Sheikh Mohammed sets out his 7 rules for life in Dubai
Sheikh Mohammed says responsibility, respect, excellence, humility, optimism, doing good and national loyalty should define life in Dubai
04 October, 2026
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has set out seven rules for life in Dubai, outlining the values he believes should underpin the emirate as it continues to grow as a global city.
In a message addressed to Dubai’s citizens, residents, visitors and those who love the city, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai said the emirate’s success should ultimately be measured not simply by what it builds, but by the society it creates.
“We have built a beautiful city, a harmonious society and a model experience for the world,” Sheikh Mohammed said in the Arabic-language message shared on Saturday.
He described Dubai as “a home for the world, for people and for life” and said his aim was for the city to remain an exceptional and inspiring human experience.
The message forms part of The Messages, the second part of Sheikh Mohammed’s What Life Taught Me, which brings together lessons drawn from almost six decades of public service. The book contains 26 messages addressed to his family, colleagues, the people of the UAE and the wider world.
Here are Sheikh Mohammed’s seven rules for life in Dubai.
1. Life is responsibility
Sheikh Mohammed said responsibility begins with the individual and extends across every level of society. Employees are responsible for their work, leaders for their teams, parents for their families and individuals for their communities, he said.
Government, meanwhile, carries responsibility for the security, wellbeing, rights and happiness of everyone under its care.
“When every individual fulfils their responsibility, society lives a dignified and balanced life,” he said.
2. Respect human dignity
Respect for people is at the heart of civilisation, according to Sheikh Mohammed. That includes respecting a person’s religion, values, culture, time, feelings, dignity and rights, as well as showing respect towards women, older people, workers and those who may hold different views.
He said the quality of a city should not be judged by its buildings alone, but by the way it treats people.
3. Pursue excellence
Sheikh Mohammed described excellence as one of the strongest messages Dubai can send to the world. It should be visible everywhere, he said – from airports and roads to buildings, companies, public services and individual jobs.
Excellence is also cumulative, with small details and daily standards ultimately shaping the reputation and performance of a city.
“Dubai is a culture that lives within each one of us,” he said, adding that every task completed to a high standard contributes to the city’s wider civilisation.
4. Rise through humility
Humility was the fourth principle, with Sheikh Mohammed arguing that success should not diminish a person’s willingness to learn.
Humility towards others increases their respect for you, while humility in the face of achievement pushes ambitions higher, he said.
Dubai should also remember the modest origins from which it developed and recognise that there remains much more to learn and achieve.
5. Make optimism a way of life
Sheikh Mohammed said Dubai’s outlook should be founded on the belief that the future can be better – provided people continue to work towards it.
Challenges should be viewed as opportunities, crises as tests of creativity and the experiences of others as opportunities to learn.
He also reiterated a theme closely associated with Dubai’s development: that what appears impossible can be overcome through determination, belief and action.
6. Make doing good a habit
Supporting others and doing good should be embedded in everyday life, Sheikh Mohammed said.
That can range from helping someone in difficulty to offering a kind word, a smile, directions to someone who is lost or encouragement to a young person.
He said societies that lose their sense of goodness ultimately lose part of the meaning of life itself.
7. Be loyal to the nation
The final rule centres on loyalty to the country that provides security and opportunity. Sheikh Mohammed said loyalty means respecting the nation’s constitution and laws, protecting its achievements, honouring its flag and upholding values including honesty, justice, integrity, respect, excellence and responsibility.
“A nation is not geography, nor is it symbols,” he said. “A nation is a heart that beats within us and a spirit that runs through us.”
He concluded the message by drawing a distinction between physical development and the deeper task of creating a society.
“Constructing buildings and engineering cities is not a miracle,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“The real miracle is building a society founded on meaning, principles and great values.”
