Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
On 3 January 1995, Sheikh Mohammed's elder brother Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum signed two decrees appointing him and his brother Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum as Crown Prince of Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed, at the time of being appointed crown prince, also served as Minister of Defence, a position he held since 9 December 1971, following his time as Chief of the Dubai Police Force.