Sheikh Mohammed pens children’s stories

Our Correspondent
On January 9, the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO) in partnership with Al Hudhud Publishing and Distribution launched ‘My Little World’, a collection of five stories written by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The stories are based on his early life experiences.
The writing style is a blend of engaging storytelling and keen observations about human relationships, learning and the desert. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid recounts incidents and interactions in his early life that played a major role in shaping his outlook and values. The stories are richly anecdotal, and the Dubai Ruler shares life-changing lessons he learned from various past events.
In his preface to the collection, Sheikh Mohammed talks about his youthful eagerness to learn new skills and his indefatigable spirit of adventure, which helped him dream big. The stories aim to convey to young readers that “great dreams have no limit”.
Written for children in the 6-9 age group, the collection introduces young readers to nature and desert wildlife with captivating stories that enrich their understanding of life. The book is compatible for use in the local education system, and seek to encourage reading among children.
The stories in the collection include ‘Camping with Scorpions’, in which His Highness speaks about his interactions with his mentor Humaid who taught him to hunt, train and treat injured falcons.
‘My First Horse’, which underlines the value of dedication and hard work, narrates how Sheikh Mohammed trained his first horse ‘Sauda Umm Halag’ while it was recovering from an injury. The poignant story relates how the young Sheikh Mohammed patiently nursed and trained the horse until it regained strength to race again.
Another story, ‘My Friend, the Lion’, talks about the night when the royal opened his eyes to see a lion in his room. He recognised the lion as his ‘childhood friend’ that he had struck a bond with at a farm.
In another story, titled ‘My Cave of Treasures’, he narrates about his father gifting him his old hunting gear and giving him access to the room where he stored it. The story talks about his determination to transform the room into a personal space for contemplation, brainstorming and experimentation.
The story ‘My Mother, Like No Other’ pays a special tribute to his mother, and talks about how our mothers are irreplaceable in our lives. Sheikh Mohammed had taken a baby gazelle he found in the desert to safety but wonders if anyone could care for it as much as its mother.
Published by Emirati publishing and distribution house Al Hudhud in both Arabic and English, the collection features illustrations by Emirati illustrator Abdullah Muhammad Al Sharhan, founder and President of Ajyal Media.