Rashid bin Maktoum

Rashid bin Maktoum Al Maktoum was the Ruler of Dubai from 1886 to 1894.

Hasher bin Maktoum died on 22 November 1886 without leaving a clear line of succession, causing a rift in the family with two contenders for the title being put forward: Sheikh Maktoum bin Hasher, Hasher's eldest son and Sheikh Rashid bin Maktoum, Hasher's brother.

Sheikh Rashid gained the support of the majority of the family and tribal leaders and acceded in 1886, continuing the policies of open trade and conciliation established by Hasher. He was an influential ruler and when he was approached by Sheikh Zayed of Abu Dhabi for assistance during a conflict over Buraimi in 1891, he was able to muster a considerable force of 300 camel riders and 30 horsemen in Zayed's support.

Rashid inherited the ongoing conflict with the Rulers of the emirates to the North and conflict was rarely absent from the coast, with raids and ruptures an almost constant occurrence, particularly in 1889 and 1890. In 1891, some 400 men of the Marar tribe, considering themselves ill-treated by Rashid, ended the pearling season by sailing their boats to Sharjah. This action led to three years of bitter negotiations, arbitrated by the British Resident, settling financial claims and counter claims which led to a number of conflicts on land.

Exclusive Agreement

An odd approach to the Trucial Rulers was to result in the 1892 Exclusive Agreement, which formalised the British protectorate over the Trucial States and established the principle that the Trucial rulers would not enter into negotiations or relations with any other government than Britain.

Also in 1892, in March, a number of Dubai subjects ejected a number of Al Qasimi dependents from Sir Bu Nair Island - resulting in a censure from the British Agent, requiring the aggressors to withdraw and return the arms they captured, as well as Rashid having to undertake his subjects would not in future travel to Sir Bu Nair without permission from the Sheikh of Sharjah.

In September 1892, Rashid married into the Al Bu Shamis subsection of the Na'im tribe in Buraimi. He died on 7 April 1894 during a major cholera outbreak in Dubai, although the cause of his death was described as a 'paralytic seizure'.