In order to determine if His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the chairman of WASL, we must first understand who Sheikh Maktoum is and what his role is within the United Arab Emirates government. We must also examine the background of WASL and its leadership structure to see if Sheikh Maktoum currently holds or has held the position of chairman.
Who is Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum?
Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Crown Prince of Dubai and the Deputy Ruler of Dubai. He is the elder son of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai.
Sheikh Maktoum was born in 1982 and was educated in Dubai. He later attended the London School of Economics where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. After completing his studies, Sheikh Maktoum began taking on important leadership roles within Dubai and the UAE.
In 2008, Sheikh Maktoum was named the Chairman of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority. In this position, he helped oversee the growth and development of Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Outsource Zone, and other technology hubs within Dubai.
In 2014, Sheikh Maktoum was appointed Deputy Ruler of Dubai by his father. As Deputy Ruler, he assists his father in overseeing the daily operations of the Dubai government and its various agencies and bodies. The Deputy Ruler post is considered the second highest government position in Dubai.
A few years later in 2016, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid appointed Sheikh Maktoum as the President of the Dubai Council. The Dubai Council was established to set the emirate’s development priorities and general policies. As President, Sheikh Maktoum leads the Council in charting Dubai’s strategic growth path.
In February 2008, Sheikh Maktoum was also appointed Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council by his father. The Executive Council oversees the implementation of policy across all government sectors and creates a framework for executive bodies to work within. As Chairman, Sheikh Maktoum heads the Council and leads its strategic decision-making.
Additionally, Sheikh Maktoum holds several other key positions including Vice Chairman of the Dubai Executive Office, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Dubai Future Foundation, and Deputy Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.
Through these various leadership roles, Sheikh Maktoum has become deeply involved in both the day-to-day operations and long-term strategic planning for Dubai and the UAE. Many see him as being groomed for an even larger leadership position in the future.
What is WASL?
WASL, which stands for Wasl Properties, is a property management company based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The company was established in 2007 under the Dubai government’s restructuring initiatives led by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
WASL was created to oversee and manage the residential and commercial properties owned directly by the Dubai government. This consolidated property portfolio includes over 30,000 residential units and over 3 million square feet of commercial space across Dubai.
In addition to property management, WASL also focuses on new property development, facility management, and leasing out government-owned properties in Dubai. It aims to modernize the government’s real estate assets through new development, renovation, and improved facility services.
Some key facts and figures about WASL include:
- Manages over 30,000 residential units in Dubai
- Oversees over 3 million square feet of commercial space
- Employs over 3,000 employees
- Has over 22,000 tenants and thousands more facility management customers
- Total assets valued at over AED 25 billion
WASL has played an important role in maintaining and upgrading Dubai’s extensive portfolio of government properties over the past decade plus. It continues to operate under the umbrella of the Government of Dubai’s General Secretariat and its activities are aligned with Dubai’s strategic vision.
Is Sheikh Maktoum the Chairman of WASL?
Based on an analysis of available information from WASL and the Dubai government, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum does not appear to be the current Chairman of WASL Properties.
According to the latest corporate information on the WASL website, the current Chairman of the Board of Directors of WASL is His Excellency Abdulla Saeed Al Naboodah. Mr. Al Naboodah assumed this role in March 2019, replacing His Excellency Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, who previously served as Chairman.
There is no indication that Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed has ever served as Chairman of WASL since its establishment in 2007. The company’s previous board leadership came from other senior Dubai government officials such as Mr. Al Shaibani rather than the royal family directly.
Sheikh Maktoum does not currently sit on the WASL Board of Directors based on the published board member profiles. HIS other extensive government responsibilities likely preclude him from assuming an additional board chairman role at this time.
While Sheikh Maktoum does not directly control WASL, the company does fall under the umbrella of the Dubai government entities that he oversees in his capacity as Deputy Ruler. For example, WASL would ultimately report to the Dubai Executive Council which Sheikh Maktoum chairs.
So in summary, based on all current information, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum does not serve and has never served as the Chairman of WASL Properties. The company has been led by other Dubai government officials appointed by rulers of Dubai.
Sheikh Maktoum’s Positions and Responsibilities in Dubai Government
As discussed previously, Sheikh Maktoum holds several important positions within the government of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. Let’s recap his major roles and responsibilities:
- Crown Prince of Dubai – Second in line to rule the Emirate of Dubai after his father Sheikh Mohammed.
- Deputy Ruler of Dubai – Assists his father in overseeing daily operations of government bodies.
- Chairman of Dubai Executive Council – Leads the Council that oversees all government sectors and executive bodies.
- President of Dubai Council – Heads strategic planning and policy setting for the emirate.
- Chairman of School of Government – Oversees training of public officials and administrators.
- Deputy Chairman of Sports Council – Involved in promoting sports within Dubai.
With these wide-ranging roles, Sheikh Maktoum has major responsibilities in all facets of governing Dubai. However, he does not appear to play a direct leadership role at WASL itself despite the company falling under Dubai’s government umbrella.
WASL Leadership and Board of Directors
Instead of Sheikh Maktoum, WASL Properties has been led by the following key individuals, according to information published on the company’s website:
| Name | Position | Years in Role |
|---|---|---|
| H.E. Abdulla Saeed Al Naboodah | Chairman | 2019 – Present |
| H.E. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani | Chairman | 2007 – 2019 |
| Khalifa Hassan Aldrai | CEO | 2018 – Present |
| Amit Kaushal | CEO | 2015 – 2018 |
| Steven Morgan | CEO | 2007 – 2015 |
The Chairman of WASL’s Board of Directors has been held by other Dubai government officials, first Mr. Al Shaibani and now Mr. Al Naboodah in that role. The day-to-day operations are overseen by the company’s CEO position, currently held by Mr. Aldrai.
In addition to the Chairman, the WASL Board of Directors consists of:
- Vice Chairman – Khalid Al Malik
- Board Member – H.E. Abdullah Al Basti
- Board Member – H.E. Ahmad Al Muhairbi
- Board Member – Mattar Al Mehairi
- Board Member – Mona Al Marri
- Board Member – Mohammad Al Khoury
Based on this board composition, Sheikh Maktoum does not currently sit on the WASL Properties board either as Chairman or as a member.
Relationship Between Sheikh Maktoum and WASL
Although he does not directly lead or oversee WASL, Sheikh Maktoum likely has significant influence over the company’s general direction and alignment with Dubai government priorities in his roles as Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
Some of the ways that Sheikh Maktoum may be able to impact WASL’s policies and activities include:
- Setting strategic directives for Dubai that WASL would be expected to follow
- Recommending or approving appointments to the WASL Board of Directors
- Liaising between WASL leadership and other Dubai government entities
- Reviewing and approving WASL’s annual budget and business plans
- Holding WASL leadership accountable for performance and progress
So while Sheikh Maktoum does not have explicit decision-making authority within WASL, the company does fall within his broader responsibility for setting and executing on Dubai’s vision and development goals as future ruler.
Sheikh Maktoum can provide oversight and direction to WASL through his leadership of governing bodies such as the Dubai Executive Council. But the day-to-day administration of the company falls outside his direct mandate.
WASL’s Governance and Ownership Structure
To fully understand Sheikh Maktoum’s relationship with WASL, it is also important to examine the company’s ownership and governance model.
WASL was established in 2007 as part of the economic initiatives of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who issued Law No. 14 that created the company.
WASL is wholly owned by the Government of Dubai under the portfolio of the General Secretariat. The General Secretariat oversees various governmental bodies and entities tied to specific economic sectors in Dubai.
As a government-owned enterprise, WASL is required to follow public policies and regulations issued by entities like the Dubai Executive Council which Sheikh Maktoum chairs. However, operationally WASL functions as an independent corporate entity.
WASL has its own corporate governance framework that establishes standard practices for board leadership, transparency, risk management and internal controls. Corporate governance at WASL aims to balance autonomy with broader accountability to government stakeholders.
Some relevant excerpts from WASL’s Corporate Governance report regarding its ownership and oversight:
- “WASL is a Dubai Government owned entity…established by Law No. 14 issued in 2007”
- “WASL adheres to all policies and directives issued by the Dubai Government”
- “WASL functions as an independent corporate entity with an effective governance framework”
- “The Board of Directors has appropriate competencies to lead WASL and ensure adherence to good corporate governance”
In summary, while WASL must align with Dubai government strategy, policies, and objectives, it operates independently from direct control by any single government institution or individual leader.
Conclusions
Based on this analysis of Sheikh Maktoum’s roles and responsibilities and WASL’s leadership structure, we can conclude that:
- Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum does not currently serve as the Chairman or as a Board Member of WASL Properties
- The Chairman of WASL has historically been other Dubai officials such as the current Chair H.E. Al Naboodah and former Chair H.E. Al Shaibani
- Sheikh Maktoum is not involved in day-to-day decision making at WASL
- However, as Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler, Sheikh Maktoum likely provides broader oversight and direction to WASL
- WASL aligns its activities and strategy with Dubai government policy as set by leaders like Sheikh Maktoum
- Operationally, WASL functions as an independent corporate entity with its own governance framework
In summary, while Sheikh Maktoum does not directly control or manage WASL, the company’s strategic direction is heavily influenced by his leadership of the Dubai government overall as its future ruler. However, other Dubai officials have officially held the WASL Chairman position since its inception.
