The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Dubai

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 on Friday. 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 February 1. Sheikh Hamdan, a graduate of Britain's Sandhurst military academy, heads Dubai's executive council which supervises public sector and development strategies, it 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.