UAE leaders, ministers honour H.H. Sheikh Mohammed's 20 years of leadership

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has led messages congratulating His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on his 20 years of leadership.

In a post on social media, the UAE President hailed Sheikh Mohammed's "inspiring record of achievements and future-focused vision that continues to advance the UAE's growth".

May God protect him as we work together in pursuit of progress and development for our beloved nation and people," he wrote.

In honour of 20 years of my brother Mohammed bin Rashid leading our government, we celebrate his inspiring record of achievements and future-focused vision that continues to advance the UAE's growth. May God protect him as we work together in pursuit of progress and development…

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) January 4, 2026

His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, credited Sheikh Mohammed's leadership for steering the UAE’s federal government has established an exceptional model of forward-looking, results-driven governance.

His leadership is anchored in teamwork as a core principle and guided by a proactive, future-oriented vision, Sheikh Khaled added.

This philosophy has embedded a “nothing is impossible” mindset across government, transforming ambition into measurable achievement and collective effort into sustained national impact.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, took to social media to honour the Dubai Ruler.

"You will always be the father, the leader, and the source of inspiration we look up to," he wrote.

"With unwavering determination, you have built a proud legacy for the nation, guiding its progress and inspiring hope at every step.

"You have always believed in the people of the UAE, recognising human potential as the nation’s greatest wealth. Your visionary leadership has turned ideas into global achievements and challenges into opportunities.

"Under your leadership, the pursuit of excellence and ambition has become part of the nation’s spirit, instilling confidence and hope that the future will always be brighter."

Thank you, Mohammed bin Rashid. You will always be the father, the leader, and the source of inspiration we look up to.

With unwavering determination, you have built a proud legacy for the nation, guiding its progress and inspiring hope at every step. You have always believed in…

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) January 4, 2026

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Media Council, thanked Sheikh Mohammed for "inspiring" the younger generation to "aim higher".

"Thank you, Mohammed bin Rashid, a leader who turns ambition into achievement and inspires our people to aim higher," he wrote.

"He makes the impossible a starting point, showing that leadership is a choice, being first is a mindset, and the future is built through hard work and determination. Guided by his example, we move forward with confidence, knowing our country’s best days are yet to come."

Special meeting to honour Sheikh Mohammed

Ministers, current and former, who've served Sheikh Mohammed over the past two decades came together to honour the Dubai Ruler.

President Sheikh Mohamed highlighted that under Sheikh Mohammed's leadership, the UAE, in record time, transformed from a regional leader to a global force by establishing a unique development model centered on quality of life, human empowerment, a robust and sustainable economy, and exceptional governmental efficiency.

Addressing the delegation, Sheikh Mohammed expressed gratitude "to everyone who has been a part of this two-decade journey. Your efforts have helped transform our ideas into a reality lived by the people of the UAE".

"Today, we mark 20 years since I assumed the office of Prime Minister—two decades spent working alongside a dedicated team that has given its utmost to this nation. In the life of a nation, 20 years may not be a long time, but the UAE has given this period a significance as vast as its achievements," Sheikh Mohammed said.

"We were determined to be at the forefront of development to ensure a high quality of life, stability, progress, and prosperity for the UAE and its people. Today, we rank at the top of several fields, and the UAE has become a whole world within one country."

Sheikh Mohammed also thanked the efforts of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs for building a "remarkable team" that's complete with "Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed in defence and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed in finance".

His Highness expressed optimism that "the next two decades will bring prosperity, pride, and glory. The whole world will come to see the UAE as the world’s top destination to live, work, invest and visit. Our best years are yet to come".

20 years of Sheikh Mohammed

Sheikh Mohammed's 20-year term has seen him lead 72 ministers through nine cabinet formations and 13 reshuffles.

The Cabinet convened for 558 meetings, issuing nearly 16,000 resolutions. Additionally, His Highness chaired seven ministerial retreats and 16 extraordinary meetings, which functioned as strategic platforms to address major national issues and craft innovative solutions for the future.

Over the past two decades, the UAE Government has seen a comprehensive transformation, establishing an advanced global model of governance centred on innovation, future foresight, and community wellbeing. Through a wide array of strategic initiatives, it has contributed to enhancing government performance, boosting competitiveness, and achieving sustainable development goals.

Key milestones included developing comprehensive government strategies, national leadership frameworks, excellence programmes, and advanced performance monitoring systems. A proactive, long-term approach is evident in national roadmaps such as the UAE Vision 2021, the UAE Centennial 2071, and We the UAE 2031. The government also cultivated a culture of innovation through dedicated centres, accelerators, and youth-focused initiatives that boosted community engagement and empowerment.

In the legislative and policy sphere, the government has modernised over 90 per cent of its legal framework to adapt to rapid global and technological change. This includes launching an AI-powered legislative system and a unified digital platform for federal and local laws. Additionally, hundreds of national policies and strategies were adopted to stimulate key sectors and enhance the quality of life.

In terms of government services, the UAE has solidified its global leadership by launching programmes to enhance service delivery, eliminate bureaucracy, and integrate artificial intelligence as a main pillar of operations. At the same time, it has strengthened its international presence by signing hundreds of agreements and memoranda of understanding, including the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) programme, reinforcing its status as a trusted global partner and a key architect of the future.