DUBAI, 2 February 2008 — Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al-Maktoum has appointed his son Sheikh Hamdan as crown prince of the booming Gulf city state, the official WAM news agency reported yesterday.

Sheikh Mohammad, who is also the vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, issued a decree appointing Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad, 26, as crown prince from Feb. 1.

Born in November 1982, Sheikh Hamdan began school in Dubai before moving to Britain, where he graduated from the elite Sandhurst military academy. His father Sheikh Mohammed became ruler of Dubai in early 2006 after the death of his brother.

Sheikh Mohammed is also the defense minister, prime minister and vice president of the UAE, which was created in 1971 after the withdrawal of British forces from the Gulf. Sheikh Hamdan heads Dubai’s executive council, which supervises public sector and development strategies, WAM said.

The post of Dubai’s crown prince had been left vacant since Sheikh Mohammad, who was himself crown prince, succeeded his late brother Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashed as ruler in January 2006.

In another decree, Mohammad appointed a younger son, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammad, 25, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashed, a brother of the ruler, as his two deputies, WAM said. Dubai is one of seven emirates forming the UAE federation and has established itself as a regional business and tourism hub.