William Duff

William Duff (13 May 1922 – 14 February 2014) was a Scottish banker, Arabist and an advisor to the first vice-president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and a former ruler of Dubai, Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. He is credited by many with helping to modernise the Emirate.

Biography William really played a key role in the growth of the UAE. The drive was all Sheikh Rashid. But around him were these loyal servants: whatever ideas were outlined, they made it happen, Anthony Harris, a former British Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates said about William Duff. His education was at Cheltenham College and, later, at the Hertford College, University of Oxford, and the 9th businesst container sea port in the world. Six years after the opening of Jebel Ali port, Duff assisted in the creation of Jebel Ali Free Zone in 1985 to supplement the activities of the port.

Relationship with Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum Bill Duff is known to have had a close relationship with Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, ten years his elder. Duff and his family were frequent guests of the Al Maktoums in their travels in Scotland, staying at Gleneagles Hotel and often translating for Sheikh Rashid. The relationship was cited as the reason behind the donation of 1.16 million the Dubai ruler made to the Exeter University for its library and later, for the Institute for Arab and Islamic Studies.

Later years After the death of Sheikh Rashid in 1990, Duff slowly withdrew from the Dubai administration and restricted himself to his role as an Honorary Advisor to the Ruler. He continued his life in Dubai where his wife, Irenka, managed the Dubai English Speaking School, the school he co-founded with George Chapman, till a few years before Duff's death. He died in his sleep on 14 February 2014 at his villa along the Jumeirah Beach, leaving Eleanor, his wife, Diana Barnardiston and Sheila Duff-Earles, his two daughters and four grandchildren, Michael, Andrew, Nicholas and Caroline. His mortal remains were laid to rest at the nearby Christian Cemetery in Jumeirah, which he helped establish.