the island of Antarctica in the area of ​​​​the artificial archipelago The World, worth $7 million.

Hamdan's mother, Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma al Maktoum, is the first wife of Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum. She married Sheikh in 1979, when she was 17 years old and Mohammed was 30. Sheikha Hind completed her high school course in Dubai, but due to early marriage I never received higher education. Nevertheless, those close to her characterize her as very well-read and wise man, keeping abreast of all events. Sheikha Hind is not a public person and does not attend events where men participate. She strictly observes local traditions and culture, but nevertheless actively works to expand opportunities for the participation of UAE women in the social, cultural, economic and political life of the country. There is no publicly confirmed photograph of Sheikha Hind, and she never accompanies her husband to business events, unlike his other wife, Princess Haya bint al Hussein.

The upbringing of Prince Hamdan, despite the untold wealth and luxury, took place in the spirit of traditional values Arab world. “My father, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is my mentor in life. I always continue to learn from him, and his experience helps me in solving many strategic issues. My mother, Sheikha Hind, is a true example of a loving and caring mother. She raised me in an atmosphere of absolute love and affection and still supports me even though I have grown up. I have great respect for her and believe that any society that does not value mothers is dishonest and worthless,” says the prince about his upbringing.

Yours primary education Hamdan received his education from a private school named after Sheikh Rashid. After graduating, he entered the Faculty of Administration at the Dubai Government School. Then he continued his studies in Great Britain at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, where the heirs to the British throne, Harry and William, also studied. In his interview with Vision magazine, the prince noted that studying at Sandhurst developed in him self-discipline, responsibility, dedication and the ability to work in a team. After the academy, he graduated from the London School of Economics.

In September 2006, Hamdan was appointed Chairman of the City of Dubai Executive Council.

On February 1, 2008, Hamdan became Crown Prince of Dubai following the abdication of his older brother Rashid bin Mohammed. It is worth noting that one of the characteristics of the Bedouins who founded the monarchies in the Middle East is their “unsettled” succession to the throne. That is, the next heir to the throne is not necessarily the eldest son. Here everything depends on the will of the ruling sheikh.

As the new crown prince, he was appointed to a number of key positions, such as head of the hedge fund HN Capital LLP and president of the new university named after him. He also held positions as head of the Young Entrepreneurs Support League, the Dubai Emirate Sports Committee and the Dubai Autism Research Center. The Dubai Marathon is under his patronage.

Hamdan can often be seen at various conventions and summits, where he stands out from the crowd thanks to his national outfit - kandura and arafat, which are always worn by members of the UAE royal family at official events.

There is not much public information about Hamdan’s older brother, Rashid ibn Mohammed, who was excommunicated from the throne. This is partly due to his tense relationship with his father. The damaged reputation of the eldest son led to his father excommunicating him from the throne and prohibiting him from engaging in any government activities. Rashid fell out of favor because of his excessive love for sports... Everything would have been fine if this passion had not resulted in the use of steroids and then drugs. In 2011, the English newspaper The Telegraph published an article saying that the eldest son of Sheikh Mohammed underwent treatment for drug addiction in one of the English clinics. At one time, Wikileaks shared even more terrifying information about Rashid. The site reported that Rashid bin Mohammed, possibly under the influence of drugs, killed his father's assistant at the Royal Office in Dubai. More detailed details of the murder were not indicated in the portal’s report, which raised a number of doubts about the reliability of this information.

Prince Hamdan leads an active lifestyle, his list of hobbies is huge - skydiving, diving, fishing, falconry, snowboarding, cycling and much more. IN free time he writes poetry under the pseudonym Fazza, which he devotes, among other things, to his homeland and family.

About the appearance of his pseudonym, the sheikh tells a story about an old man in the desert, who nicknamed him Fazza. “If I told you that the nickname came about by accident, you wouldn’t believe me,” says Sheikh Hamdan. “Once fate brought me together in the desert with an old man, his car got stuck in the sand. At that moment I was driving my hunting falcon through the desert, trying to teach it calmness while driving at high speed between the sand dunes. Seeing him, I stopped to fulfill my duty and help the man in trouble. We pulled the car out of the sand, and I got into my car without waiting for words of gratitude. And then I heard a strong and decisive voice directed in my direction, which said: “You are Fazzaa.” This voice had a strong effect on me, but what I remember even more was his manner of speech and the way he pronounced the word “Fazzaa”. The nickname remained in my memory, and a little later it became my middle name. By the way, this old man didn’t know who I was, and I don’t know who he is, I only remember his image. "Fazzaa" translated from Arabic is a person who helps all those who are in trouble.

…My poetry can fill people’s hearts with happiness and help alleviate their suffering,” Hamdan says about his passion. - I had the chance to meet many poets who helped me identify and develop my own style. From an early age, my father listened to my poems and gently advised me in what direction to move forward.” Hamdan's poems are mostly romantic and patriotic and, of course, many are dedicated to his main hobby - horses.

A special passion for the prince, as it should be Arab sheikhs, represent thoroughbred stallions and equestrian sports. His Highness has several awards from prestigious competitions, including the gold medal of the World Equestrian Games held in France in 2014.

The list of Hamdan's victories is endless. The prince's main achievements are team gold at the 2006 Asian Summer Games and a gold medal at the FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy (160 km), which he won in August last year on the purebred Arabian mare Yamaha (which translates from Arabic as “small”) dove"). “The route was unusually difficult technically,” says the prince. “In addition, it was aggravated by the weather and high humidity. It was necessary to ensure that the horse was well protected from the weather at all times. It’s not surprising that the number of those who were able to simply finish was small for a championship of this level.” 165 athletes from 47 countries took part in the tournament. At first, the team from the UAE took the lead, but by the end of the third lap, only one representative of this team remained on the route - Sheikh Hamdan. Many of the tournament's competitors were injured along the course, and a Costa Rican rider's horse tragically died on the route after colliding with a tree. So this victory was indeed not easy for the prince and once again confirmed his high level of sports.

The prince himself has repeatedly said that he was born into a family where they adore horses, and riding gives him a sense of freedom. Among other things, the sheikh has several camels, on one of which he spent almost three million dollars, expensive cars and his own yacht. And Hamdan got himself a pair of white tigers and two albino lions as pets.

Sheikh Hamdan, as is typical for a royal person, devotes a lot of time to charity, providing assistance to the disabled and sick children, purchasing medical equipment.

Netizens sometimes compare the Dubai prince with Disney's Aladdin, the hero of the Arabian Nights fairy tales. They also notice his resemblance to actor Eric Bana (Australian actor, starred in such films as “Hulk”, “Troy”, “ Star Trek». - Approx. ed.). Almost two million users subscribe to Hamdan’s Instagram page.

Unlike his famous European “colleagues,” very little is known about Hamdan’s personal life, and what is known is only rumors and guesses. One thing is for sure - the image makers of the royal court are constantly working to ensure that the image of the sheikh is impeccable. He often takes pictures with children and animals, demonstrates his varied hobbies and looks very charming and kind. Which undoubtedly plays a positive role in creating the image of a prince “close to the people.”

His relationships with women in the UAE are talked about only in whispers. But even among the whispers, very piquant rumors slip through. So some “well-wishers” explain Hamdan’s bachelor status by the fact that he is a representative gay. However, answering the question about his possible marriage, the prince says that since birth he has been engaged to a maternal relative, Sheikha bin Thani bin Said al Maktoum, so there are no problems with choosing a bride - everything was decided long before. how he even entered conscious age.

However, from 2008 to 2013, he was in close contact with another distant relative, whose name is unknown. But this relationship also ended in January 2013. The arranged marriage was immediately called off for reasons that were not made public. Already in the summer of 2014, the prince met a new love. Hamdan fell in love so much that he very soon announced his engagement. His chosen one was Kalila Said, a 23-year-old refugee from Palestine who grew up in the slums of an Arab metropolis. The young people met while working on a charity project in one of the disadvantaged areas of the capital. The girl cannot be called a gold digger: the prince had to seek her attention for more than three months before she agreed to go on a date, but soon the couple became inseparable. According to rumors circulating in the country, Sheikh Mohammed was not very happy with the choice of the prince and even threatened to disinherit his son, but to no avail. The young man chose love, as a result of which the father reconsidered his position, resigned himself and, it seems, even gave the couple his blessing.

However, Hamdan’s fans should not despair: in the UAE, the sheikh has the right to have as many wives as he wants. By the way, Hamdan’s brother, Prince Said al Maktoum, also married a girl of low origin, Azerbaijani Natalya Aliyeva. She worked as a waitress in Belarus (where they met), and in the UAE she became Princess Aisha al Maktoum.

Despite his fame and billion-dollar fortune (according to Forbes in 2011 - $18 billion), the prince tries to behave very reservedly in public. “The fact that I am the son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid does not give me an absolute right to refuse my duties,” says Hamdan. “On the contrary, I feel that my brothers and I have an obligation to be more responsible and should take every job as seriously as possible.”

Still the reason mysterious death 33-year-old Sheikh Rashid remains shrouded in mystery. Let us recall that the eldest son of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, passed away at the age of 33. According to media reports, on September 19, 2015, Sheikh Rashid, who had a reputation as a handsome playboy with a brilliant future, died at home due to a sudden heart attack.

Despite the fact that the official version of his death is a myocardial infarction, there have long been rumors in the United Arab Emirates that the young Sheikh Rashid abused drugs and because of his addiction, he repeatedly ended up in a rehabilitation center. In 2008, he was stripped of his legal title as Crown Prince of Dubai.

In recent years, especially before his death, Sheikh Rashid somehow gradually and smoothly withdrew from social life and went into the shadows, while becoming one of the most mysterious influential figures in the emirate of Dubai. His father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, had only two wives and 24 children. Through his efforts, he transformed a dull and mediocre emirate into a dazzling modern metropolis and a global high-tech and tourism center.

There are many versions of the death of the 33-year-old Sheikh of Dubai. For example, the Iranian Fars news agency stated that Rashid did not die from suffering a “sudden heart attack,” as the official statement said, but during the fighting in Yemen. Iranian media unanimously claim that Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed al-Maktoum and several other UAE soldiers were killed during artillery shelling by rebel forces in the Yemeni province of Marib. False information about the death of the Crown Prince of Dubai as a result of a heart attack was published in order to mislead residents of the United Arab Emirates, who are in favor of withdrawing troops from Yemen.

Another version of the prince’s death in the form of a diplomatic message was published on the Wikileaks website. It contains a fascinating description of events that actually took place in the palace and were carefully hidden from prying eyes. A certain diplomat from one of the Western countries shared information that Sheikh Rashid lost his title as Crown Prince of Dubai and all prospects of legitimate power due to the fact that he allegedly killed his father’s assistant in a state of passion. Although the assistant's name is not mentioned anywhere, analysts have suggested that the murder was committed as a result of a steroid-induced rage attack.

Another information leak provided by a diplomat from Saudi Arabia, suggests that drugs and mass sexual orgies are commonplace in the palace of the ruler of Dubai, as in the emirate of Dubai as a whole. However, access to such events is open only to wealthy Arabs.

If we weigh the pros and cons, analysts agree that the heart attack that ended the life of 33-year-old Sheikh Rashid is nothing more than a beautiful excuse that does not cast a shadow on the sheikh’s reputation.

Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum - full name crown prince, eligible bachelor planet, billionaire and just handsome man. How does an Arab prince live?

1. Sheikh is one of 13 children, has 6 brothers and 9 sisters. The heir's fortune is estimated at a tidy sum, just under 20 billion US dollars. Prince Hamdan was born to Prime Minister and Vice President Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his first wife. This young man is very popular because of his extraordinary image, close to ordinary people.

2 Like many famous children of heirs, the sheikh was educated in Great Britain, lived for some time in London, after which he returned home, where responsibilities and affairs awaited him.

3. As befits a crown prince, he was prepared for the ruling post from childhood. So the young sheikh accepts the most active participation in the life of his country, regularly appearing at various congresses, to which he invariably puts on a kandura and arafat.

4. But, when the officialdom is over, the prince transforms into a simple, smiling guy who passionately loves Formula 1 and horses.

5. The Sheikh is confident in the saddle, which even led to his victory in the Olympic Games.

6. It is quite natural that, despite his European education, the prince is different from other crown princes of other countries! For example, his personal life is kept in the strictest confidence.

7. But you can often see him with small children - these are the sheikh’s nieces and nephews, with whom he willingly takes pictures. In addition, you can see Hamdan surrounded by tiger cubs, falcons and Arabian horses. In short, luxury worthy of the gods.

8. But despite his wealth, Hamdan does not forget about the poor and is involved in charity work, overseeing several relief funds.

9. It is known that he is engaged to a certain relative on his mother’s side. It should be noted that the bride is chosen by the parents, according to Arab traditions, so it is not surprising that the future of the prince has long been decided.

10. However, sheikhs are allowed to have as many wives as they want, but most likely this will also be the choice of his family, and not his romantic interest.

11. Now the prince holds the post of chairman of the Dubai Council, and he is also the president of the sports committee.

12. Hamdan’s versatile talents also extend to poetry. His Highness writes romantic poetry.

13. How well the prince stays in the saddle brought him first place in horseback riding.

14. The prince also breeds camels, which in itself is a rather expensive hobby.

15. It is logical that His Highness flies exclusively by private jet.

16. The prince's hobbies include scuba diving with an elephant.

17. In addition to overseeing charitable foundations, the sheikh supports people with disabilities.

18. The white tiger cub is the prince’s favorite.

19. Hamdan also loves cars.

20. In number extreme species The sport that the sheikh practices is parachute jumping. In flight!

21. Mountaineering

22. Hunting with falcons

23. Hamdan is an excellent photographer, always ready to give advice to beginners in this business.

24. With a camera in hand

25. Diving is also the heir’s hobby.

On April 30, 2013, the Netherlands will have a king on the throne for the first time in 120 years - until now the kingdom has been ruled by women. 45-year-old Prince Willem-Alexander will inherit from his mother not only the throne and title, but also a considerable fortune. Currently, Queen Beatrix ranks seventh in the ranking of the richest monarchs on the planet, compiled at the end of 2012 by the British heraldic almanac Almanach de Gotha. The amount of her fortune, depending on the principles of calculation (including or excluding real estate owned royal dynasties, family collections of antiques, etc.), ranges between $300 million and £10 billion.

1. Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain
Age: 85 years
Start of reign: 1952
Net worth: £60 billion ($94.8 billion)
The traditional calculation of the British Queen's wealth does not take into account those unique objects that are perceived as state property, and gives a very modest amount of several hundred million dollars. Meanwhile, taking into account the cost Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, the palaces of St. James and Holyroodhouse, Windsor Castle and other properties owned by the royal family, as well as the royal collection of works of art, the British monarch ranks first in the list of the richest colleagues.

Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain visited the hospital. Queen Elizabeth in King's Lynn, Norfolk, February 5, 2013. The hospital installed a new magnetic resonance imaging scanner. © AFP PHOTO/POOL/PAUL ROGERS

2. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia
Age: 87 years old
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2005
Net worth: £40 billion ($63.2 billion)
The basis of the Saudi king's fortune is oil, the sale of which brings this state about $1 billion per day. In addition, Abdullah ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud owns a huge stable, which contains the best Arabian horses (the monarch is known as a passionate rider and the founder of an equestrian club in Riyadh), and a good garage, most of the cars in which are exclusive or antique.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud meets with French President Francois Hollande at the Royal Palace in Jeddah on November 4, 2012. © AFP PHOTO/BERTRAND LANGLOIS

3. Emir of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan
Age: 64 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2004
Net worth: £30 billion ($47.4 billion)
The Sheikh of Abu Dhabi and the current President of the UAE is also rich thanks to the oil produced in his country. This is not surprising: 80% of the oil reserves of the United Arab Emirates are concentrated in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. In addition, Khalif receives a good income from investing own funds in various sectors of the world economy.

Emir of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the opening of a container terminal at Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, December 12, 2012. © REUTERS/WAM/Handout

4. King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand
Age: 84 years
Start of reign: 1946
Net worth: £28 billion ($44.24 billion)
The Thai monarch is not just one of the richest monarchs in the world, but also one of the most thrifty: he spent a considerable part of his fortune on the development and implementation of more than 3,000 projects for the development of agricultural land in the country. However, there is nothing surprising in this: the king “concurrently” heads the Royal Thai Real Estate Agency, which owns enormous tracts of land in the country. In addition, the royal collection is widely known throughout the world precious stones, which seriously affects the size of the monarch's fortune.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand leaves Sirirai Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, December 5, 2012. © REUTERS/Kerek Wongsa

5. Emir of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum
Age: 62 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2006
Net worth: £25 billion ($39.5 billion)
The Emir of Dubai currently also holds the post of Prime Minister of the UAE and, like the Saudi king, is known for his horses: his stable is considered one of the largest and most expensive in the world. And of course, a considerable part of his fortune comes from the oil reserves that the emirate of Dubai boasts, as well as income from investments in various sectors of the world economy.

Emir of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the Dubai World Cup at the Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 31, 2012. © REUTERS/Caren Firouz

6. Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah
Age: 65 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1967
Net worth: £24 billion ($37.92 billion)
The most famous property of the Brunei Sultan (besides the oil produced in his country) is his collection of cars, which numbers from 3,000 to 6,000 cars, many of which were produced in extremely limited quantities or even in a single copy. The Sultan’s palace, Istana Nurul Iman (Palace of Light), with an area of ​​over 200,000 square meters, is also famous. m, which contains 1,788 apartments and 257 bathrooms.

Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah (right) with his first wife Anak Saleh at the wedding of his daughter Princess Hafiza Sururul of Brunei, 32, who married civil servant Pengiran Haji Muhammad Ruzaini, 29, on September 19, 2012. © STR/AFP/GettyImages

7. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
Age: 74 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1980
Net worth: £10 billion ($15.8 billion)
Traditionally, the fortune of the Queen of the Netherlands is estimated at $300 million - but this does not take into account the royal share of the company's shares Royal Dutch Shell (it accounts for about 25%), as well as the value of the royal collections of art and jewelry. Taking into account all these riches, the total wealth of Beatrix, who recently announced her impending abdication, is 30 times larger and allows her to enter the top ten richest monarchs in the world.

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands arrived at the Theater. Beatrix in Utrecht, the Netherlands, February 1, 2013. © ROBIN UTRECHT/AFP/Getty Images

8. Emir of Kuwait Sabah al-Ahmed al-Jaber al-Sabah
Age: 82 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2006
Net worth: £9 billion ($14.22 billion)
Sheikh Sabah's annual "scholarship", consisting of his share of oil revenues, is $188 million, and it is these payments that form the basis of the Kuwaiti monarch's fortune. However, the emir is well aware that oil resources are finite, and therefore is already trying to prepare his country for life in the post-oil era by initiating economic reforms based on simplifying the rules for land privatization and facilitating conditions for attracting foreign investment.

Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani at Algerian airport. Houari Boumediena, January 7, 2013. © REUTERS/Louafi Larbi

9. Emir of Qatar Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani
Age: 60 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1995
Net worth: £7 billion ($11.06 billion)
The current emir of Qatar came to power by overthrowing his father, who imprudently went on vacation to Switzerland. Among his Middle Eastern colleagues, Hamad enjoys a reputation as a progressive leader: under him, Qatar was the first country in the region to provide suffrage women. And the emir ensured the growth of his already considerable fortune by reforming the country’s oil and gas industry, creating ideal conditions to attract foreign investment from the world's largest mining companies.

10. Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said Albusaid
Age: 71 years old
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1970
Net worth: £6 billion ($9.48 billion)
The creator of the Sultanate of Oman, which arose after the unification of the Sultanate of Muscat and the Imamate of Oman, is the owner of another “oil” fortune. In addition, a significant share of Qaboos's wealth is the royal palace of Qasr al-Alam, built in 1972, overlooking the main harbor of Muscat, and several yachts (including the 155-meter Al Said, named after the owner), consolidated into a division Royal yachts of the Oman Navy.

Sultan Qaboos bin Said Albusaid of Oman at the opening of a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Doha, December 3, 2007. © REUTERS/Fadi Al-Assaad/Files

11. King of Bahrain Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifa
Age: 62 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2002
Net worth: £3.5 billion ($5.53 billion)
Another passionate lover Arabian horses in the ranking of the richest monarchs. Created by Hamad in 1977, the Amiri stable was included in the list of the World Arabian Horse Organization a year later and is today one of the largest and most expensive in the world. The basis of the King of Bahrain's fortune is oil, like that of his other Middle Eastern colleagues, as well as income from international investments, which are managed by a special royal fund.

King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa at a meeting of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Persian Gulf. Sakhir Palace, south of Manama, December 24, 2012. © REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

12. Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Age: 67 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1989
Net worth: £4 billion ($6.32 billion)
The main source of wealth for the current ruler of the small Alpine state is the family bank LGT. In addition to financial income, when calculating Hans-Adam's fortune, several 17th-century palaces in Vienna were taken into account, collected by the princely family over 400 years unique collection works of art, as well as over 20,000 hectares of land.

Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein at the Monaco Day celebrations at the Prince's Palace in Monaco, November 19, 2012. © Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

13. Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg
Age: 56 years old
Year of reign: 2000
Net worth: £3 billion ($4.74 billion)
Unlike Middle Eastern monarchs, who built their fortunes on oil, their European counterparts do not boast an equally highly profitable source of savings. So the Luxembourg Duke Henri, nephew of the reigning King of Belgium Albert II, controls his fortune, which consists of bank deposits, gold reserves and real estate, as well as shares of various industrial companies. It is noteworthy that Henri spends part of his income on protecting wildlife, primarily the unique Galapagos Islands.

Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri and Marie-Therese Mestre ( Grand Duchess Marie-Therese) enter the Notre-Dame de Luxembourg Cathedral before the wedding ceremony of Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and Belgian Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy. October 20, 2012, Luxembourg. © Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

14. Prince Albert II of Monaco
Age: 53 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 2005
Net worth: £2.5 billion ($3.95 billion)
The collection of works of art collected by the princely family is the basis of the fortune ruling prince Monaco. In addition to her, he owns an expensive collection of antique cars and a stamp collection and receives significant income from the casino in Monte Carlo.

Prince Albert II of Monaco at a party in West Hollywood in California, February 26, 2012. © Craig Barritt/Getty Images for TWC

15. Imam of the Ismaili-Nizaris Aga Khan IV
Age: 75 years
Year of the beginning of the reign: 1957
Net worth: £2 billion ($3.16 billion)
Imam Aga Khan is the head of a huge community of Nizari Ismailis (an offshoot of the Ismaili branch of Shia Islam) living in India, Oman, Syria, Tajikistan and Zanzibar. Despite the fact that the Nizaris do not have their own state, their current head is equivalent to the monarch: since 1957, he has held the title “His Highness”, bestowed on him by Queen Elizabeth II. Aga Khan IV is the owner of a herd of purebred Arabian horses numbering 900 heads, which, coupled with a share in one of the British horse auction houses, provides him with an annual income of $300 million. To this must be added income from managing several hotels and airlines, as well as investments in the tourism business in Sardinia (it was through the efforts of the Aga Khan that the Emerald Coast of the island has turned into a fashionable recreation area since the 1960s) and shares of the largest industrial companies.

Nizari Ismaili Imam Aga Khan IV attends the Prix de Diane horse riding race, Chantilly, France, June 17, 2012. © THOMAS SAMSON/AFP/GettyImages