Sheikh Mohammed's new book teaches how to lead, take bold decisions, officials say

"It will teach you how to be bold, how to lead your life, how to be a leader for others, and how to take decisions at the right time and in the right place." This is how Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, described Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's latest book 'Life Taught Me', which was published in 2025, during a session at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature on Wednesday, January 21.

The session explored the leadership lessons in the book, which offers a summary of more than six decades of leadership experience, focusing on action, decision making, and investing in people as the foundation of nation building.

Led by Khalifa Ali Al Suwaidi, an Emirati academic and educational expert, and Al Marri, the discussion stressed that the book is rooted in lived experience rather than abstract theory, following the success of earlier titles such as 'My Vision' and 'My Story'.

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Al Suwaidi said the Arab world has grown tired of slogans without substance. “Today, in the UAE, we do not speak in theory,” he said. “When a visitor arrives in the country from the airport, they immediately know they have entered a special place. This did not come from words, it came from action.”

He added that while environments can be changed quickly, changing mindsets requires a deeper approach. “You can change the décor of a place, but the real challenge is how you change the way people think,” he said.

The session took place following the opening ceremony of the 18th edition of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, which opened its doors to visitors on January 21 and will run until January 27 at InterContinental Festival City, bringing authors from more than 40 nationalities to readers through sessions and activities.

Speakers noted that the book opens with a clear message that it is a mistake not to move and to remain still without action. The 35 chapters throughout the book, they said, offer lessons in leadership, excellence, innovation, and courage, presenting guidance on how to live, how to lead, and how to make timely and effective decisions.

Al Marri said the timing of the book itself reflects its core message. “Sheikh Mohammed delayed writing this book for a reason,” he said. “There is a difference between someone who writes philosophy and someone who writes after a successful experience.”

He explained that the book was written after Dubai’s vision and strategies were implemented and proven. “He began with a vision, lived it, applied it, and then documented it,” Al Marri said.

Al Suwaidi also encouraged residents, particularly Emiratis, to record their own successful experiences. “People today want to talk about successful practices,” he said. “Practice comes before successful thinking.”

The session positioned 'Life Taught Me' not as a memoir, but as a practical leadership guide shaped by action, experience, and real world decision making.